DISTINCTIVENESS IN MINISTRY
[p. 427] DISTINCTIVENESS IN MINISTRY
Acts 18:24 - 28; 1 Corinthians 3:4 - 8; 1 Corinthians 16:12
JT Apollos, it is thought, affords instruction as to ministry, especially referring to ministry as independent of undue influence from others; what we may call spiritual independence in ministry. There was in the early days a dependence of ministers on each other, especially seen in Timotheus and Titus, whom the Lord evidently gave to Paul to assist him, as John Mark also had been given to Paul and Barnabas. But Apollos would remind us of the need of freedom; keeping ourselves free from influence. The influence of Paul with Timotheus and Titus and others at one time was necessary, but now it seems that we are safe in avoiding special influence in ministry. Paul expressly states in 1 Corinthians 16, that he had begged Apollos to go to Corinth, but it was not his mind to do so, and there is no evidence that Paul in any way sought to influence him unduly, but just left it, that he would go when he had good opportunity. I thought it would be helpful to consider these thoughts and expand them together, with a view to keeping us free from undue influence in ministry. Apollos seems to have been a provision at the time, a provision of the Lord. He appears in the ministry and was evidently needed, but before pursuing his service he needed to be corrected, and hence what we have as to him in Acts 18 helps as to accuracy in ministry which is a great matter and often neglected.
PL “Cutting in a straight line the word of truth”? 2 Timothy 2:15.
JT Just so.
FWB Would Luke have the thought of accuracy in mind — writing with order?
JT Yes, and with method. He has method in his account of things and of course that would imply accuracy.
PL “To his own master he stands or falls”, Romans 14:4. Is that the true idea of spiritual independency, and freedom from undue influence?
JT Just so; and of course, the principle of independency in this sense repudiates all clerical arrangements in ministry, and creeds as to the truth. In a word it aims against all that is abroad in the public profession. The Lord in His parabolic ministry, after a long dissertation, inquires whether they understood. “Have ye understood all these things? They say to him, Yea, Lord”, Matthew 13:51. Then He says, “For this reason every scribe discipled to the kingdom of the heavens is like a man that is a householder who brings out of his treasure things new and old”, Matthew 13:52. The idea of accuracy would be in the Lord’s mind in the work of the scribe; it requires accuracy.
MC Why is the thought of treasure brought in there?
JT It is parabolic teaching, and the Lord would have in mind what He was going on with Himself. It would be in His mind at the time and it involved treasure. It involved really the revelation of God in the Old Testament and in the New. The word treasure conveys that he has a store of precious things; these are in the Scriptures; we are to search in them for hidden treasure.
FGS As to this independent line, does Paul himself move in that way as he writes to the saints in Galatia? “God, who set me apart even from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son in me, that I may announce him as glad tidings among the nations, immediately I took not counsel with flesh and blood”, Galatians 1:15,16.
JT It is, fully. I believe this would bear on young men who are aiming at serving, because we are apt as young persons to copy too much and imitate others, whereas Paul’s method and what we see in Apollos, too, would avoid that. Young men are apt to be copyists, not with any evil intent, but the tendency would be for [p. 429] persons who are themselves influential to influence young men, whereas their wisdom would be to abide by the Scriptures and by the example of those whom heaven accredits. We are to consider our leaders and remember them if they have gone to be with the Lord, and those living we have to follow, but that is another matter. We are not to be copyists. The Thessalonian christians were beloved children; they were saluted as “the assembly of Thessalonians in God the Father”, 1 Thessalonians 1:1, showing that they were in the realm of love, but they imitated the assemblies in Judaea, which would be important, because the Judaean assemblies would be near Jerusalem where the apostles began their work, and the Lord Himself laboured. Instead of imitating what was near by, perhaps at Rome, or other nearby assemblies, they went afield to the realm of Judaea. So now where young assemblies are formed it is wise to take account of what is done in the older assemblies where there are older brethren following right principles.
Ques Would the reference to his being an Alexandrian suggest God’s hand is over matters in determining the environment of a servant in order to develop his individuality?
JT Exactly, and the place that Alexandria had in the ancient world would not be overlooked. It had a great place under God, in relation to the Old Testament, the Septuagint version of it; and it has had a great place ever since. It established independency from Jerusalem and even from Europe where already Paul’s work had begun, and where Paul himself had persons who were attendant upon him. It was well that such a servant should arise and we see how quickly he learnt the truth and how quickly he was recognised by Paul and others in the truth. Paul classifies Apollos with himself, yet in no sense does he endeavour to influence him unduly. We have to learn not only to keep from what would damage us, but also not to ignore what would help us.
