The Expositor's Bible: The First Epistle to the CorinthiansDods, Marcus
Religion
The Expositor's Bible: The First Epistle to the Corinthians
Dods, Marcus
Bible. Corinthians, 1st -- Commentaries
This law that a man shall live by his labour is a two-edged law. If a
man produce what the community needs, he should himself profit by the
production; but, on the other hand, if a man will not work, neither
should he eat. Only the man who produces what other men need, only the
man who by his industry or capability contributes to the good of the
community, has any right to profits. Quick and easy manipulations of
money, shrewd and risky dexterities which yield no real benefit to the
community, deserve no remuneration. It is a blind, sordid, and
contemptible spirit that hastes to be rich by one or two successful
transactions that profit no one. A man should be content to live on
what he is worth to the community. Here also our minds are often
confused by the complexities of business; but on that account it is
all the more necessary that we firmly adhere to the few essential
canons, such as that "trading ceases to be just when it ceases to
benefit both parties," or that a man's wealth should truly represent
his value to society. Conscience enlightened by allegiance to the
Spirit of Christ is a much more satisfactory guide for the individual
in trade, speculation, and investment than any trade customs or
economic theories.
3. A third ground on which Paul rests his claim to be supported by the
Church is ordinary gratitude: "If we have sown unto you spiritual
things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?" Some
of the Churches founded by Paul spontaneously acknowledged this claim,
and wished to free him from the necessity of labouring for his own
support. They felt that the benefit they had derived from him could
not be stated in terms of money; but prompted by irrepressible
gratitude, they could not but seek to relieve him from manual labour
and set him free for higher work. This method of gauging the amount of
spiritual benefit absorbed, by its overflow in material aid given to
the propagation of the Gospel would, I daresay, scarcely be relished
by that monstrous development the niggardly Christian.
4. Lastly, Paul argues from the Levitical usage to the Christian. Both
in heathen countries and among the Jews it was customary that they who
ministered in holy things should live by the offerings of the people
to the temple. Levites and priests alike had been thus maintained
among the Jews. "Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach
the Gospel should live of the Gospel." Were there no recorded command
of the Lord to this effect, we might suppose Paul merely argued that
this was the Lord's will; but among the original instructions given to
the seventy who were first sent to preach the kingdom of heaven, we
find this: "Into whatsoever house ye enter, there remain, eating and
drinking such things as they give, for the labourer is worthy of his
hire."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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