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Thomas Campbell
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Some Pioneer Answers--1824 thru 1861 (1949)
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RESTORATION READINGS
BY
ORAM JACKSON SWINNEY
COPYRIGHT 1949
By
ORAM J. SWINNEY
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Being a compilation of works from able pens
of the last century, and revived for you who
neither possess the works from which they
are taken nor have access thereto. This
is not by any means to be considered
exhaustive or complete. It is but a calling
up, for profit in study, some things that
should never perish from the earth, because
they are based on eternal principles and
therefore, of interest to every Bible student
as well as the casual reader. |
| --OJS. |
FROM
Some Pioneer Answers--1824 thru 1861
BY
T. CAMPBELL, A. CAMPBELL, AND THEIR CONTEMPORARIES
Q. Does the parable of the Talents apply to saints or sinners,
as recorded in the 25th chapter of Matthew?
A. 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 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 [60]
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 one talent, and unequivocally teaches all disciples
that it is equally in 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.
Q. Is an unmarried person or a youth who has never been
married, eligible to the office of bishop or overseer?
A. If Paul be admitted a competent witness 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.
From Restoration Readings, pp. 60-61.
Q. What are we to understand by the expression? I Tim.
3:10.
A. The meaning of this injunction is determined by the
conjunction "also"--which signifies, in like manner--always referring
to something immediately preceding, as mentioned or
described. Now the preceding context is descriptive of the character
and qualifications which a person must possess to render
him eligible to the office of a bishop. And how could this be
ascertained but by personal and social investigation?--that is,
by conversing freely with the person himself upon the subjects
both of knowledge and practice; and also with his acquaintance,
both in the church and out of it: see verse 7th. Thus were his
qualifications and character to be proved, before he could be
lawfully chosen to occupy the office of a bishop.--The apostle
having given these directions for selecting proper characters for
the bishop's office, immediately proceeds in like manner with
respect to the deacon's office, verse 8, saying, "likewise must
the deacons be grave," etc. "And let these also first be proved";
that is as he had ordered those to be, who were designed, or
desirous, to occupy the office of a bishop: for it appears from
verse 1st, that a man might lawfully desire the office of a
bishop, and, of course, offer his services to his brethren for
that purpose; but that he could not lawfully assume it without
a legal trial and ordination; and, for this purpose Timothy is
solemnly charged--to lay hands suddenly on no man, lest, by
so doing, he should become partaker in other men's sins: see
chap 5:22--by thus introducing unqualified persons into those
sacred offices. Therefore the apostle enjoins a similar attention
to be paid to the character of the candidate for each.
Q. What is meant by the expression, I Tim. 5:20? "that
others also may fear".
A. It evidently appears from the preceding verse that the
apostle meant, that if any of the elders were accused and found
guilty, being tried according to the process described in said
verse, that his being publicly rebuked in the presence of the
church, would be a terror and a warning to others, to excite
them to abstain from similar evils.
But it is also asked--"Did it require Timothy, and, more [73]
generally, all evangelists to rebuke elders of churches?" A. It appears
that Timothy was prophetically called to the evangelical
office, as Paul and Barnabas were to a special missionary work
by the prophets and teachers of the church at Antioch: see
Acts 13:1-3, with I Tim. 4:14. "Neglect not the gift that is in
thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of
the hands of the presbytery:" (All ministerial offices for the
conversion of sinners, and the edification or saints, are called
gifts: see Eph. 4:8,11,12); Now this must have been the gift
of office; for none would confer miraculous gifts by the imposition
of their hands but the apostles: see Acts 8:5,6,14-17.
For although Philip astonished the Samaritans with his miracles;
this was reserved for the apostles Peter and John. Now,
Timothy being thus divinely favored with the gift of the evangelical
office, and, no doubt, with the gift of the Holy Spirit
also, by the laying on of Paul's hands: see II Tim. 1:6,7, with
Acts 19:6,7; he was, therefore, duly qualified to perform all the
duties of the evangelical office; namely, to preach, teach, and
rule: see I Tim. 1:3,4 and 4:11-16, and II Tim. 4:1-5, with
Titus 1:5, etc.
Q. Lastly it is queried whether the Apostle may not intend
the elders of the churches, whom he thus instructs and requires
to admonish disorderly members.
A. It appears from the context immediately preceding, that
the Apostle is instructing and authorizing his beloved and faithful
cooperant, Timothy, how he should proceed with respect
to the different classes of character, both natural and official,
which constitute Christian society; beginning first with the elderly
men and women, verses 1-2, and ending with the ruling
elder, verses 17-20. Now it is evident that Timothy was instructed
both to authorize him, and also to instruct and authorize
others, how to act toward each other as Christians. The
elders that ruled well, were to be counted worthy of double honor,
(that is, with respect to support;), especially they that labored
in the word and doctrine, (that is, both in preaching and teaching.)
The former of those epithets, namely, the word or gospel, being
connected with its proclamation for the conversion of sinners;
the latter, namely, doctrine, or teaching of divine truths, [74]
for the edification of saints. Now the elder that both evangelized
the world, and taught the church, would incur so much
more experience, than he that confined his labors simply to
teaching and ruling the church; that he, therefore, would
"especially" need a prompt and liberal support. These things
being evidently so, it follows, of course, that Timothy was to
exemplify the apostolic injunction for rebuking the faulty, as
well as honoring the worthy, amongst the elders. Indeed, the
obvious import of the 19th verse, and its immediate connection
with the 20th, which contains the subject of the proposed query,
renders it impossible that it should mean anything else, but the
rebuke of those impeached elders that should be found guilty
when tried in the manner prescribed in the preceding verse:
"Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or
three witnesses. Them that sin rebuke before all, that others
also may fear." It is also as evident from that most solemn
charge immediately following, that the apostle is speaking directly
and immediately to Timothy: "I charge thee before God,
and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe
these things, without preferring one before another, doing
nothing through partiality."