[p. 430] JOS Is Apollos, in his teachable spirit, a good example for a servant?
JT Yes, in his teachableness, but also in his accuracy. He read the Scriptures and was accurate in reading them. We may read the Scriptures and use them inaccurately. Apollos did not do that, but he needed more instruction.
PL When Mark treats of the appointment of the apostles, each one of them is sent separately in relation to service; chapter 3:16 -19. Mark having the levitical thought in view, would establish this individuality.
JT Very good. In the other gospels it appears differently. Sometimes they are found individually and sometimes in pairs.
WEM There seems to be divine skill in the way Aquila and Priscilla help this brother. They do not ignore what he had, but add to it. The baptism of John was a good start and they link on with that.
JT Yes, they took him to them, it says. Though he was instructed in the way of the Lord and taught exactly the things concerning Jesus, he knew only the baptism of John; that is, so far his education was defective, but they took him to them. They might have taken him to the back of the room, but taking him to them would probably mean they took him to their house.
JM Why is it the way of God in verse 26 and the way of the Lord in verse 25?
JT Well, I think the way of God fits in with Corinth. Of course it was the Lord who said, “I have much people in this city”, Acts 18:10, but in many other instances the instruction as to Corinth relates to God. It is the assembly of God, the idea is God and it is the order of God.
Ques Would it link on with previous testimonies, such as Moses saying, “Make me now to know thy way”? Exodus 33:13.
JT I think it would link on more with the priority of the New Testament, without in any way diminishing the value of the Old Testament as inspired, but the apostolic teaching is given as the prime basis of christianity in [p. 431] Acts 2. So that any matters that have to be debated or finalised make it necessary for us to recognise the priority of the New Testament, especially apostolic teaching, and more especially Paul’s teaching. His is the last word, the completion of the word of God. So that in Matthew 13 to which we have referred, the new things are put first, then the old.
FWB Does not this section show how quick Apollos was to take on teaching? It says at the end of the chapter, that he convinced the Jews publicly, showing by the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ. Is that not a great advance on what Apollos knew previously?
JT I would think that. Verse 25 says that he knew only the baptism of John. The twelve men at Ephesus in the next chapter were baptised to the baptism of John, but apparently they paid no attention to his teaching as regards the Holy Spirit. John the baptist had said much about the Holy Spirit. He said, “I beheld the Spirit descending as a dove from heaven, and it abode upon him”, “but he who sent me”, “said to me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending and abiding on him, he it is who baptises with the Holy Spirit. And I have seen and borne witness that this is the Son of God”, John 1:32 - 34. These men had evidently neglected that, so that they were very poor in their spiritual education; and yet they were disciples. It just indicates how far the work of God may proceed, and yet the Holy Spirit not be there in the persons. They said to Paul, “We did not even hear if the Holy Spirit was”; Acts 19:2; the word come is not in the original. These men were not up to the truth of the moment, yet they could have had more even if they went by what they already possessed; that is often the case with us. One marvels as moving among christians at the little they do know, how ignorant so many are. John had witnessed that Jesus, on whom they had believed, would baptise with the Holy Spirit, and yet they had not come into that [p. 432] blessing.
HW Is it not delightful to see how Aquila and Priscilla were available in having a right outlook with regard to the potentialities of this brother, the way they would take him and what would be involved in it, and the right kind of influence he would come under in order that he might be instructed more exactly.
JT They are mentioned equally in the Scriptures, one as much as the other; it is clear that Priscilla was a true wife. She recognised her head, and yet she would see what was needed in the instruction of Apollos. She would never be out of her place, and of course, she would have no public place in the Bible readings, according to Paul’s stipulation. She would not be silent afterwards, but would speak to Apollos in a seemly way.
FGS Taking him to them would make way for the service that is carried out in a household setting.
JT It makes room for her. Paul had been with them, and she would have learnt how to behave in the house with Paul there. She would have plenty of opportunity and freedom to speak to Paul, for his trade was the same as theirs. God uses all these things in His government with us. It often helps in assembly relations if we are of the same trade.
PL Do you think that the personification in Aquila and Priscilla, of Paul’s ministry at Corinth made Apollos desirous to visit them and stimulated him to go into Achaia, for it is his own proposal to go to Achaia, which supports your view as to his independence spiritually? Do you think that if the saints carry such features about with them, though they be away from their locality, they may in the attractiveness of these features stimulate their brethren to come and visit them? As they personified Paul’s ministry as it had been at Corinth, Apollos proposed to go to that very place.
