2 Corinthians 11:7-12 (HCSB)
Or did I commit a sin by humbling myself so that you might be exalted, because I preached the gospel of God to you free of charge? I robbed other churches by taking pay from them to minister to you. When I was present with you and in need, I did not burden anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied my needs. I have kept myself, and will keep myself, from burdening you in any way. As the truth of Christ is in me, this boasting of mine will not be stopped in the regions of Achaia. Why? Because I don’t love you? God knows I do!
But I will continue to do what I am doing, in order to deny the opportunity of those who want an opportunity to be regarded just as our equals in what they boast about.
Many of the “super apostles” required the people to whom they ministered to support them, sometimes lavishly, while they were in their city. They presented the requirement as a right of apostles. They were bringing evangelism and discipleship to the city, and the price was that the church provide support for them.
Paul hadn’t required that of the Corinthians when he had come. Some use this section of Scripture to teach that pastors should not be paid by the church for doing the work of leading the congregation. But not only is Paul not saying that here, he flatly contradicts that concept in 1 Corinthians 9:3-18, where he strongly asserts that he had a right to receive support from the church for his services, but that he did not use that right.
Instead, Paul received support from other churches in other cities as he ministered (verse 8 as well as Philippians 4:15-16), and if he had needs above what he received from them, he made up the difference by his own labor as a tentmaker and leatherworker (Acts 18:3). But Paul makes it very clear that the reason he did not require support from the Corinthians was not that he had no right to it, or that he was undeserving of it due to his lack of training or skill, as the “super apostles” were saying. Instead he had not required support from them because he didn’t need it at the time, and because, as he was just starting the working Corinth, not ministering to an already established group of Christians, he didn’t want to require people to pay in order to hear the life-giving gospel.
And Paul had no intention of requiring support from the Corinthians now, merely to elevate himself. If they wanted to support his continued ministry around the empire, fine. If not, it would not stop his love for them, his prayers for them, and his continuing efforts in helping them to grow and mature.
Father, thank you for this clarification. Paul could have received pay from the Corinthians but chose not to in order to not keep anyone, especially the poor and needy, from having the gospel because they couldn’t pay the admission price. It was predominantly a matter of motive and goals. Paul’s goal was to get the gospel into the hearts of as many people as he could as quickly as possible, not to build a “brand” for himself, or to line his own pockets. Help me as I do the work of your kingdom to keep an eye on my own motives, so that they are kept in line with your will, so that I can be powerful and effective in reaching people for Jesus. Amen.