This week we come to the book of 1 Timothy, and the very first crucial point of truth in this book is God’s economy in faith (as seen in 1 Tim. 1:3-4). One of the first items that Paul speaks of in his first epistle to Timothy is God’s economy in faith, to which he should stay and encourage others to be in it. Enjoy the portions below – and don’t forget to share what you have enjoyed!
1 Tim. 1:3-4 Even as I exhorted you, when I was going into Macedonia, to remain in Ephesus in order that you might charge certain ones not to teach different things nor to give heed to myths and unending genealogies, which produce questionings rather than God’s economy, which is in faith.
Crucial Point 1 in 1 Timothy – God’s Economy in Faith
The first crucial point in 1 Timothy is God’s economy in faith. In 1:3-4 Paul says, “Even as I urged you, when I was going into Macedonia, to remain in Ephesus in order that you might charge certain ones not to teach differently, nor to occupy themselves with myths and unending genealogies, which give occasion for questionings rather than God’s dispensation which is in faith.”
God’s dispensation (v. 4) or God’s household economy (Eph. 1:10; 3:9) is God’s household administration to dispense Himself in Christ into His chosen people, that He may have a house, a household to express Himself, which household is the church, the Body of Christ (3:15). The apostle’s ministry was centered upon this economy of God (Col. 1:25; 1 Cor. 9:17), whereas the different teachings of the dissenting ones were used by God’s enemy to distract His people from this. This divine economy must be made fully clear to the saints in the administration and shepherding of a local church.
Faith in the New Testament bears two denotations, an objective denotation and a subjective denotation. The dispensation of God is a matter in faith, that is, in the sphere and element of faith, in God through Christ. Faith may be in contrast to questionings. God’s economy to dispense Himself into His chosen people is not in the natural realm, nor in the work of law, but in the spiritual sphere of the new creation through regeneration by faith in Christ (Gal. 3:23-26). By faith we are born of God to be His sons, partaking of His life and the divine nature to express Him (1 John 5:11-12; 2 Pet. 1:4). By faith we are put into Christ to become the members of His Body (Eph. 5:30), sharing all that He is for His expression. This is God’s dispensation according to His New Testament economy carried out in faith. God’s economy is a matter in this kind of faith. (Elders’ Training Book 6: The Crucial Points of Truth in Paul’s Epistles, pp. 105-106, by Witness Lee)
Footnotes and Cross References for 1 Tim. 1:3-4
1 Tim. 1:3 Even as I exhorted you, when I was 1going into aMacedonia, to remain in bEphesus in order that you might charge 2certain ones not to teach 3cdifferent things
1 Tim. 1:4 Nor to give heed to 1amyths and unending 2bgenealogies, which produce cquestionings rather than God’s 3deconomy, which is in 4efaith.
Further Reading – ministry portions
- Life-study of 1 Timothy msg. 1 – and the Radio Broadcast 1 from Life-Study of 1 Timothy.
- The Economy of God, ch. 1
- The Central Line of the Divine Revelation, ch. 3
- Living in and With the Divine Trinity, ch. 2.
Hymn on this topic – see Hymn #539
Stanza 1: O Lord, Thou art in me as life / And everything to me! / Subjective and available, / Thus I experience Thee.
Chorus: O Lord, Thou art the Spirit! / How dear and near to me! / How I admire Thy marvelous / Availability!
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