Tentmaker
Was Paul the Apostle a tentmaker and a minister of Christ?
Tarsus was a major tent manufacturing city. It imported wool and hair from all over the world by ship and shipped out as finished products. It was a major industry in that area and it was big business. Tents were in big demand and not merely the habitation of nomadic Bedouins.
Paul's family almost had to be connected to tent manufacturing as almost everyone in that city was connected to it. He was clearly of the wealth class. and the Bible is clear about his occupation.
Acts 18:3 And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation [τέχνη techne] they were tentmakers [σκηνοποιός skenopoios].
Aquila and Priscilla were always considered part of the 120 from the upper room by many historians and also well to do holding the same occupation.
The idea that Paul the Apostle was sowing tents sitting on the floor would not fit a clear view of his life and connection with some of the wealthiest families in the Roman Empire.
Because they sold tents does not mean they did it for profit?
Profit is gain or increase.
The ministers of the early Church like the Levites of Moses had no personal "estate". They owned all things in common. The ministers of Christ could eat of the table of the Lord like the Levites before them.
- 1 Corinthians 9:6 "Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working? 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? 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? 14 Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel."
Paul talks about "others be partakers of this power over you" rather than the Church. But the church had "not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ."
The gospel included the instructions that the ministers of Christ were not to be like the Benefactors of other governments. They could not exercise authority. But like the Levites and the Essenes they often engaged in what could appear as trade or business but was not because it was not for personal profit or gain but the support of a body that held all things in common.
Barnabas had been a Levite[1] who sold all the property he had obtained in his Hasmonian apostasy and delivered the proceeds to the Church[2] to become a minister of the good news of the Gospel of the Kingdom at hand.
Paul and Barnabas could forbear working[to trade, to make gains by trading, "do business"][3] at trade and business and merely eat of the offering.
Ministers of Christ had to meet the qualification and conditions imposed by Christ which was common among priests in those days. We also see this same approach among the Essenes who were doing things much different than the Sadducees.
Ministers of Christ had to give all their personal property away or to the church as a whole and become the bondservants of Christ. They held all things they did have in common.[4] One qualification was what we call today a Vow of poverty.
- Acts 20:33-35 "I have coveted no man’s silver, or gold, or apparel. Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me. I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive."
Because each congregation of ministers were connected through a network of minister congregations they were also joint heirs.[5]
The tents were manufactured by them with an expenditure of labor which was turned into tents, into denarii and then into things they needed or was need in the service of the Christian Church.
This is no different than the Levites who belonged to God but were also his ministers of the people serving the tents of the congregations. The Levites had lands and also worked in many industries[6] which often made them independent financially but they could not sell their lands to others because they only had a legal title to what they held. They had no inheritance in the land itself.
This labor of Paul's was not outside the Church but within the Church. It was not for personal profit or to create a personal wealthy estate. It was labor for the estate of Christ where he was a bondservant and his work with other ministers clearly made it within the Church. It would not be considered "trade or business" by the definition of those terms. See The Free Church Report
There is a general lack of understanding of the ministry of the early Church and how it was organized to serve the Congregations of the people in Free Assemblies of Tens. The Tens was a general system of establishing a network through which the whole country or nation could do their part in operating a free system of government without overlooking participants or neglecting responsibilities.
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Footnotes
- ↑ Acts 4:36 And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, [and] of the country of Cyprus,
- ↑ Acts 4:37 Having land, sold [it], and brought the money, and laid [it] at the apostles’ feet.
- ↑ 2038 ~ἐργάζομαι~ ergazomai \@er-gad’-zom-ahee\@ middle voice from 2041; v AV-work 22, wrought 7, do 3, minister about 1, forbear working + 3361 1, labour for 1, labour 1, commit 1, trade by 1, trade 1; 39
- 1) to work, labour, do work
- 2) to trade, to make gains by trading, "do business"
- 3) to do, work out
- 3a) exercise, perform, commit
- 3b) to cause to exist, produce
- 4) to work for, earn by working, to acquire
- ↑ Acts 4:32 "And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any [of them] that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common."
- ↑ Romans 8:17 ¶ And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with [him], that we may be also glorified together.
- ↑ Candles, oils, including essential oils, manuscripts [publishing] as well as agricultural crops and herds grazing on their lands where Feasts were often held. They also were engaged in higher education which was a lucrative occupation as well.