Webmaster's note: This is one of the classes given in the very early days of the Children of God.
Paul "at work" peaching the Gospel
According to the systematic belief, Paul spent his entire life sewing tents. Acts 18:3 is the only verse they know of Paul. Before we delve into this cult of justified nine to five, let us look earnestly into the way of life Paul was dedicated to living and his philosophy toward working.
At Corinth, Paul did not work for money (2 Cor.11:9). His needs were supplied by the Macedonian brethren (2 Cor.11: 9) and others (2 Cor. 11:8) . They were the ONLY church whom he would not allow to support him (2 Cor. 12:13). The reason for this is because of the false apostles who would have taken advantage of this situation to accuse him of being a "Gospel Bum", like most of the churches have called us today (2 Cor.11:11-13) and this could advantage them in stirring up strife among the brethren of this carnal, babyish church (I Cor.3:1-3).
I Thess.2:9 This is another scripture the Systemites use to cover their ungodly act of mammon: "For you remember, brethren, our LABOR and travail " -I Tim-5:17 -(labor is spiritual) "Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, ESPECIALLY THEY WHO LABOUR IN THE WORD AND DOCTRINE."
"night and day" -Acts 20:31 - warning night and day with tears.
"we would not be chargeable unto any of you" -Ezekiel 3:18 (chargeable for their souls) or Luke 8:3, Romans 15:26,27; I Cor. 9:11. Paul's laboring to preach them the Word made him worthy (Romans 15:27) of their hospitality, and thereby he was not chargeable.
"We PREACHED unto you the gospel". This shows what Paul was laboring in: THE WORD (I Tim. 5:17). Paul was not working for his carnal things here, because the Macedonians were also sending unto his necessity once and again (Phil. 4:16), just as at Corinth (2 Cor.11:9)
2 Thess.3:8 "Neither did we eat any man's bread for nought" - Ro.15:26,27.
"but WROUGHT" spiritual laboring --2 Cor.12:12; Heb.11:33; II John 8
"with labor and travail night and day" (see explanation of 2:9)
"that we might not be chargeable to any of you" (see explanation 2:9).
Paul didn't owe them anything for their carnal help because he gave them spiritual things (preached Gospel, 2:9).
As far as work goes, Paul commended the Thessalonians when they ceased working in the idol factories (I Thess. 1:9), and began to serve God (Jn.12.26). They also followed Paul and received great persecution for it (I Thess. 1:6). Paul did tell them to work with their hands
(I Thess. 4:11), but also told them to walk after the traditions (2 Thess. 3:6) of Christ (John 15:19) We work with our hands out here. The conditions for working with your hands are set in Ephesians 14.:28:
"The thing which is good" - NOT IDOL-MAKING (Isaiah 45:16)
"That he may have to give to him that needeth" - I John 3:17.
Let us now consider Paul's activity when he first came to Corinth.
Acts 18 - Aquilla and Priscilla Facts:
They were new arrivals in Corinth (18:2)
They left Corinth with Paul (18:18)
At Ephesus they taught the Word to a man who they took into their company (18:26)
They had a church at their house at Corinth (I Cor 16:19).
This type of life is not compatible with the Systemites forty hour week job.
Acts 18:3 says he was of the same craft (tentmaker) and he lived with Aquilla and Priscilla and WROUGHT (see use of the word 'wrought' in 2 Cor. 12:12, Hebrews 11:33, 2 John 8). It doesn't actually say he made tents, but it looks like he may have. BUT THIS WAS NOT HIS WAY OF LIFE. In verse 5, when the brethren from Macedonia came down, he was "pressed in the spirit" (convicted), and verse 6 shows, that he increased his preaching activity more than it was in verse 4. David committed fornication and murder with Bathsheba, but he repented. It is not a scriptural precedent for a way of life. The same does with Paul in this case. He repented and got on the ball and eventually started a church at Corinth (Acts 18:10). So if they say Paul was a tentmaker, tell them "Yea, but he repented. Have you?" "The laborer is worthy of his hire." "The workman is worthy of his meat." I Cor. 9:9-11, 14, Isaiah 23:18, Proverbs 28:8, Ecc. 2:26, Proverbs 13:22 --Job 27:17. Sock it to 'em with these hot verses plus Romans 15:26-27 their duty".
Let the wicked support the just!
Disclaimer: This article is not and was never an official publication of the Family International. It's from a typewritten class given in the very early days of the Children of God. I scanned it and converted it into digital format using OCR software. I tried my best to proofread it, but there still may be errors.
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