Should A Pastor Be Paid

Someone posted a comment about paid pastors not being biblical as well as one man only pastors not biblical.

My answer was –

Actually. paid ministers are biblical. That there should be a multiplicity of elders rather a single man, I agree, but they can all be paid, but the one who is the main man that teaches the Word is entitled to more than pay of the others. Paul said that though he had the right to a salary he chose to take money from other churches so as not to charge the church he had started in Corinth.

1Ti 5:17 Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.

18 For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.

The word honor in Greek is where we get honorarium. They are worthy of double pay, but I was taught that it would be best for the pastor to have a median income so that he is not the richest person in the church or the poorest.

Note that if you do not starve the ox that is plowing your corn neither should you not feed the pastor that is serving you the Word of the bread of life?

2 Cor 11:8 I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service. – Clearly indicated that he did take a salary much like our missionaries today raise support from other.

Gal 6:6 Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things. – That does not mean just good feelings.

1 Cor 9:

5 Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?

6 Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working? <- not having a job.

7 Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? <- I was in the Army and they paid me. if I plant a garden, I will eat of it and shear my sheep.

8 Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also?

9 For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen?

10 Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope.

11 If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?

12 If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ.

13 Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar? <- They were provided for by the people.

14 Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.

Live of the gospel means to make a living per the context. Reaping carnal things is money or support. Back in the day, sometimes the pastor’s pay was produce, chickens, etc. That is not very practical today because we have more needs than that.

The entire tribe of Levi was made a tribe with no land in the nation, but rather to be totally supported by the tithes. Offerings were for support of the temple.

Most of my ministry has been bi-vocational and no salary from a church, At one, I got small stipend for gas and such that I joked was a rebate on my tithe. I was a full time pastor for just a few months before I had to go back to work to keep the church from folding and they only paid me $200 week, but did provide a parsonage and utilities.

Right now, I am retired and do not require a salary from a church, but when I tell folks that I will be their minister for free they think something is wrong with me. I once told a church that I would be their pastor for 10K less than what they were offering and I think I insulted them as I never heard from them again. Indeed, if I were in it for the money, I would have starved to death. In fact, I gave back my honorarium to some small churches that I knew needed the money more than I did.