A thought on tithing

[TGBTG]

Originally Posted by DaveC519

Hello TGBTG,

Thanks for your input.


I agree that the immediate reference in verse 13 was to the altar offering, but the overall context of the passage speaks to something bigger than that. He was referencing the underlying principle of the Levitical system, which was the tithe.
I think it's important to keep in mind where Paul starts in the passage and where he ends up. The purpose, of course, for the passage is to answer "them that do examine me". Examine him about what? Evidently he had already established with this congregation the need to support the ministry, specifically support of him. And there were those who were questioning this. Why and who? I think if we answer the "who" it will give us an answer to the "why".

Notice that Paul begins to build his case for ministerial support using general principles of sowing/reaping that everyone in the church- both Gentile and Jew- would be familiar with. So, in verse 7, we see him using examples of soldiers, farmers and shepherds. All of these are workman worthy of their hire. But then he moves from these examples to ones specifically from the Law (vs. 8-10). Now, who in the church would have been familiar with these? Gentiles (as a general rule) certainly wouldn't, but converted Jews and God-fearers would have. So, it was the Jewish contingent that would have questioned his motives and standing for asking for support. Why? Because- according to the Law- only the Levitical priesthood would've been entitled to ministerial maintenance.

Paul could not rightly demand the Levitical tithe. He was of the tribe of Benjamin, not Levi. But, based on the underlying principles that he'd already cited, he COULD argue the case based on the law of sowing/reaping- specifically- spiritual sowing and carnal reaping (vs. 11).

Now, knowing he can't rightly demand a Levitical tithe, he nonetheless makes his final appeal directly to that system, because (as he did with the previous examples) he's basing his argument on underlying principles. The underlying principle of vs. 13 was the tithe. And so, IN LIKE MANNER (even so) those who preach the gospel among them were to be supported even as the Levitical priesthood was supported: the tithe. Supported with the Levitical tithe? No, just a tithe.

I think you've just proved my point that this has EVERYTHING to do with tithe. All of that referenced in vs. 13 was to be brought to the altar specifically for the Levitical priesthood. IN LIKE MANNER, those who preached the gospel among them (the church) were to be supported.

This would be germane if Paul had been arguing for a Levitical tithe. But he wasn't, because he couldn't. What he COULD do was argue for a NT ministerial support system based upon the underlying principle of the former system.

Bro,

You and I both agree that Paul had the right to earn his living from support of the church. We are just disagree on the finer details as to what OT principle is Paul appealing to make his case.

In my study, I make a distinction between the right of the levite to temple sacrifices and the right of the levite to the tithe.

The levite did not have a right per se to the tithe. The children of Israel were to share their tithe with the levites because the levites were not allowed to possess any property.

Deut 14:27 And do not neglect the Levites living in your towns, for they have no allotment or inheritance of their own.

The language of Deut 14:27 shows that the children of Israel were instructed to not neglect the levites while they (children of Israel) were enjoying their tithes.

However, when it came to the spiritual work of offering sacrifices, ONLY the levites partook of the remnant of the sacrifices.The levites had EVERY right to partake of it because God said so.

So, my point in a nutshell is that the levite had the RIGHT (or power as Paul would put it) to the temple sacrifices.
While the children of Israel were expected to share their tithes with the levites, not that the levites had the RIGHT to those tithes.

If Paul was appealing to the principle of tithing, then "not paying tithe in the year of jubilee" would constitute a problem.

However, the right of the levite to the temple sacrifice was CONSTANT.

The levite performed spiritual work and he ate of his labor. Even so, the preacher of the gospel performs spiritual work and should eat of his labor.

Again, these are finer details, IMO, as we both agree that the preacher of the gospel has the right to be supported from the gospel.