JT You are alluding to what is said in Acts 18:27.
PL Yes; he proposes to go to Achaia. He saw in Aquila and Priscilla the greatness of Paul’s work there,
[p. 433] and he would have first-hand knowledge as to it. If we are personifying the grace that is secured in our localities, it would stimulate circulation among our brethren. They did not tell him to go; it was his own purpose. They must have suggested much that was attractive as to Paul’s work at Corinth.
JT Down in the West country lately I noticed constant reference to dear Mr. Coates. No doubt Paul influenced people more than any, and the saints would rightly follow him. “Be my imitators, even as I also am of Christ”, 1 Corinthians 11:1.
GPT What is the significance of Paul including Apollos among the all things that belong to the saints?
“All things are yours. Whether Paul, or Apollos” 1 Corinthians 3:22.
JT Well, the saints are greater than the minister, I mean the assembly is. Gifts are only for a time; they are members of the body of course, but actual gift is not to last for ever. So that in 1 Corinthians 13:8 - 10, we read “Love never fails; but whether prophecies, they shall be done away; or tongues, they shall cease; or knowledge, it shall be done away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part: but when that which is perfect has come, that which is in part shall be done away”. Gift is not eternal, but the saints are, and the assembly is. So that the assembly itself viewed in that sense is greater than the gifts. However great a person may be, such as Paul or Apollos, he belongs to the saints, but the assembly is God’s assembly — Christ’s assembly.
Ques Is that the thought of the Levites being given to Aaron and his sons?
JT It is the assembly of the firstborn ones, and you cannot get that anywhere else than in the assembly. It is derived from the idea of the Levites.
FWB This brother would have been a valuable addition to Corinth. It says, “the brethren wrote to the disciples engaging them to receive him”. Acts 18:27. We would be [p. 434] glad to embrace this kind of servant, one ready for adjustment and able to contribute.
JT The saints viewed by themselves abstractly know what is right and can put a value on things, and so, “All things are yours”. 1 Corinthians 3:21. We get a list of the things in mind in 1 Corinthians 3:22,23. “Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things coming, all are yours; and ye are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s”. That is very conclusive and in effect brings out how God is the prime thought in the teaching at Corinth. The order is God, Christ and the saints.
JW Do you think the reference to the Scriptures in the last verse indicates that Apollos would be like a Berean; he would search the Scriptures?
JT I would say that, and that brings up another matter, Paul’s company, and what his company would be like. We read in Acts 13 that Paul had a company; no other servant is spoken of in that way, and it would point to what he says elsewhere, “Be my imitators, even as I also am of Christ”. 1 Corinthians 11:1. If we compare what we have in chapter 13 with what we have in chapter 20, we see how Paul’s company was constituted. If we follow scripture principles and methods we shall not go wrong. In Acts 20:4 it says, “there accompanied him as far as Asia, Sopater son of Pyrrhus, a Berean; and of Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus, and Gaius and Timotheus of Derbe, and of Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus”. Acts 20:4. There are thus seven persons in the company of Paul. The traducers might say, “his letters”, “are weighty and strong; but his presence in the body weak, and his speech naught”, 2 Corinthians 10:10, and that he carries his company around with him on his own account; that he was a partisan, but the company was merely to bring out the result of Paul’s work; what it would result in, even as when Paul brought up Titus to Jerusalem, so that it might be seen what the gentiles could be under his ministry; they do not even attempt to circumcise him,
[p. 435] Galatians 2:3. Titus was manifestly acceptable and the subject of the work of God, and they did not attempt to circumcise him because he was such a product of Paul’s ministry among the gentiles. So here in Acts 20 the seven men include a Berean, and I believe you might well classify Apollos with the Bereans. They would ask for your scripture. If, for instance, anyone said, There is another family in which God is working now besides the assembly, Apollos would say, It is not Scripture. It is most important to be right about these matters at this juncture. We are apt to be independent in our minds in following Scripture, but Apollos followed the Scriptures and became a better servant.
JOS The Bereans were not suspicious of what Paul taught. They received the word with all readiness of mind and then examined the Scriptures to get confirmation.
JT You can well afford to wait a little for right doctrine. The lie travels faster than the truth in the world.
MC Is it not interesting that only one Berean is mentioned? If we have the authority of Scripture, if necessary, we can be ready to stand alone.
