Tim Maas Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

Perhaps my experience is atypical, but from my personal knowledge of congregations with which I have been affiliated across multiple denominations, the assigned pastors have always been full-time ordained ministers who received a salary from the denomination itself, and never held part-time paid non-pastoral positions. Their ministerial responsibilities of preaching, teaching, and counselling (including such things as regular visits to local hospitals, nursing homes, and prisons) were a full-time job.

I would speculate that, in Paul's case at the time that he was writing and preaching, there was no such formal ecclesiastical structure to provide for the support of ministers. Also, I would say that Paul himself would not have wanted to accept compensation for his work (other than the food and shelter to which Jesus referred to in Luke 10:5-9), in order not to be a burden to the congregation, and so that as much of their resources as possible could be dedicated to the work of the church, rather than to his material support. He therefore contributed to his own support by applying his secular knowledge and skill as a tentmaker.

April 04 2020 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report