Biblical Criticism & History Forum - earlywritings.com

Jay Raskin wrote: "Adding together the trips discussed in these four epistles we get: Thessalonikians: $10-20,000 1 Corinthians: $10-20,000 2 Corinthians: $30-60,000 Romans: $40-80,000 Total: $90-$180,000 Paul, in these four epistles is talking about financing trips with travel expenses of some...

Ted M. wrote: "…Paul is hurt that his 'children in Christ' are turning on him and treating him as a lessor Apostle. Compensation is the ultimate proof of that betrayal to Paul. He is asserting that if THEY deserve compensation so does HE." "Maybe he is protesting too much and deep dow...

Ted M wrote: "He certainly is saying he has the right to those things in the context of comparing himself to lesser apostles that they treated better than him, but he then denies himself those things:" "So, your basis is an opinion and not what he actually wrote. Not saying you are ri...

Ted M asked: "What is the basis for your last statement? I thought the passage was basically Paul saying that he hadn't asked them for compensation like everybody else had." 1 Corinthians, chapter 9 is all about Paul trying to gain compensation, here's only one example among several: "...

Granted, providing compensation for those delivering spiritual endowments most likely provided honor for both the giver and receiver. An entirely honorable situation in it's basic practice.

If one ignores the fictional stories in Acts, and evaluates only the authentic letters from Paul, one sees a franchiser. Unlike the typical Jewish missionary in the Diaspora, moving from city to city, spending a few nights in the synagogue guest room and giving a presentation or two before moving on...