And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. (1 Co 2:1–5)
We can deduce that Paul first came to Corinth during his second missionary journey. Scholars believe this to be from 50 AD. Presumably, Paul arrived in Corinth after leaving Athens and spent approximately 18 months in the city, establishing a Christian community and preaching the Gospel. We can gather this information from the Book of Acts.
After these things Paul departed from Athens and went to Corinth. And he found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla (because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to depart from Rome); and he came to them. So, because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them and worked; for by occupation, they were tentmakers. And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath and persuaded both Jews and Greeks. (Ac 18:1–4)
Here we can see that Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla because Claudius had ordered all Jews to leave Rome. The specific reason for this expulsion is not stated in the biblical account. However, historical sources outside the Bible provide insight into the possible reasons behind Claudius' decision.
Claudius was the Roman Emperor from 41 to 54 AD. It is believed that the expulsion of Jews from Rome during his reign may have been related to conflicts and disturbances within the Jewish community in Rome at that time. Disputes over religious beliefs or social tensions between Jews and non-Jews in the city might have sparked these conflicts. Some ancient sources, such as the Roman historian Suetonius, attribute the expulsion to clashes between Jews and non-Jews over a certain "Chrestus." Here is what is interesting, some scholars speculate that this reference might be related to debates or conflicts within the Jewish community regarding the claims of Jesus Christ and the emerging Christian movement.
How did Paul make a buck?
We are sure that the term bi-vocal ministry is not strange to the reader, especially when it refers to a pastor. We likely can all site people that we know who are both a minister, and hold a fulltime or part time job, as well. And we do commend such ministers. For we think it in many ways to be a good model for all ministers, with a strong biblical precedent.
This passage gives us some insights into how the Apostle Paul supported himself during his ministry. In 1 Corinthians, Paul mentions his approach to financial matters and how he sustained himself while engaging in his missionary work.
Paul visits Aquila and Priscilla, a power couple of tentmaking expertise. Lo and behold, Paul himself was a tentmaker too! Talk about a match made in heaven or, in this case, the canvas tent industry. So, what does Paul do? The text tells us, "He worked with them." Yep, you read that right. The great Apostle Paul turned into Apostle Paul the Tentmaker!
We can imagine the scene: Paul, with a hammer in one hand and the scroll of the Prophet Isaiah in the other, expertly crafting tents while discussing theology and spreading the Gospel. Now, that's some multitasking right there! Ministry didn't give him a free pass to quit being a productive member of society. He needed to rely on something other than some divine tithes delivery service to sustain himself. No, siree!
Let's clarify: Paul didn't mooch off people's tithes like it was a free slot machine that always landed on triple diamonds. He didn't sit back and wait for a heavenly paycheck to magically appear in his mailbox. Nope, he put his skills to work, literally. Paul knew the gospel wasn't about making a quick buck but rolling up your sleeves and getting your hands dirty. And in Paul's case, those hands were dirty from crafting tents, not counting stacks of money.
So, the next time someone claims to be an apostle and lives in a mansion while sporting a collection of luxury cars, let's remember good ol' Paul, the tentmaking, hardworking, non-tithe-mooching apostle. Because if he could build tents and preach the Gospel simultaneously, surely today's apostles can find a way to earn an honest living without turning the church into a cash cow. After all, it should be about the Messiah, not the moolah!
All of Christ’s first apostles embraced a different kind of currency—a currency of faith, love, and sacrifice. Their treasure lay not in material wealth but in the eternal impact of their message and the lives they touched. They trusted in divine providence, which often came with fellow believers’ support.
Paul’s view of ministry
It seems the concept of "ministry" for Paul was a whole different ball game. It wasn't a 9-to-5 job or a fancy profession with all the perks. Nope, not at all! None of those Apostles rocked a salary or pension plan.
However, we also know that Paul reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks. And he did this on top of holding down a job. Several passages in the New Testament support the fact that Paul worked with his own hands during his ministry. Here are a few examples:
Acts 18:3: And because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them and worked, for they were tentmakers by trade. - This verse explicitly states that Paul engaged in the trade of tentmaking to support himself.
1 Corinthians 4:12: We work hard with our own hands. - In this passage, Paul emphasizes the toil and labor he undertook to sustain himself.
1 Thessalonians 2:9: For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. - Here, Paul highlights his commitment to not burdening the Thessalonian believers by working tirelessly to provide for himself.
2 Thessalonians 3:7-8: For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone's bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day. - Paul reiterates his dedication to working diligently to avoid burdening the Thessalonian community financially.
Did Paul ever Collect Money?
Paul collected money and support from various churches, but here's the catch: it wasn't for his personal mission or ministry comfort. The funds were directed towards aiding the impoverished believers in Jerusalem. Here's a rundown of the instances:
Collection for the Jerusalem Church: Paul mentioned in multiple letters that he collected money from various churches to support the struggling Jewish Christians in Jerusalem. Check out Romans 15:25-28, 1 Corinthians 16:1-4, 2 Corinthians 8-9, and Galatians 2:10 for more details.
Support from Philippi: The Philippian church stood out in supporting Paul financially. They sent him financial gifts while he was in Thessalonica (Philippians 4:16) and even when he was locked up in a Roman prison (Philippians 4:15-18).
Support from the Macedonian Churches: Paul mentioned in 2 Corinthians 11:8-9 that the churches in Macedonia, including those in Philippi and Thessalonica, supported him while he preached in Corinth. They helped meet his needs during his ministry.
Aquila and Priscilla: This amazing couple, mentioned in Acts and Paul's letters, offered support to Paul. While their financial contributions aren't explicitly mentioned, they hosted Paul in their home, not an Inn or Hotel, at the expense of God’s people. Paul worked side by side with them in the tentmaking trade (Acts 18:1-3).
The church did support Paul in real times of need.
Paul's establishment of churches evoked profound affection from their members, who regarded him as their spiritual father. This sentiment became evident through their unwavering support, particularly during Paul's imprisonment. Philippians 4:14-16 highlights the Philippians' consistent care and financial aid, acknowledged by Paul. Similarly, in 2 Corinthians 8:1-5, Paul commends the Macedonian churches, including the Philippians, for their generous contributions. The letter to Philemon further exemplifies the strong bond between Paul and the church, as Paul expresses his confidence and gratitude for their assistance during challenging circumstances (Philemon 1:10-14). These texts affirm the church's love and dedication to Paul amidst trials.
Paul’s pleas for money are few are far between in the letters he wrote and differ significantly from the modern concept of pleas for "seed money" or guilt trips for not paying "tithes," at least from our perspective. Over time, the definition of ministry and the nature of the church have evolved alongside societal changes. Mechanisms have been implemented to ensure that gospel ministers fulfill their tax obligations. Churches now possess financial assets, and it is difficult to argue that our current structures and systems, which we refer to as the church, closely resemble those of the early Christian community. We offer no commendation or condemnation but observe these developments. And pose the question regarding our modern way of understanding ministry and the Church and ask in light of Paul’s experience, “Might there be a better way.”
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