In 1984 Brother Lee said,

I have made an attempt to open every book of the New Testament to you, but I have left the further digging to you. I have only “opened up the mine,” but I have not dug that much. The foundation that Brother Watchman Nee laid in China helped me greatly…Through many direct talks with him for over at least eighteen years, I received a very solid foundational word to build on. As a result, I picked up the burden...to open each book of the New Testament to the seeking saints. Both Brother Nee and I did not have that much time to dig further. I want to dig further, and I am still digging, but I do not believe that I can do that much. Therefore, I leave this further digging matter to you.

The basic truths have been presented to us, and much life nourishment has been put into print, especially with the Life-study messages. Also, the obstacles have nearly all been removed. We now have a clear way for our study, and every book is open to us. In mining, the hardest thing is to open the mine. Once the mine has been opened and the treasure is exposed, it is easy for someone to dig out the treasures. I have left only this one matter of further digging to you. I believe that the Lord will continue this digging work either through you or through some others. After a period of time I believe that many of you will be “good diggers.” The intention and the goal of our publishing the Life-study messages is to open up the mine for you to go in and dig. (The Collected Works of Witness Lee, 1984, vol. 2, “Elders’ Training, Book 3: The Way to Carry Out the Vision,” pp. 311-312)

The content of today’s ministry is the “digging out” of the treasures of the Word of God, and it is always living, new, fresh, and full of light. This up-to-date speaking is recorded, edited, and published in The Ministry of the Word.

More concerning the burden and significance of The Ministry of the Word is presented in this article in our newsletter, “Having This Ministry...” (Issue 3, July 2021).