Query 1.--DOES the parable of the Talents apply to Saints or Sinners, as recorded in the 25th chapter of Matthew?

      Answer.--To neither as such. It is intended to represent the adminstration of the Reign of favor during the absence from earth of the King. The persons to whom the management of the affairs of this kingdom was committed during the time from the departure of the King till his second coming, were compared to the public servants or stewards of a prince or nobleman. To each of these public servants certain trusts were committed, and the management of these trusts was to be the subject of inquiry when the Prince returned.--The stewards, according to their capacity for management, had more or less committed to their management. To one was committed a very large trust, to another a less one, and to a third a very small one. The same fidelity and diligence were exhibited by persons of very different capacities and trust. Hence he that had gained five and he that gained two talents were equally praiseworthy, for as the ratio of increase was the same, so the diligence and fidelity were the same; and the reward was equal. Now had the steward who had the least trust, only one talent, managed it so as to have gained one he would have been as commendable as he that had gained five. But the error was that he thought himself disparaged, conceived himself neglected, and formed a very unfavorable opinion of the King. This paralyzed all his energies, and he did nothing. His evil eye was the cause of his apathy, and instead of going to work he set himself to frame excuses or himself. As is very natural for persons of this character, he threw the blame upon his Maker, and vainly expected to justify himself by criminating the administration of the King. The parable very forcibly demonstrates the consolatory and animating maxim, of Paul--viz: "It is always accepted according to what a man has, and not according to what he has not." The widow and her two mites exhibits just the contrast of the man and the one talent, and unequivocally teaches all disciples that it is equally in the power of all to obtain the greatest eminence in the Kingdom of Jesus, whatever their earthly means or opportunities may be. This parable has been grossly misapplied when turned to the advantage of unconverted men.

      Query 2.--Is an unmarried person or a youth who has never been married, eligible to the office of bishop or overseer?

      Answer.--If Paul be admitted a competent witness in the case, he is not. A stripling married or unmarried, is not eligible. A person of middle age if recently converted, is not eligible. And a man who has had no experience in domestic management is illy qualified to manage the family of God. But Paul says a bishop or overseer must be blameless, and as very intimately connected therewith, "he must be the husband of one wife." That elderly persons were most eligible is evident from his adding, "having believing children," of good behaviour too, "not accused of riot, nor unruly." We have very good reason to believe that if the apostle's qualifications were all literally observed in selecting such persons only as possess these qualifications to the discharge of the duties of this office, it would be much better with the christian communities; and that the evils which are supposed to flow from the want of bishops of some sort, are much more imaginary than real.

[The Christian Baptist, September 7, 1829, p. 581.]

      Thomas Campbell's "Queries" was first published in The Christian Baptist, Vol. VII, No. 2, September 7, 1829. The electronic version of the essay has been produced from the College Press (1983) reprint of The Christian Baptist, ed. Alexander Campbell (Cincinnati: D. S. Burnet, 1835), p. 581. The first book publication of these queries and answers was in "Some Pioneer Answers--1824 thru 1861," in Restoration Readings, ed. Oram Jackson Swinney [Rosemead, CA: Old Paths Book Club,] 1949, pp. 60-61.

      Pagination in the electronic version has been represented by placing the page number in brackets following the last complete word on the printed page. I have let stand variations and inconsistencies in the author's (or editor's) use of italics, capitalization, punctuation, and spelling in the essay.

      Addenda and corrigenda are earnestly solicited.

Ernie Stefanik
Derry, PA

Created 10 January 1998.
Updated 7 July 2003.