FROM

THE

MILLENNIAL HARBINGER.

THIRD SERIES.

VOL. II.	BETHANY, VA. MAY, 1845.	NO. V.

March 17, 1845.      

      Query 1. WHAT are we to understand by the expression, 1 Tim. iii. 10., "And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless"?

      Answer. 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 by himself upon the specified 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 character and qualifications 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," &c. "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 chapter v. 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.

      Query 2. What is meant by the expression, 1 Tim. v. 20., "Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear"?

      Ans. 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 generally, all evangelists to rebuke elders of churches?"

      Answer. 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 [220] Acts xiii. 1-3, with 1 Tim. iv. 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." Now this must have been the gift of office;^* for none could confer miraculous spiritual gifts by the imposition of their hands but the Apostles: see Acts viii. 5, 6, 14-17. For although Philip astonished the Samaritans with his miracles, yet he could not confer miraculous powers upon the converts; 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 2 Tim. i. 6, 7, with Acts xix. 6, 7; he was, therefore, duly qualified to perform all the duties of the evangelical office; namely, to preach, teach, and rule: see 1 Tim. i. 3, 4, and iv. 11-16, and 2 Tim. iv. 1-5, with Titus i. 5, &c. &c.

      Query 3. 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.

      Answer. It appears from the context immediately preceding, that the Apostle is instructing and authorizing his beloved and faithful co-operant, 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 thus instructed both to authorize him, and also to instruct and authorize others, how to act towards 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, for the edification of saints. Now the elder that both evangelized the world, and taught the church, would incur so much more expence, 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 for honoring the worthy, amongst the elders. Indeed, the obvious import of the 19th verse, and its immediate connexion with the 20th, which contains the subject of the proposed query, renders it impossible that [221] it should mean any thing 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 22d 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.      

      ^* All ministerial offices for the conversion of sinners, and the edification or saints, are called gifts: see Eph. iv. 8, 11, 12.

[The Millennial Harbinger (May 1845): 220-222.]

      Thomas Campbell's "Queries by A. S. H." was first published in The Millennial Harbinger, Third Series, Vol. 2, No. 5, May 1845. The electronic version of the essay has been produced from the College Press reprint (1976) of The Millennial Harbinger, ed. Alexander Campbell (Bethany, VA: A. Campbell, 1845), pp. 220-222. 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. 73-75.

      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. Emendations are as follows:

            Printed Text [ Electronic Text
 -----------------------------------------------------------------------
 p. 221:    2 Tim. i. 6; 7, [ 2 Tim. i. 6, 7,
            verse 17-20. [ verses 17-20.
            connecteed [ connected
 p. 222:    partiality?" [ partiality"?
 

      Addenda and corrigenda are earnestly solicited.

Ernie Stefanik
Derry, PA

Created 25 March 1998.
Updated 9 July 2003.