Robbed Other Churches to Do You Service 2 Corinthians 11:8

Paul the apostle asked the church members in Corinth, “Have I committed an offense in abasing myself that you might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely?”. In chapter eleven and verse eight of Second Corinthians, Paul told the church members,“I robbed other churches...to do you service” where we read:

I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service.

The verse begins, “I robbed other churches, ...” Paul began with the words, “I robbed” which means “Paul striped and despoiled” “other churches” or “different and more assemblies of Christians gathered for worship in a religious meeting”. Paul received offerings from other churches whom he visited and formed.

The verse continues, “... taking wages of them, to do you service.” Paul added the words, “taking wages” which means “laying hold of, procuring, claiming, collecting and gathering hire, pay, allowance or stipend” “of them” or “of the other churches”, “to do you service” or “to minister and attend to the church members”. Paul received money from the “other churches” so the church in Corinth might receive ministry.

When we meditate upon these words of Paul, we see how he received offerings from “other churches” so the church in Corinth would benefit. Churches supported one another, and since they were all part of the “church of Jesus Christ”, each of them cared for the others. Paul let the church members know their “service” was provided through the “wages” of others, and perhaps the Lord shall challenge all who read these words concerning their “giving” to other ministries. If some “churches” are benefited by other churches' giving, may they be grateful to the Lord for His provision through them.

Next time Paul tells the church members how he was, “chargeable to no man”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then,

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.