2 Corinthians 11:8
I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service.
Original Language Analysis
ἐκκλησίας
churches
G1577
ἐκκλησίας
churches
Strong's:
G1577
Word #:
2 of 9
a calling out, i.e., (concretely) a popular meeting, especially a religious congregation (jewish synagogue, or christian community of members on earth
ὀψώνιον
wages
G3800
ὀψώνιον
wages
Strong's:
G3800
Word #:
5 of 9
rations for a soldier, i.e., (by extension) his stipend or pay
πρὸς
of them to
G4314
πρὸς
of them to
Strong's:
G4314
Word #:
6 of 9
a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e., toward (with the genitive case, the side of, i.e., pertaining to; with the dative case, by the side of,
Cross References
2 Corinthians 11:9And when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man: for that which was lacking to me the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied: and in all things I have kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and so will I keep myself.Philippians 4:18But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.
Historical Context
The Macedonian churches (Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea) were characterized by extreme poverty yet extraordinary generosity (2 Cor 8:1-5). The Corinthian church was relatively prosperous, located in a wealthy commercial center. Yet the poor gave while the rich were served freely—an inversion of worldly expectations that Paul deliberately maintained.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the economic inversion in Paul's support model challenge our assumptions about who should support whom in Christian ministry?
- What motivates your giving to Christian ministry—desire to support gospel work or expectation of receiving proportional spiritual benefits?
- In what ways do financial arrangements in ministry reveal or conceal the purity (or impurity) of ministers' motives?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service. Paul's hyperbolic metaphor esylēsa (ἐσύλησα, 'I robbed/plundered') describes accepting support from Macedonian churches (Phil 4:15-16; Acts 20:34) while serving in Corinth. Military language depicts him as a soldier plundering one city to defend another. Opsōnion (ὀψώνιον, 'wages/pay') was technical military terminology for soldiers' rations.
The irony is sharp: Paul 'robbed' poor Macedonian churches to serve wealthy Corinthian believers without charge. The Philippians, in deep poverty (8:2), gave sacrificially; the Corinthians, relatively prosperous, were served freely. This exposes the Corinthians' ingratitude and self-centeredness—they benefited from others' generosity yet questioned Paul's apostleship because he wouldn't take their money.
Paul's strategy of accepting support from some churches while refusing it from others was intentional and flexible. In Corinth, he refused support to remove grounds for accusation and contrast himself with greedy false teachers. His financial independence proved the purity of his motives and prevented the gospel from being discredited.