Should Pastors Get Paid? Paul, the Corinthians, and the Lord’s Command

Should Pastors Get Paid? Paul, the Corinthians, and the Lord’s Command

Few issues have generated as much tension in church history as the question of whether pastors should receive financial support for their ministry. In 1 Corinthians 9, Paul insists that those who preach the gospel have a right to earn their living from the gospel. Yet in the same letter, he also declares that he refused such support from the Corinthians. Some scholars have even suggested Paul was disobeying Jesus’ command by doing so. So what is going on? Was Paul contradicting himself, or does his example clarify a principle still relevant today?

The Scriptural Basis for Supporting Pastors

Jesus’ Command

Jesus Himself set the precedent. When He sent out the seventy-two disciples, He told them: “Don’t carry a money bag, a traveler’s bag, or sandals. And don’t stop to greet anyone on the road… Remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the worker deserves his wages.” (Luke 10:4, 7 NLT). The principle was clear: those who labor in ministry deserve material support.

Paul’s Teaching in 1 Corinthians 9

Paul appeals to multiple illustrations:

• Soldiers, farmers, and shepherds all live from their work (vv. 7).

• The law commanded, “You must not muzzle an ox to keep it from eating as it treads out the grain” (Deut. 25:4; cited in 1 Cor. 9:9).

• Priests in the temple lived from the offerings (v. 13).

He concludes emphatically: “In the same way, the Lord ordered that those who preach the Good News should be supported by those who benefit from it.” (1 Cor. 9:14 NLT).

Other Affirmations

• 1 Timothy 5:17–18: “Elders who do their work well should be respected and paid well, especially those who work hard at both preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, ‘You must not muzzle an ox to keep it from eating as it treads out the grain.’ And in another place, ‘Those who work deserve their pay!’” Here Paul applies both OT law and Jesus’ words directly to pastors.

• Galatians 6:6: “Those who are taught the word of God should provide for their teachers, sharing all good things with them.”

The witness is consistent: pastors have a biblical right to financial support.

Paul’s Exception in Corinth

Acts 18 and Tentmaking

When Paul came to Corinth, he supported himself as a tentmaker, working alongside Aquila and Priscilla (Acts 18:1–3). This was not because he denied the right to support — elsewhere he gladly received financial gifts from the Philippians (Phil. 4:15–16). In fact, he notes that while ministering in Corinth, he accepted support from other churches (2 Cor. 11:8–9).

Why Refuse Support in Corinth?

Paul’s refusal was situational. Corinth was plagued by “super-apostles” (2 Cor. 11:5; 12:11) who boasted in eloquence and wealth, exploiting the church for personal gain. Paul wanted to distinguish himself from these false leaders. By refusing support from the Corinthians, he cut off accusations that he was motivated by greed.

In 1 Corinthians 9:12, he explains: “We have never used this right. We would rather put up with anything than be an obstacle to the Good News about Christ.” For Paul, the gospel’s credibility mattered more than personal rights.

Did Paul Disobey the Lord’s Command?

Some scholars argue that Paul’s refusal contradicted Jesus’ words and created unnecessary problems. But Paul himself clarifies that he laid down a right he fully possessed for the sake of the gospel’s advance. He did not deny the legitimacy of pay; he chose to waive it under unique circumstances.

The distinction is important: it is one thing to deny the principle of support, another to decline it in a specific setting for strategic reasons. Paul upheld the command of Jesus in principle, even if he temporarily set aside its application in Corinth.

Why This Still Matters

• Support allows focus on ministry. Paul himself argued that gospel workers should not be distracted by financial survival.

• Family stability. 1 Timothy 5:17–18 highlights “double honor” for elders who labor in preaching and teaching, suggesting not only respect but provision sufficient to sustain them and their families. It sets precedent that a pastor’s spouse should not be forced into hardship because the church withholds support.

• Guarding against abuse. At the same time, Paul’s example shows wisdom: in contexts where financial support could be misunderstood as exploitation, ministers may choose tentmaking or refuse gifts to protect the gospel’s witness.

Application

Churches today should not spiritualize poverty for pastors or boast that their ministers “work for free.” Scripture is clear: the worker deserves his wages. At the same time, pastors should hold their calling above financial gain. Paul’s example reminds us that while pay is a right, sacrifice may sometimes serve the gospel better.

The balance is generosity and integrity: churches give freely, and pastors serve faithfully, neither exploiting nor neglecting the biblical model.

Conclusion

The New Testament consistently affirms that pastors should be financially supported. Jesus commanded it. Paul taught it. Timothy’s church practiced it. At the same time, Paul’s own choice in Corinth shows flexibility: rights may be set aside for the gospel’s sake, but they are never abolished.

Far from undermining Jesus’ words, Paul’s decision highlights his absolute commitment to the credibility of the gospel. In every case, the principle stands: “The worker deserves his wages.”

“In the same way, the Lord ordered that those who preach the Good News should be supported by those who benefit from it.” (1 Cor. 9:14, NLT)