1 corinthians 9:13 - Don’t you know that those who serve around sacred things eat from the things of the temple, and those who wait on the altar have their portion with the altar?
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What does "1 corinthians 9:13" mean?
This verse, 1 Corinthians 9:13, uses the Old Testament temple practices as an analogy to support Paul's argument for the right of ministers of the gospel to receive financial support. Let's break it down:
"Don’t you know that those who serve around sacred things eat from the things of the temple...": This refers to the priests and Levites in the Old Testament temple. They were dedicated to serving God in the temple. They didn't have regular jobs outside the temple. Instead, they were supported by the offerings and sacrifices brought to the temple. A portion of those offerings was allocated to them for their sustenance.
"...and those who wait on the altar have their portion with the altar?": This reinforces the same point. "Wait on the altar" means to serve in the sacrificial system. Again, a part of the sacrifices was their "portion," providing for their needs.
In essence, the verse means:
Those who dedicate themselves to serving in religious roles (like the priests in the Old Testament) have the right to be supported by the community they serve. Their livelihood is tied to their service, and it's understood that they should be provided for.
How it relates to Paul's argument in 1 Corinthians 9:
Paul is arguing that just as the priests in the Old Testament had a right to be supported by their service in the temple, ministers of the gospel (like himself and other apostles) have a right to be supported by those they minister to. They dedicate their lives to preaching the gospel and serving the church, and therefore, it's right and proper for the church to provide for their material needs.
Important Note: Paul, however, often chose not to exercise this right, as he mentions later in the chapter. He did this to avoid any appearance of being in ministry for personal gain and to set an example of self-sacrifice. However, the principle remains: those who devote themselves to full-time ministry have a legitimate claim to financial support from those they serve.
1 corinthians 9:13 - Don’t you know that those who serve around sacred things eat from the things of the temple, and those who wait on the altar have their portion with the altar?
What does "1 corinthians 9:13" mean?
This verse, 1 Corinthians 9:13, uses the Old Testament temple practices as an analogy to support Paul's argument for the right of ministers of the gospel to receive financial support. Let's break it down:
"Don’t you know that those who serve around sacred things eat from the things of the temple...": This refers to the priests and Levites in the Old Testament temple. They were dedicated to serving God in the temple. They didn't have regular jobs outside the temple. Instead, they were supported by the offerings and sacrifices brought to the temple. A portion of those offerings was allocated to them for their sustenance.
"...and those who wait on the altar have their portion with the altar?": This reinforces the same point. "Wait on the altar" means to serve in the sacrificial system. Again, a part of the sacrifices was their "portion," providing for their needs.
In essence, the verse means:
Those who dedicate themselves to serving in religious roles (like the priests in the Old Testament) have the right to be supported by the community they serve. Their livelihood is tied to their service, and it's understood that they should be provided for.
How it relates to Paul's argument in 1 Corinthians 9:
Paul is arguing that just as the priests in the Old Testament had a right to be supported by their service in the temple, ministers of the gospel (like himself and other apostles) have a right to be supported by those they minister to. They dedicate their lives to preaching the gospel and serving the church, and therefore, it's right and proper for the church to provide for their material needs.
Important Note: Paul, however, often chose not to exercise this right, as he mentions later in the chapter. He did this to avoid any appearance of being in ministry for personal gain and to set an example of self-sacrifice. However, the principle remains: those who devote themselves to full-time ministry have a legitimate claim to financial support from those they serve.