CHAPTER 18 - ON MR. WOLFF'S CHAPTER 18, WHERE HE MAINTAINS THAT "NO ONE IS PASTOR WHO IS NOT COMPETENT TO TEACH AND PREACH"

CHAPTER 18 — ON MR. WOLFF’S CHAPTER 18, WHERE HE MAINTAINS THAT “NO ONE IS PASTOR WHO IS NOT COMPETENT TO TEACH AND PREACH”

If Mr. Wolff is overthrowing the system which Calvin and others find in the word, that is a question which concerns those who build upon it; but — I must say so — I find a thorough difference in the way in which Calvin and Mr. Wolff respect the word. As to the translation of 1 Timothy 5: 17, which he pretends is false, I am bold to say it is not false at all. I have examined twenty-two passages of the word of God where the Greek word kopiao is found, and the result of this examination is, that the translation, in my eyes, is very good. The word is used in two ways: to suffer from the effects of labour, and simply to labour. Wahl’s Lexicon (the most accurate I know for the word of God) does not even present the sense chosen by Mr. Wolff.

In Galatians 6: 6 Mr. Wolff sees an elder who receives payment! But there is not a word in it about elders or a payment properly so called. I cannot conceive the desire of debasing ministry which is constantly found in this pamphlet. A minister who is paid without gift — such is the idea Mr. Wolff forms to himself of ministry. It appears to me very sad.

The apostle asks for liberality “in all good things” towards those who teach: this is a precious thing. But why seek to attach an idea of payment, and to destroy that of love, and of honour, of attachment, and of affection? Mr. Wolff has not been bold enough to translate the Greek word by “salary”; he has translated it by “honour”; and I think, with Calvin, Luther, and the English translators, that he is right.

This is incontestable — that the apostle meant that when it was a question of choosing a bishop, one should be chosen who was “apt to teach.” To say that there were no other bishops, is that which 1 Timothy 5: 17 leads us to doubt.

It is singular that Mr. Wolff dares to say that the administrative functions are not mentioned; for the apostle speaks of the government of the family by the bishop as a sign of certain suitable qualities.