Thematic Bible
Thematic Bible
Evil » Instances of » In supporting himself
What soldier ever serves at his own expense? What farmer ever plants a vineyard and his flock and does not taste the milk? Am I saying this on human authority only, or does not the Law also say the same? Yea, in the Law of Moses it is written, Thou shalt not muzzle an ox while he is treading out the grain. read more.
Is it the oxen that God is thinking about, or is it really said for our sakes? It was written for us; because the plowman ought to plow in hope, and the thresher in hope of getting a share of the crop. If I have sown for you the seeds of spiritual good, is it a great thing if I reap from you temporal goods? If others share this authority over you, do not I far more? Yet I have not availed myself of it, but am patiently enduring; so that I may not in any way hinder the progress of Christ's gospel. You know, do you not, that those who minister in the temple, and those who serve at the altar, get their portion of the sacrifices? Even so the Lord ordained that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel. But for my part, I have never availed myself of any of these rights. I do not say this to bring it about in my own case. I would rather die than let any one make void this boast of mine. Proclaiming the gospel gives me no ground of boasting; for necessity is laid upon me; woe is me if I preach not the gospel. For if I do this of my own accord, I have my pay; but if unwilling, I have at least discharged my stewardship. What then is my wage? This, that I can make the gospel free where I carry it; and that I can refrain from using my rights as a preacher of the gospel. Though free from all men, I make myself the slave of all, that I may win the more. To the Jews I am become like a Jew, that I may win Jews; to those under the Law, like one under the Law, though I am not under the Law, myself; to those outside the Law, as one outside the Law, to win those outside the Law (though I am not outside the law of God, but inside the law of Christ). I am become weak to the weak, to win the weak. I am become all these things to all men that, by any and by all means, I may save some. And I am doing it all for the gospel's sake, that I may become a copartner in it.
Is it the oxen that God is thinking about, or is it really said for our sakes? It was written for us; because the plowman ought to plow in hope, and the thresher in hope of getting a share of the crop. If I have sown for you the seeds of spiritual good, is it a great thing if I reap from you temporal goods? If others share this authority over you, do not I far more? Yet I have not availed myself of it, but am patiently enduring; so that I may not in any way hinder the progress of Christ's gospel. You know, do you not, that those who minister in the temple, and those who serve at the altar, get their portion of the sacrifices? Even so the Lord ordained that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel. But for my part, I have never availed myself of any of these rights. I do not say this to bring it about in my own case. I would rather die than let any one make void this boast of mine. Proclaiming the gospel gives me no ground of boasting; for necessity is laid upon me; woe is me if I preach not the gospel. For if I do this of my own accord, I have my pay; but if unwilling, I have at least discharged my stewardship. What then is my wage? This, that I can make the gospel free where I carry it; and that I can refrain from using my rights as a preacher of the gospel. Though free from all men, I make myself the slave of all, that I may win the more. To the Jews I am become like a Jew, that I may win Jews; to those under the Law, like one under the Law, though I am not under the Law, myself; to those outside the Law, as one outside the Law, to win those outside the Law (though I am not outside the law of God, but inside the law of Christ). I am become weak to the weak, to win the weak. I am become all these things to all men that, by any and by all means, I may save some. And I am doing it all for the gospel's sake, that I may become a copartner in it.
The gospel » Ministers have a dispensation to preach
For if I do this of my own accord, I have my pay; but if unwilling, I have at least discharged my stewardship.
Man » Possessed of » Will
For no prophecy was ever brought by the will of man; but moved by the Holy Spirit, men spoke for God.
For if I do this of my own accord, I have my pay; but if unwilling, I have at least discharged my stewardship.
Ministers » When faithful » Are rewarded
Then, when the Chief Shepherd shall appear, you too will receive the fadeless wreath of glory.
In solemn truth I tell you that he will set him over all his property.
For if I do this of my own accord, I have my pay; but if unwilling, I have at least discharged my stewardship. What then is my wage? This, that I can make the gospel free where I carry it; and that I can refrain from using my rights as a preacher of the gospel.
Stewardship » Truths to be remembered in relation to » Of the gospel
But as my fitness to be entrusted with the gospel has been tested and approved by God, I so speak, not to please men, but to please God, who is testing my motives.
as laid down in the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which has been entrusted to me.
but manifested in his own time; that word of his in proclaiming which I have been entrusted by command of God our Saviour.
For if I do this of my own accord, I have my pay; but if unwilling, I have at least discharged my stewardship.
It is of this I was made a minister, according to the stewardship entrusted to me by God for you, fully to declare God's message;
On the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel for the uncircumcised, just as Peter has with the gospel for the circumcised