Not talking missions.
Paul, as an apostle, which is a preacher, one who takes the gospel to those that have not heard it. Missionaries come to mind.
He had a right to receive help if offered. Note, that I said if freely offered. Like Christ, he never took up an offering except to deliver it to struggling saints.
Jesus never passed the plate. Folks, in obscurity pretty much, would support Him.
Back to Paul. He refused even free will offerings that his gospel be not railed upon by evil men suggesting he was financially prospering from his preaching.
Wow!!!! Do you know of anyone who operates that way today? I didn't think so! The preachers today could not care less that the world is on to them. Having to much fun.
But still there is no scriptural problem for the itenerent preacher/teacher to accept offerings if it's the givers idea and not the preachers idea.. Jesus told the apostles to accept whatever is set before them. Talking food. Voluntary support.
One desiring the function, (not office) of deacon or bishop must not be covetious. Get to that in a sec.
Presebyters are elders. Bishops, deacons, teachers, pastors are all elders. They are synonymous. All teach at different levels. All watch over the sheep with great care. Bishops is from the word episcoples mean to oversee. Deacons is from diakonos meaning to wait on tables, to serve. Pastors speaks in the same sense, to watch over, to feed, not just the word but literal food, to see to the physical needs as well.
In 1Peter 5 you'll see where all these functions belong to all the elders. Elder as meaning older or more mature, been around the block a while.
In this chapter Paul tells the elders to watch over (bishop) the sheep and feed the flock (poimen-shepherd-pastor).
When they gathered, a love feast was in order. A banquet. Part of the fellowship. A pot luck if you please. Elders(deacons) would wait upon the folks, dishing up,food, serving as waiters. Today it is different. The King(pastor, most reverend) is waited upon and served. Puke!
So each descriptive designation simply defined the particular aspect of function. Some elders were better teachers but all taught. Some were more apt to serve up food and see to the physical care of the sheep but all served.
Take note: this is what we call communion today. A dumb cracker and a shot glass of welches. This MO was bequeathed to us, not from the bible, but from the catholic mass. Google it.
Back to the point in question. Elders that are indeed recognized and accepted as the more mature and learned among the flock(note that the word uses the term among, not above. 1Peter 5), are not to be covetious.
Covetious: Greek: etna: prostituting for rewards. Prostititutingictionary: compromising principles for personal financial gain.
However we don't live by principles, we are to live by and obey the word of God. We can quibble over the 'principle' deal but to the chase.
Prostituting His word for cash, for fun and profit is soundly rejected by God's word. Freely we have received, freely we should give. Again I'm talking about the biblically sanctioned assembly of which today would be an anomaly. Sad. But I have hope God is going to bring much of the body back to His word on this.
.
Paul, as an apostle, which is a preacher, one who takes the gospel to those that have not heard it. Missionaries come to mind.
He had a right to receive help if offered. Note, that I said if freely offered. Like Christ, he never took up an offering except to deliver it to struggling saints.
Jesus never passed the plate. Folks, in obscurity pretty much, would support Him.
Back to Paul. He refused even free will offerings that his gospel be not railed upon by evil men suggesting he was financially prospering from his preaching.
Wow!!!! Do you know of anyone who operates that way today? I didn't think so! The preachers today could not care less that the world is on to them. Having to much fun.
But still there is no scriptural problem for the itenerent preacher/teacher to accept offerings if it's the givers idea and not the preachers idea.. Jesus told the apostles to accept whatever is set before them. Talking food. Voluntary support.
One desiring the function, (not office) of deacon or bishop must not be covetious. Get to that in a sec.
Presebyters are elders. Bishops, deacons, teachers, pastors are all elders. They are synonymous. All teach at different levels. All watch over the sheep with great care. Bishops is from the word episcoples mean to oversee. Deacons is from diakonos meaning to wait on tables, to serve. Pastors speaks in the same sense, to watch over, to feed, not just the word but literal food, to see to the physical needs as well.
In 1Peter 5 you'll see where all these functions belong to all the elders. Elder as meaning older or more mature, been around the block a while.
In this chapter Paul tells the elders to watch over (bishop) the sheep and feed the flock (poimen-shepherd-pastor).
When they gathered, a love feast was in order. A banquet. Part of the fellowship. A pot luck if you please. Elders(deacons) would wait upon the folks, dishing up,food, serving as waiters. Today it is different. The King(pastor, most reverend) is waited upon and served. Puke!
So each descriptive designation simply defined the particular aspect of function. Some elders were better teachers but all taught. Some were more apt to serve up food and see to the physical care of the sheep but all served.
Take note: this is what we call communion today. A dumb cracker and a shot glass of welches. This MO was bequeathed to us, not from the bible, but from the catholic mass. Google it.
Back to the point in question. Elders that are indeed recognized and accepted as the more mature and learned among the flock(note that the word uses the term among, not above. 1Peter 5), are not to be covetious.
Covetious: Greek: etna: prostituting for rewards. Prostititutingictionary: compromising principles for personal financial gain.
However we don't live by principles, we are to live by and obey the word of God. We can quibble over the 'principle' deal but to the chase.
Prostituting His word for cash, for fun and profit is soundly rejected by God's word. Freely we have received, freely we should give. Again I'm talking about the biblically sanctioned assembly of which today would be an anomaly. Sad. But I have hope God is going to bring much of the body back to His word on this.
.