JT Quite so; he would not let anything pass. I believe he was in Paul’s company because he was a Berean. No one could say Paul was a partisan; they are all from different parts of the world.
WM Being in Paul’s company would not conflict with having one’s own line.
JT Quite so.
FGS He convinced the Jews with great force showing from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.
JT Yes; he was able to say that. He may not have been able to tell us about eternal life, which we have been at for fifty years, and have not reached it yet. But Apollos was going by the Scriptures as to the Person of Christ. If we went by the Scriptures more, we should arrive at the [p. 436] truth quicker. We spend too much time in writing and asking questions of brothers who are at a distance. Whereas, if we look at the Scriptures with the local brethren, including the local sisters, we may get the answer, and not spend time unnecessarily.
FGS We have the mind of Christ. Does that work out in the local company?
JT That is the idea of it. It means the thinking faculty; local brethren have that normally, and if a matter comes up, we might get the answer locally.
PL Every spiritual problem is to sharpen by use this investigating faculty.
JT By reason of use; quite so.
GPT Apollos had a difficult task in convincing the Jews. Such people would want a deal of convincing.
JT He was an eloquent man. God had taken him up for that reason. He takes us up before we are converted, as Paul was taken up from his birth. He takes account of what we are mentally, for the mind of Christ refers to the thinking powers, so that we are able to work a thing out. We have the best translation of the Scriptures that there is; we have Concordances, we have the Collected Writings, and the Synopsis. God has provided for us, and it is wiser for us to work things out locally if we can.
Rem We see the blessed unity of Paul’s company.
JT What a good time these seven brothers would have. There was evidently something at Troas requiring attention and correction. Paul has to discourse a long time so that things should become clear, and in the meantime Eutychus falls down through the window and is taken up for dead, and God used the interruption to help to facilitate what was needed. Paul remained all night going through these things and went away in the morning, but the others took the boy away. Paul did not do that; he did not add him to the company. Some might have done that, regarding him as a wonderful trophy, and have asked him to preach. But it says,
“They brought away the boy”. Acts 20:12. He needed parental care. He would be a comfort to them; perhaps he never was before. We are not told what happened afterwards. It is a section relating to the Lord’s supper, and undoubtedly the long discourse of Paul and the conversation which ensued had the Supper in mind.
PL It is a sort of prophetic setting out of it.
JT Just so; the Lord’s supper is linked with it, because the first point is, in verse 7, “we being assembled”, not that Paul had anything to do with the assembling, but “we being assembled to break bread”, Acts 20:7, that is the proper rendering. It is a mutual thought. Then the discourse was lengthy. One might say, Why did they not break bread at once? And, of course, it is a pertinent question. We are not told what Paul said, but he would hardly have discoursed at length if something were not wrong, if they were not needing the discourse. As he discoursed the boy fell and was taken up dead, then he is resuscitated, and Paul resumes his ministry in a conversational manner, and they break bread. Daybreak is mentioned, and Paul went away as if the matter were finished. The boy is not neglected; it says, “they brought away the boy alive, and were no little comforted”, Acts 20:12. It seems as if the idea of love were required to be known in that place, as well as instruction by Paul. We need to have living boys and girls, instead of boys and girls looking out of the window.
FGS Is it similar to Jairus’ daughter? The Lord commanded something to be given her to eat, Luke 8:55.
JT That is a parallel passage. Love is essential to the assembly, not only that we have right doctrine, but life and love — love among yourselves.
JW There was energetic action, in his falling upon him?
JT That was evidence of the love Paul had. It is like the Samaritan, Luke 10, who carried with him such [p. 438] things as were needed in such a case. It involves also the idea of maintenance, the two pence, and then he himself stayed at the inn all night.
Ques Would the thought of watering enter into the care of the boy, and in the case of Jairus’ daughter too? Paul planted and Apollos watered.
JT It is an agricultural thought. Planting and watering would be agricultural, and a reference to life in the soil. The condition of the soil is living and suitable for planting in; the soil of this town, for instance. Planting and watering is an agricultural thought which is another thing from life in a person.
K You spoke of the danger of being copyists and following others. I think it would help if you gave a practical illustration of this.
JT Well, a copyist, one who copies the specimen line given, probably gets worse and worse as he goes down the page. Instead of improvement there is rather decrease in his skill in writing. So that the necessary thing is to maintain life, to keep in accord with one’s time and one’s age, and to be normal in what one is doing. The Lord Himself was that, normal when a Boy of twelve. He went down to Nazareth with His parents and was subject to them, but then at thirty He takes up the position of a Man.
