Does the church need paid ministers?

I've often wondered whether the Christian church (particularly my own) really should depend on lay ministers, according to the Pauline principle we have long followed, or start paying more ministers.  A friend got me thinking this week about this question once again, and voiced her opinion that having a larger paid staff is likely to produce bad fruit, though she didn't suggest what this might be.  I have the same suspicion if the type of work they are paid to do is merely evangelism or various ministries, such as those the Apostles delegated to the Seven in Acts 6.

My main reason for suggesting that we DO need paid ministers and teachers is this: we need Bible scholars and teachers.

Many ministers these days are not primarily Bible teachers.  While they spend a bit of time studying and preparing sermons, they do not "give themselves continually to prayer and the ministry of the word." [Acts 6:4]  This may be because such teaching is not in very great demand.  This is very unfortunate for the Church, as it causes the general level of Biblical literacy in the church to decline, and thus, with the effect that Christians in the church are spiritually stunted.

Of course, in an ideal world, every Christian would be a Bible scholar at some level. But, whether we realize it or not, we need more men truly dedicated to study and teaching of the Word. With such teachers the church as a whole would, I believe, experience revival and renewal of a sort not seen in a long time.

And I admit that I truly wish there were a church that would support such ministers, where I could regularly go and listen to such deep teaching as that of Martyn Lloyd-Jones and Alistair Begg. I expect R.C. Sproul, John Piper and John McArthur have such congregations.  But I have not found one in my town, and worry that there really aren't more than 10 people here who would come out to hear such teaching, were it to be offered.

I pray that my own Church will support such teaching, though I doubt it will be financial support for a time.  Oh that I had more time to study the Holy Books and sit in the Temple all day long.  I'm channeling Tevya here.  May the Lord have mercy on us and raise up scholars and teachers to spur God's people on to holiness and exploits worthy of our Lord Jesus Christ, whether paid or not.