Eckhardt's Homiletisches Reallexikon, 1907–1917

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Salary. Treatises. Essay on the relation of the church and its ministers with respect to their support. Luth. 17, 129–134. Something on the support of preachers. Luth. 57, 339. 371. 403. 58, 5. A brief word on the pastor's salary. 56, 20. An exhortation, needed here and there, concerning the bodily support of preachers. Luth. 28, 62. On the pastor's salary. Luth. 54, 65. 73. Pastor's salary. How should the salary of a congregation's teacher be raised by a Christian congregation? Salary. 1. The congregation should physically support the pastor, so that he lacks nothing. Luke 10:7: "A laborer is worthy of his wages." 2 Tim. 2:4: "No soldier entangles himself in the affairs of this life." Sir. 38:26–27. How can he who must plow attend to teaching, etc. — Walth. Die rechte Gestalt 157–162. Walth. Anschl. 60–62. Luth. —, 209. Mit. 98, 40–41. a. Gal. 6:6: "Let him who is taught," etc. Luth. 57, 339. Mich. 1907, 60. Walth. Epi. 392. R. Pi. Epi. 447. Theol. 3, 32. Küg. 3, 166. Neb. 94, 50. All manner of good things. History, Ka. 1900, 53. b. Luke 10:7: "eat and drink such things as they give." Luth. 54, 74. 56, 20. 57, 371. Ka. 1900, 53. Mich. 1907, 56–57. c. 1 Cor. 9:14: "should live of the gospel." Mich. 1907, 58. d. Deut. 25:4: "You shall not muzzle the ox." Mich. 1907, 64. N. 67, 39–40. Note a. This is not left to the free discretion of Christians but is God's command. 1 Cor. 9:14: "The Lord has ordained." It is a part of the Third Commandment. Note b. God's ordinance is also not abolished by the fact that a pastor is rich. One must pay the merchant for the goods, regardless of whether the merchant is rich or poor. Note c. Everything said here also applies to teachers. A teacher's salary should not be raised through school fees. Luth. 57, 273. 60, 37. Note d. In the early times of the Christian church, pastors lived on charitable gifts that were offered on the altar during the worship service. Objection. Matt. 10:8: "Freely give." But Christ immediately adds: "A laborer is worthy of his wages." Antithesis. Various church bodies insist that a pastor should earn his bread on the side.

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2. What God's manner is not in providing for his servants. It is not God's way a. that God miraculously sustains his servants, as he certainly could. Moses on Sinai. Elijah through the ravens. He has not promised us this, b. that his servants should be beggars among men. A pastor's salary should not be regarded as alms but as wages owed, not as a noble act but as a duty, c. that one should pay for the Gospel. That could not be done with a thousand guilders. Hymn 210:3. "In all the mine-shafts," etc., d. that God provides his servants beforehand, before they enter office, with so many earthly goods that they need no more, e. that his servants should earn their bread on the side through manual labor. Objection. Paul made tents. 1 Thess. 2:9. 2 Thess. 3:8–9. Acts 20:33–34. — He did this voluntarily, a. in order to clear every obstacle out of the way of the course of the Gospel, b. in order to give the people an example, since at that time manual labor was considered a disgrace, the work of slaves. It redounded to his own honor, but he does not say that it also redounds to the honor of his congregation.

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3. Who should raise the salary? a. Not those who are outside. Whoever wants to know nothing of God's Word and congregation should not be expected to support the pastoral office either. Compare on this "Giving," §11: In what way the money should be raised. "Social entertainments"; b. but the members of the congregation themselves, indeed everyone who is instructed and enjoys the blessings of grace: those with voting rights and those without, men, women, young people. Note a. Here all should take hold together. 2 Cor. 8:13: "that there may be equality." Note b. Young men and young women should be held to regular contributions. Note c. The Lord does not reproach the widow for giving her mite. Note d. Whoever will not contribute anything to the salary although he can is a spiritual thief. He lets others pay for what he enjoys. Note e. How should the congregation deal with those who refuse to contribute anything to the salary? The congregation should instruct and admonish them in every way. Only when their greed is manifest can such people be taken into church discipline. Note f. One should contribute to the salary 1. voluntarily, not by compulsion, not out of a servile sense of duty, but out of recognition of the great treasures that come to us through the preaching office. 1 Cor. 1:21; 2. according to one's means. A legal apportioning of the burdens, so that everyone must raise an equal sum, is against love. Note g. Obadiah supported a hundred prophets entirely alone, at the risk of his own life. Note h. If a congregation cannot raise sufficient salary for its pastor, the mission treasury will gladly help. But congregations that are able to support their pastor themselves should not turn to the mission treasury. That would not only be a disgrace for the congregation — 2 Cor. 11:8: "robbed other churches," etc. — but would also harm the cause of missions itself.

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4. The congregation should not set the salary too low. For a. God does not want his servants to be tempted by concern for food to take up all sorts of side occupations and neglect their office; b. it is disgraceful if, under our present circumstances in this land, a pastor must support himself by manual labor or has only a meager livelihood; c. a pastor should be hospitable and have the means necessary for this. 1 Tim. 3:2. He needs books. d. A father of a household must also provide for his family. Should he not also, like so many of his members, be able to save something for his old age? e. In the city one must buy everything at a high price. Note a. In the amount of the salary two extremes are to be avoided: the sheep should not be flayed, but neither should any pastor suffer want while his members sit in comfort. The rule is: "Eat and drink such things as they give." See §1. A fixed measure cannot be set for every case. Jo. 89, 32. Note b. In the Old Testament the people had to give firstfruits and the tithe. For this, however, the children of Levi received no inheritance. Note c. The apostolic congregations do not seem to have been stingy. At least the apostle admonishes pastors not to work for the sake of shameful gain. Note d. Praiseworthy example from congregations. Luth. Note e. The synod, too, should place its professors so that they do not have to struggle with cares about food. Note c. Many consider a preacher's work effortless and comfortable, since his activity takes place more in quiet. "The pastor has nothing to do." Objection. It would be good for pastors if they were kept somewhat short on salary. Then they could practice humility and self-denial. — No one has the right to lay on a cross except God.

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5. A congregation that pays too small a salary, although it could do better, a. sins against the seventh commandment, withholds wages, b. hinders the pastor's joy in his office, c. promotes frequent changes of calling. Note a. That does not redound to a congregation's honor. Note b. God is not mocked. He will punish it when members let their pastor suffer want without necessity. A shortage of preachers is often the consequence. Note c. This, however, should also be held before the congregation, although one does not gladly speak of this delicate subject. Two extremes are to be avoided here: making this question the most important one, and being entirely silent about it. Note d. A congregation should, where necessary, revise its salary schedules, and when it must add to them, not grumble but rejoice. Note e. As the teacher may speak for an increase of the pastor's salary, so the pastor may speak for an increase of the teacher's salary. Note f. What one does for a preacher, God rewards. The Shunammite woman took in Elijah and received a son for it.

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6. What stance should the pastor take toward his salary? He should a. not work for the sake of wages. Not even a Christian businessman should do that. Whoever enters the office should not do it in order to find a good living, Luth. 63, 149, but for Christ's sake, Luth. 17, 129–130 — not as a servant of his belly; b. not disdain a call to a congregation with little salary on that account; c. avoid everything by which he could bring upon himself the appearance of greed. Nothing is more shameful than a greedy preacher; d. not insist precisely that his salary be fixed, however desirable that may be;