Question and Answer from Pagan Christianity? by Frank Viola and George Barna.
I Timothy 5:17 - The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching.
Don’t verses like this support the idea of paying pastors?
No, this passage deals with elders, not the modern pastoral office, which of course is unbiblical in itself. The Greek word for “double honor” means respect, not money. Elders deserve more respect than a Christian at a different stage in spiritual development.
Granted, the showing of respect may have included a free-will offering from time to time, but was probably not met without resistance from the intended target. Elders, who were local men, were not to receive full financial support like traveling apostles who went from region to region to plant churches, raise them and move on. They actually needed money to do what they did in ministry. Elders/Pastors/Shepherds do not.
Even then, although Paul (an apostle) had every right to accept finances (I Corinthians 9), he intentionally waived that right (I Corinthians 9:14-18).
2 Corinthians 12:14 - After all, children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.
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