I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service.
Paul served Corinth without charge to them by taking wages from other churches to do them service. What was lacking to him was supplied through the brethren who came from Macedonia. He also worked at tent-making to provide for his own needs and the necessities of others, so that even when present with them and in want he was chargeable to no one and in all things kept himself from being burdensome to them. In thus preaching God's gospel freely he abased himself that the believers might be exalted.
He had a just right to claim support from his hearers, for gospel ministers are entitled to wages. That right he surrendered, refusing financial support when he first visited Corinth. He did this because the seacoast Greeks of Corinth were keen, suspicious traders who regarded gain as godliness and regarded making money by fair means or foul as commendable. He acted to give no cause for reproach to those seeking occasion, lest enemies misrepresent his motives and say he preached the gospel to enrich himself. By foregoing his right he removed occasion for misrepresentation and unjust suspicion that he preached for gain, so that his usefulness and success as a minister would not be hindered or injured and the force of his message would not be lost.
He purposed to keep the same course throughout the regions of Achaia. While thus self-supporting he labored faithfully in proclaiming the gospel, with the signs of an apostle wrought among them in all patience, in signs and wonders and mighty deeds, seeking not their goods but them, and very gladly spending and being spent for them. The chapter containing the verse is Paul's account of his experience and is to be studied for decisive instruction. In connection with receiving support from other churches, ministers may through self-denial and sacrifice give part of their own wages to help needy missions.
Paul served Corinth without charge to them by taking wages from other churches to do them service. What was lacking to him was supplied through the brethren who came from Macedonia. He also worked at tent-making to provide for his own needs and the necessities of others, so that even when present with them and in want he was chargeable to no one and in all things kept himself from being burdensome to them. In thus preaching God's gospel freely he abased himself that the believers might be exalted.
He had a just right to claim support from his hearers, for gospel ministers are entitled to wages. That right he surrendered, refusing financial support when he first visited Corinth. He did this because the seacoast Greeks of Corinth were keen, suspicious traders who regarded gain as godliness and regarded making money by fair means or foul as commendable. He acted to give no cause for reproach to those seeking occasion, lest enemies misrepresent his motives and say he preached the gospel to enrich himself. By foregoing his right he removed occasion for misrepresentation and unjust suspicion that he preached for gain, so that his usefulness and success as a minister would not be hindered or injured and the force of his message would not be lost.
He purposed to keep the same course throughout the regions of Achaia. While thus self-supporting he labored faithfully in proclaiming the gospel, with the signs of an apostle wrought among them in all patience, in signs and wonders and mighty deeds, seeking not their goods but them, and very gladly spending and being spent for them. The chapter containing the verse is Paul's account of his experience and is to be studied for decisive instruction. In connection with receiving support from other churches, ministers may through self-denial and sacrifice give part of their own wages to help needy missions.