In 1 Corinthians 9, Paul makes the argument that those who are commissioned with a responsibility should receive pay for that responsibility.  Soldiers are paid by the government.  Planters of grapes get free grapes.  Goat herders drink goat’s milk.  This common sense is rooted in Hebrew law.  While an ox is treading the grain, God says that it is only right to feed it.  However, we know of those who have asked for money at every opportunity on T.V.  We know of pastors who have stolen from their congregations.  Some churches bypass the issue, by having no paid pastors.  Unfortunately, the quality of the preaching varies wildly from week to week and no-one is on call to visit those who are struggling.

So, a Christian worker should receive some reward for their efforts.  It isn’t just a spiritual reward, but a material reward for their work.  The problems with corruption should be addressed.  Also, the laity should be ministering as much as they can, not just leaving it to church professionals.  So how do we decide a minister’s pay scale in the 21st century?

1 Corinthians 9:7-12a

⁷Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its grapes? Who tends a flock and does not drink of the milk? ⁸Do I say this merely from a human point of view? Doesn’t the Law say the same thing? ⁹For it is written in the Law of Moses: “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.”^[b] Is it about oxen that God is concerned? ¹⁰Surely he says this for us, doesn’t he? Yes, this was written for us, because when the plowman plows and the thresher threshes, they ought to do so in the hope of sharing in the harvest. ¹¹If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you? ¹²If others have this right of support from you, shouldn’t we have it all the more?

Questions

1. What examples of remuneration does Paul draw from everyday life?
2. What example does Paul draw from scripture?
3. What is Paul’s argument meant to prove?
4. How do you think a pastor’s pay should compare with other professionals?
5. How would you negotiate your salary if you were interviewing with a Christian charity?

Going Deeper

Observation

1. From what point of view does Paul start?
2. Is it about oxen that God is concerned when he gives the Old Testament example?
3. Which analogy does Paul make when talking of his own work?
4. If spiritual seed is sown, what can be harvested?
5. Who has drawn support from the Corinthians?

Interpretation

1. How does Paul use logic to build his argument?
2. Why does Paul start with ‘common’ sense and then move to scripture?
3. How is Paul’s appeal to foundational principles stronger than arguing from his unique personal experience or an emotional appeal from pity?
4. Does God care about oxen?  Why does Paul say that a law concerning oxen is not about oxen?
5. How does Paul’s command of rhetoric help him in his argument?

Application

1. Do you appeal to common sense when making an argument?  How do you tend to build an argument?  What is the role of empathy and other emotion in arguing well?  What is the role of logic?
2. What groups in society have used media to make arguments without an appeal to common sense, or examples from nature?  Be sure to include Christian interest groups in your critique.
3. What would happen if a pastor or other minister dedicated their time to Christian work with no income or material reward?
4. How do people tend to divide spiritual from material in their daily living?
5. How do you support Christian counseling, youthwork, missionaries, teachers, administration, or outreach?