FGS He brought forth fruit in His season.
JT So that it is a matter of life, whether one has the Holy Spirit, the living qualities of the Spirit in him. The Spirit carries all the gifts with Him; Corinthians would show that. That would correct copying. God gives you something for yourself. It is all by the Spirit. One may get a gift by asking for it.
ALB Would it be like Galatians 2 where Paul himself says, “I went up according to revelation, and I laid before them the glad tidings which I preach among the nations, but privately to those conspicuous among them, lest in any way I run, or had run in vain”. Galatians 2:2. Paul, I [p. 439] suppose was moving in somewhat the same way as Apollos in the sense that he was not subservient, or under undue influence; he desired some confirmation, however.
JT Of course, he had the power of revelation. He says, “God who”, “was pleased to reveal his Son in me”. Galatians 1:15,16. That is a great fact as to Paul, as over against Peter, where the revelation was to him. With Paul there is a certain inwardness in the fact that the revelation of the Son of God was in him. What you refer to ought to be compared with Acts 15, because that chapter is the Spirit’s account of things as to the persons that were there, whereas the Galatian epistle is Paul’s account which refers more to himself and his exercises.
Rem Following involves inward work, but copying more what is external.
JT Many have the natural power to follow up the truth, but they make shipwreck ultimately, because they are not relying on the Spirit of God in them.
MC Should we be concerned to reach what is approved by God? It says of Apollos, “For he with great force convinced the Jews publicly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was the Christ”. Acts 18:28. Is that not the end reached?
JT Quite, but, of course, there is much more than that. Often ministry today requires that we should be alone with the Lord, to get something from Him. One would not be free to pursue unless having been alone with the Lord. He never fails to give you something that the brethren need.
JM Is that what you meant yesterday by keeping sabbath?
JT That is the idea, lying fallow. Then the influences, as in nature, the air and the elements, affect our bodies, so spiritually we get what is divinely around us and absorb it. I believe that is what is meant by lying fallow. On the other hand the mind may not be touched in that, therefore you have to think what is to be said, not simply [p. 440] that you have spiritual power to say it, but the mind enables you to gather up before God what you should say, because we have the mind of Christ.
FGS “Strive diligently to present thyself approved to God, a workman that has not to be ashamed, cutting in a straight line the word of truth”, 2 Timothy 2:15.
JT Just so; that is a question of truth.
JOS One might get a thought, but does not the servant need to be near the Lord in order to express it aright?
JT “The Lord gives the word: great the host of the publishers”, Psalm 68:11. That is the idea of expression.
WEM There are two thoughts in Corinthians, God’s husbandry and God’s building. Would the watering come in in connection with the husbandry in view of fruit?
JT It is an agricultural figure which Scripture often uses, as well as many other things, as it says, “Doth not even nature itself teach you”? 1 Corinthians 11:14. Paul wrote to Corinth, “one says, I am of Paul, and another, I of Apollos, are ye not men”? 1 Corinthians 3:4. That was corrective. Then he inquires, “Who then is Apollos, and who Paul”? 1 Corinthians 3:5. He is placing himself alongside of Apollos now, and says they were just “Ministering servants, through whom ye have believed”. 1 Corinthians 3:5. He is giving Apollos credit for that too, and then that the service was carried on “as the Lord has given to each. I have planted; Apollos watered; but God has given the increase. So that neither the planter is anything, nor the waterer”. 1 Corinthians 3:5 - 7. God is the Giver of the increase, so that God is everything. “The planter and the waterer are one; but each shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. For we are God’s fellow-workmen”. 1 Corinthians 3:8,9 So that the thought is elevated up to fellow-workmanship under God. Thus the matter is plain as to the work of God, how it proceeds, and how the [p. 441] servants may work together, even though one may be much younger than the other. Grace will operate so that the elder will make much of the younger and the younger will know his measure and keep to it.
Ques Does Paul pass on from the agricultural thought dealing with persons to the assembly thought?
JT Very good. He did not send Apollos as he did Timotheus, for the idea of independent ministry is in mind in Apollos; that is ministry exercised directly under Christ, and free of other influence. The Lord would have him move in that way. I suppose in truth Apollos did not want to give the Corinthians an opportunity of using him against Paul. I believe that was the reason. There were enemies of Paul there, and its shows the skill that there ought to be with the ministers in not using anything against each other.
Ques Is that why it is said, “concerning the brother Apollos”? 1 Corinthians 16:12.
JT He was not an apostle; I suppose the word brother is an honourable reference.