Thematic Bible: Support of

Her leaders pronounce judgment for a bribe,
Her priests teach for a fee,
And her prophets foretell for money;
Yet they lean on the Lord, saying,
“Is not the Lord among us?
No tragedy or distress will come on us.”
Verse Concepts

“For from the least of them even to the greatest of them,
Everyone is greedy for [unfair] gain;
And from the prophet even to the priest
Everyone deals deceitfully.
Verse Concepts

Israel’s watchmen are blind,
They are all without knowledge.
They are all mute dogs, they cannot bark;
Panting, lying down, they love to slumber.
Verse Concepts

“For both [false] prophet and priest are ungodly (profane, polluted);
Even in My house I have found their wickedness,” says the Lord.
Verse Concepts

Your prophets have seen (imagined) for you
False and foolish visions;
And they have not exposed your wickedness
To restore you from captivity [by teaching you to repent],
But they have seen (imagined) and declared to you false and misleading oracles.
Verse Concepts

But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet and the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any one of them, he is taken away because of his corruption and sin; but I will require his blood from the watchman’s hand.’ Verse Concepts

Some, it is true, are [actually] preaching Christ out of envy and rivalry [toward me—for no better reason than a competitive spirit or misguided ambition], but others out of goodwill and a loyal spirit [toward me]. Verse Concepts

and because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them; and they worked together for they were tent-makers. Verse Concepts

For you remember, believers, our labor and hardship. We worked night and day [practicing our trade] in order not to be a [financial] burden to any of you while we proclaimed the gospel of God to you. Verse Concepts

You know personally that these hands ministered to my own needs [working in manual labor] and to [those of] the people who were with me. Verse Concepts

nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with labor and hardship we worked night and day [to pay our own way] so that we would not be a financial burden on any of you [for our support]; Verse Concepts

And Paul lived there for two full years [at his own expense] in his own rented lodging and welcomed all who came to him, Verse Concepts

But I have used none of these privileges, nor am I writing this [to suggest] that any such provision be made for me now. For it would be better for me to die than to have anyone deprive me of my boast [in this matter of financial support]. Verse Concepts

For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle the ox while it is treading out the grain [to keep it from eating],” and, “The worker is worthy of his wages [he deserves fair compensation].” Verse Concepts

or a provision bag for your journey, or even two tunics, or sandals, or a staff; for the worker deserves his support. Verse Concepts

So also [on the same principle] the Lord directed those who preach the gospel to get their living from the gospel. Verse Concepts

The one who is taught the word [of God] is to share all good things with his teacher [contributing to his spiritual and material support]. Verse Concepts

Nevertheless, it was right of you to share [with me] in my difficulties. Verse Concepts

Because of the surpassing greatness and extraordinary nature of the revelations [which I received from God], for this reason, to keep me from thinking of myself as important, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan, to torment and harass me—to keep me from exalting myself! Verse Concepts

So I spoke to the people in the morning, and in the evening my wife died. And the next morning I did as I was commanded. Verse Concepts

To this present hour we are both hungry and thirsty; we are continually poorly dressed, and we are roughly treated, and wander homeless. Verse Concepts

in beatings, in imprisonments, in riots, in labors, in sleepless nights, in hunger, Verse Concepts

Are they [self-proclaimed] servants of Christ?—I am speaking as if I were out of my mind—I am more so [for I exceed them]; with far more labors, with far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, and often in danger of death. Verse Concepts

so that no one would be unsettled by these difficulties [to which I have referred]. For you know that we have been destined for this [as something unavoidable in our position]. Verse Concepts