Thomas Campbell Some Pioneer Answers--1824 thru 1861 (1949)


 

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.


Thomas Campbell Some Pioneer Answers--1824 thru 1861 (1949)

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