Honoring the Elders

¹⁷ The elders who are good leaders should be considered worthy of an ample honorarium,^[a] especially those who work hard^(A) at preaching and teaching. ¹⁸ For the Scripture says:

⁷ Remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they offer, for the worker is worthy of his wages.^(A) Don’t be moving from house to house.

¹⁰ Don’t take a traveling bag for the road, or an extra shirt, sandals, or a walking stick, for the worker^(A) is worthy of his food.

¹¹ If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it too much if we reap material benefits from you? ¹² If others have this right to receive benefits from you, don’t we even more?

However, we have not made use of this right; instead we endure everything^(A) so that we will not hinder the gospel of Christ. ¹³ Don’t you know that those who perform the temple services eat the food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar^(B) share in the offerings of the altar? ¹⁴ In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should earn their living by the gospel.^(C)

¹⁵ But I have used none of these rights, and I have not written this to make it happen that way for me. For it would be better for me to die than for anyone to deprive me of my boast! ¹⁶ For if I preach the gospel, I have no reason to boast, because an obligation is placed on me. And woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! ¹⁷ For if I do this willingly, I have a reward, but if unwillingly, I am entrusted^(D) with a stewardship. ¹⁸ What then is my reward? To preach the gospel and offer it free of charge and not make full use of my authority in the gospel.^(E)