vs 1
And if the letters to the Corinthians are anything to go by, he may have had some dark moments where he wished he didn't.
vs 2-3
Jews were not loved and respected everywhere they went. But if they were living in Rome, then heading to Corinth tells us that it can't have been a bad city. It was quite a trade hub, and from the sounds of it Aquila and Priscilla were traders - tentmakers. Go where the business is then.
vs 4
So we are told here for the first time that Paul is having to raise his own capital to survive. Was this because he stayed in Corinth so long? Because he was separated from Silas, who had the dosh? Public speakers actually had the right to ask for money back then. But in Corinth for some reason, Paul did not.
vs 5
So either Silas and Timothy did have the money, or else they did work while Paul preached? That is a novel concept. Imagine sending a missionary team of 3 people - two to work, one to preach? Completely self supporting? I mean, in an economy where human capital is cheap, this is the sort of thing people would do. And this is the only time it talks about Paul raising his own funds - when Silas and Timothy weren't there. Fascinating idea, I've never noticed it before.
FF Bruce thinks, however, that Silas and Timothy brought a gift from Philippi, which allowed Paul to devote himself to the work full time. You have to read Phil 4:15 to know that, and you have to read it a certain way. Also 2 Cor 11:8 suggests it but doesn't mention Philippi.
vs 6
Well well, who would imagine that the Jews would become loud and abusive? But yet again they did. And yet again, Paul ditches them and goes to the gentiles, basically in protest over their crappy attitude.
vs 7
If you were a gentile God-fearer, you would want to live close to the synagogue I guess.
vs 8
So it wasn't even the leader of the synagogue that got all upset with Paul! He became a Christian! And so did lots of gentiles Corinthians, which is what Paul was seeking to do after verse 7. So obviously his change in focus worked.
vs 9
Paul now receives a vision - telling him to keep speaking. What was this in reference to? Was he feeling downhearted? Depressed? Upset because the Jews had ditched him? Find out tomorrow!
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3 comments:
Could it be that Paul was not asking for money because, if he were, it would seem like he was speaking only to get money out of it? He didn't want to cheapen the gospel message by making it fiscal.
I also like your team mission idea. But then would the sending church feel more in touch with the missionaries if they didn't have a hip pocket interest?
The relationship between money and ministry is here seen to be a strange one. Alas that often Christians are such tight-wads. Can we learn a lesson from secular humanists in this respect? Let's hope not.
Oh, and you're right about Corinth being a delta hub (with such a beautiful airport!). If you wanted to sail from Greece to the East, you could go all the way around the Peloponnese, or take a short-cut across the ship ramps (Diolkos) at Corinth. A perfect place to stop over while this lengthy operation took place and sell some stuff.
It also had a large Roman population after it was re-founded under Julius Caesar using Roman freedmen, as well as being (as you know from Acts 18) the seat of government, making it an even greater delta hub.
Indeed, that is what Paul says to the Corinthians. However, Paul has stayed at lots of places before this. Why is it he only makes tents in Corinth?
Perhaps because he didn't have the opportunity to do so until he met up with the other tentmakers, Priscilla and Aquila, but still, seems odd that it's not mentioned till here.
Perhaps because he'd never made tents before and saw it as a sort of ministry. Perhaps, as you suggest, he's run out of money. Perhaps he had done other work before, but that wasn't mentioned because it wasn't in association with Church people. I guess we'll never know and it's probably not important anyway. Still, interesting to think about.
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