“without charge”

Originally posted on August 17, 2009 – by Andre Piet

QUESTION:
In the article ‘Paul was no beggar’, you write that Paul never asked for financial support from others. But the same apostle writes in 1 Corinthians 9:14 that the Lord “prescribes that those who are announcing the evangel should be living of the evangel.”
What does a rule mean if no appeal is made to it?

ANSWER:

authority

It is true, in 1 Corinthians 9 Paul mentions a whole series of reasons why, as a proclaimer of the evangel, he would not need to provide for his own livelihood:
#1. Paul’s fellow apostles (“the twelve”) did not do so either (verse 1-6);
#2. In human professions such as that of a soldier, vinedresser or shepherd it is perfectly normal to receive support from the work one does (verse 7);
#3. Under the law it was already arranged that a threshing ox should not be muzzled. Should a preacher who is engaged in sowing and reaping in a spiritual sense then be additionally burdened? (verse 8-10);
#4. Is it not reasonable that he who sows in spiritual things should at least reap something material? (verse 11);
#5. In the temple it was the rule that those who served in the sanctuary were provided for in their livelihood by the rest of the people (verse 13).
#6. The Lord has “prescribed that those who are announcing the evangel should be living of the evangel” (verse 14).

without charge

Usually people put a full stop here, and in most translations the pericope also ends here. But make no mistake: it is precisely here that Paul’s statement begins. In verses 15-18 Paul states that he has always refrained from making use of his authority. His critics used this to disqualify him (> ‘Paul is just an amateur preacher’; see verse 3). But Paul did this deliberately: by not making use of support, he showed that he brought the Evangel WITHOUT CHARGE. “The grace of God has made its advent, bringing salvation to all mankind…” and “the living God is the Saviour of all mankind…” (1). Without exception and purely without charge. Thát is the core of Paul’s Evangel!

Paul demonstrated the content of this message by not appealing to his right to live from the Evangel. He gratefully made use of all support that he received voluntarily, but he never asked for it, let alone claimed it. Paul asked for nothing, was not dependent on the contributions of people and was not employed by assemblies, so that he could rightly say: “I am FREE from all” (verse 19).

In summary: by first establishing what his authority as a preacher is, Paul makes all the more clear how extraordinary his message of GRACE is when he refrains from his rights.

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footnote
(1) Titus 2:11 and 1 Timothy 4:10

Last modified: 18 Aug. 2009

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