Any discussion of full-time ministry in the early centuries of the Church will sooner or later have to touch on the biblical precedent of Paul's practice. It seems to challenge much of the current understanding in the church about full-time ministry. Before we come to look specifically at Paul's practice, let me make some introductory remarks.

What is Full-time Ministry?

The New Testament understanding of ministry is that all followers of Jesus are now ministers of the gospel of the Kingdom. In addition, the biblical worldview does not make a distinction between the spiritual and what we describe as secular. At Creation, God sanctified work and gave our ancestors the task of tending the earth and looking after it. As followers of Jesus, all work is spiritual and all that we do is committed to extending the Kingdom of God here on earth. If you are a full-time follower of Jesus, then you are a full-time minister of the gospel.

It is interesting to note that when Jesus 'called' Peter and Andrew and then John and James, as they were fishing, they left their nets and followed him. (cf. Matthew 4:18-22, Mark 1:16-20) He said to them that he would now make them fishers of men. Did they now become full-time ministers? The answer is - YES. However that did not mean that they gave up fishing for we find soon after that they were back fishing together with Jesus in the boat. The only aspect that probably had changed was their priorities - it had changed from fishing for fish to fishing for people but they still fished for fish. When Jesus returned to his disciples after his resurrection, he found a group of them fishing and his response was again to redirect their priorities and specifically Peter's priorities. (cf. John 21) We do not have evidence one way or the other as to whether they continued to fish after that; all we do know is that Paul does comment that Peter and James did receive support from the church. (cf. I Corinthians 9:7)

The implication of all this was that "normal" work is never seen as 'second-best'. The opposite in fact is true - "For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone's food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, labouring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to make ourselves a model for you to follow. For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: If a man will not work, he shall not eat." (cf. II Thessalonians 3:6-10)

Supported Ministry

We know very little of how Jesus was supported during his 3 years of ministry. Consistent with his Jewish background he would have probably followed into Joseph's profession as a carpenter until he was 30 years old. We do know that on an occasion he was miraculously provided for in terms of paying the temple tax but besides that, we know nothing else. We learn that he did not have a home and in all likelihood, he was provided for the people with whom he worked e.g. his fishermen disciples, and we often find him eating meals with various people.

When Jesus sent his disciples out on a mission into Galilee, he said to them - "Take nothing for the journey except a staff-no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. Wear sandals but not an extra tunic. Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town."(cf. Mark 6:8; see also Matthew 10:9f and Luke 10:7) This tells us that they were to rely on those with whom they worked to supply for their needs, whether it is food, clothing or accommodation. In this context Jesus told them that a worker deserves his wages. It is however interesting to note that at the end of his time here on earth, as he prepared his disciples for the world-wide mission of the Church, Jesus said to them - 'But now, let him who has a purse take it and also a bag [with other provisions]', (cf. Luke 22:36) This seems to suggest that from this point onwards the disciples must be self-sufficient financially. They needed to be prepared for every eventuality, one of which was lack of finances and dependence on others' generosity. A study of early church history seems to conclude that as a general practice that for the first four centuries, the church prospered with a self-supporting ministry. It only changed with the Constantine era when all manner of destructive practices entered the organised church.

When we come to Paul's writings, he does teach that Christian workers are to be supported. So he writes at some length on this in I Corinthians 9:7-18, getting to the kernel of the matter in verses 14 - "In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel." He however is quick to add what we find in verse 15 - "But I have not used any of these rights. And I am not writing this in the hope that you will do such things for me. I would rather die than have anyone deprive me of this boast."

We also find Paul teaching on the supported ministry in I Timothy 5:17,18 - "The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honour, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, Do not muzzle the ox while it is treading out the grain, and The worker deserves his wages."

Thus supported ministry is a reality but it is not the consistent pattern of the New Testament church. Peter, Andrew, James & John remained fisherman after Jesus called them. Paul remained a tentmaker.

Paul's Practice

Let us consider the following passages regarding what Paul taught various groups:%uF0B7 Acts 20:33-35 → I have not coveted anyone's silver or gold or clothing. You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. In christian mysticism youtube channel I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.%uF0B7 Acts 18:3 → Paul went to see Aquila and Priscilla, and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them.%uF0B7 I Thessalonians 2:9 → Surely you remember, brothers, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you.

We know from Paul's own words that throughout his missionary journeys he was determined, as a matter of deliberate strategy, to be self-supporting. Thus writing from Ephesus to Corinth he says: 'To the present hour ... we labour, working with our own hands.' * Likewise, he reminded the Christians in Thessalonica in the passage quoted above: 'You remember our toil and labour, brethren; we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you while we preached to you the gospel of God.'

In both cases, Paul speaks in the plural ('we'), thus implying that his companions (Timothy, Titus, Silas and the others) also engaged in manual work. Quite specifically, he cites Barnabas as 'working for a living' with him. This consistent apostolic strategy was to cause much misunderstanding and criticism, quite apart from its physical demands - as the Corinthian correspondence bears vivid testimony. Why did Paul so obdurately stick to this practice? - Particularly as there existed a well-accepted 'command of the Lord' that 'those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel'.