Upon the whole, the sameness and close connexion of the
subject, from the commencement of the chapter to the end of
the 22nd verse, being all an enforcement of relative duties, by
the agency of Timothy, according to the Apostle's directions,
addressed to him for that purpose, renders it impossible to admit
that the Apostle is addressing any other.
Much respected brother, son Alexander not being at home, I
undertook, at the request of Brother Pendleton, to consider
your queries.--And, upon a close investigation of the text,
have been induced to present the above answers, as unexceptionably
evident.
| |
Yours very affectionately,
Thomas Campbell. |
From Restoration Readings, pp. 73-75.
ABOUT THE ELECTRONIC EDITION
The questions and answers on pp. 60-61 of Restoration Readings
were first published as
"Queries"
in The Christian Baptist, Vol. VII, No. 2, September 7, 1829, p. 581.
Those on pp. 73-75 were first published as
"Queries
by A. S. H." in The Millennial Harbinger, Third Series,
Vol. 2, No. 5, May 1845, pp. 220-222. The publication in "Some Pioneer
Answers--1824 thru 1861," in Restoration Readings, ed. Oram
Jackson Swinney [Kansas City, MO: Old Paths Book Club,] 1949, constitutes
the first book appearance of these questions and answers. The
electronic text was prepared from a copy of Restoration Readings
held by Hiram College Library. Thanks to Adams Memorial Library for
arranging this interlibrary loan.
Pagination in the electronic version has been represented by placing
the page number in brackets following the last complete word on the
printed page.
Inconsistencies in spelling, capitalization, punctuation, and
typography have been retained.
Variants in the text from the first periodical publications to the first
book publication of the queries and answers are as follows:
CB / RR Christian Baptist [ Restoration Readings
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
p. 581: / p. 60: Query 1.-- [ Q.
DOES the parable [ Does the parable
to Saints [ to saints
or Sinners, [ or sinners,
Answer.-- [ A.
servants certain trusts [ servants trusts
Prince returned.-- [ Prince returned.
ratio [ ratio
/ p. 61: contrast of the man and the one talent, [
contrast of the one talent,
equally in the power [ equally in power
Query 2.-- [ Q.
Answer.-- [ A.
witness in the case, he is [ witness he is
MH / RR Millennial Harbinger [ Restoration Readings
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
p. 220: / p. 73: Query 1. [ Q.
WHAT are we [ what are we
expression, [ expression?
1 Tim. iii. 10., "And let these also first be proved;
then let them use the office of a deacon, being
found blameless"? [ I Tim. 3:10.
Answer. [ A.
also-- [ "also"--
in like manner-- [ in like manner--
must possess, [ must possess
person by himself [ person himself
upon the specified subjects [ upon the subjects
character and qualifications [ qualifications and
character
The Apostle [ The apostle
"Likewise [ "likewise
grave," &c. [ grave," etc.
proved;" [ proved";
that is, as he [ that is as he
chapter v. 22-- [ chap 5:22--
Therefore [ Therefore,
Apostle enjoins [ apostle enjoins
Query 2. [ Q.
1 Tim. v. 20., [ I Tim. 5:20?
"Them that sin rebuke before all, that others [ "that
others
also may fear"? [ also may fear".
Ans. [ A.
Apostle meant, [ apostle meant,
p. 74: ¶ Answer. It appears [ A. It appears
p. 221: / Acts xiii. 1-3, [ Acts 13:1-3,
1 Tim. iv. 14.-- [ I Tim. 4:15.
prebytery." [ presbytery:"
* All [ (All
gifts: [ gifts:
Eph. iv. 8, 11, 12. [ Eph. 4:8,11,12);
gift of office;* [ gift of office;
could confer [ would confer
miraculous spiritual gifts [ miraculous gifts
but the Apostles: [ but the apostles:
Acts viii. 5, 6, 14-17. [ Acts 8:5,6,14-17.
his miracles, [ his miracles;
yet he could not confer miraculous powers upon the
converts; this was reserved [ this was reserved
Apostles Peter [ apostles Peter
2 Tim. i. 6; 7, [ II Tim. 1:6,7,
Acts xix. 6, 7; [ Acts 19:6,7;
1 Tim. i. 3, 4, [ I Tim. 1:3,4
and iv. 11-16, [ and 4:11-16,
2 Tim. iv. 1-5, [ II Tim. 4:1-5,
Titus i. 5, &c. &c. [ Titus 1:5, etc.
Query 3. [ Q.
Answer. [ A.
co-operant, [ cooperant,
was thus instructed [ was instructed
act towards [ act toward
connecteed [ connected
of sinners: [ of sinners;
p. 75: more expence, [ more experience,
ruling the church: [ ruling the church;
"especially" [ "especially"
as for honoring [ as honoring
connexion [ connection
p. 221: / any thing else, [ anything else,
Apostle is speaking [ apostle is speaking
"I charge thee [ "I charge thee
thou observe [ thou observe
partiality"? [ partiality."
22d verse, [ 22nd verse,
brother Pendleton, [ Brother Pendleton,
Yours, [ Yours
THOMAS CAMPBELL. [ Thomas Campbell.
Addenda and corrigenda are earnestly solicited.
Ernie Stefanik
Derry, PA
Created 15 June 1998.
Updated 8 July 2003.
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Thomas Campbell
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Some Pioneer Answers--1824 thru 1861 (1949)
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