Paul the Apostle did not Peddle the Gospel. Paul renounced the pursuit of money as the goal of ministry. He preached Christ and let the chips fall where they would, whether he received money or beatings.
Today, the Gospel should be given freely to all who seek to hear and learn the message of Christ. The men who preach Christ should not be in the ministry in order to make money as if it is no different than a secular career.
When Paul was defending himself before the Corinthian brethren, one of the claims that he made was that he and his co-workers were not mere peddlers of the word of God but ministers of righteousness.
The King James Version says that they did not "corrupt" the word of God. It will help us to understand what Paul was saying, if we examine what is meant by the word that is translated "peddling" or "corrupt."
The Greek word that is used here is kapeleuontes. Concerning this word, Vine’s Expository Dictionary says it "primarily signifies one to be a retailer; to peddle; to hucksterize (from kopelos, an inn-keeper, a petty retailer, especially of wine, a huckster, pedlar, in contrast to emporos, a merchant); hence, to get base gain by dealing in anything, and so, more generally, to do anything for sordid personal advantage. The key passage is found at 2 Corinthians 2:17, with reference to the ministry of the Gospel (Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, p. 234).
So what Paul is telling the Corinthians is that He and his co-workers were not corrupting or watering down the Gospel as a peddler or inn keeper might water down the wine that was sold to patrons. He is saying that they were not bringing the Gospel to them out of some self-seeking motivation, but out of a sincere heart and a sincere desire for their well being.
Paul was passionately sincere when he preached the gospel. He recognized it as "the power of God for salvation" (Rom. 1:16). Therefore, he was always careful to preach the pure unadulterated word and to declare "the whole counsel of God" (Acts 20:27). His only motivation for preaching the gospel was to save the souls of those who heard his preaching. To corrupt the Gospel would weaken its saving power. There was no way he could be just a mere peddler of the word of God.
Paul the Apostle in his ministry was not one who would ever corrupt worship, preaching and teaching of God's Word, evangelism, fellowship of the church, psalms/hymns or spiritual songs, discipleship, etc. in any circumstance or situation. Can there be any other reasonable conclusion? Here are some important Scriptures to ponder in this matter (all verse quotations taken from the ESV):
Matthew 10:8-9… “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay. Acquire no gold nor silver nor copper for your belts" (emphasis added).
1 Corinthians 9:7-18… "Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard without eating any of its fruit? Or who tends a flock without getting some of the milk? Do I say these things on human authority? Does not the Law say the same? For it is written in the Law of Moses, "You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain." Is it for oxen that God is concerned? Does he not speak entirely for our sake? It was written for our sake, because the plowman should plow in hope and the thresher thresh in hope of sharing in the crop. If we have sown spiritual things among you, is it too much if we reap material things from you? If others share this rightful claim on you, do not we even more? Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ. Do you not know that those who are employed in the temple service get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in the sacrificial offerings? In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel. But I have made no use of any of these rights, nor am I writing these things to secure any such provision. For I would rather die than have anyone deprive me of my ground for boasting. For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward, but not of my own will, I am still entrusted with a stewardship. What then is my reward? That in my preaching I may present the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel" (emphasis added).
2 Corinthians 2:15-17… "For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God's word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ."
3 John 5-8… "Beloved, it is a faithful thing you do in all your efforts for these brothers, strangers as they are, who testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God. For they have gone out for the sake of the name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles [nonbelievers]. Therefore we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth" (emphasis added).
God has designed genuine ministry to be inseparable from the life and leadership of the local church. Any ministry that does not strengthen one's commitment to the local church is inconsistent with the purposes of Christ. (Acts 2:42-47; Hebrews 10:23-25)
All genuine ministry for the Lord must not have an advanced price tag, an expectation of compensation before the ministry is given. Why? Because then it is no longer ministry, but commerce, employment, trade or in many circumstances… entertainment.
The single proof-text career-minded preachers will repeatedly misuse in an attempt to “justify” charging for the ministry of the Lord is this familiar phrase… "the workman is worthy of his hire." No question, it is God’s Word. However, it is wrongly applied when trying to condone treating ministry like a profession, trade, or entertainment.
It doesn't mean anyone has the right to charge for “hire”. More appropriately it means those "who proclaim the gospel should receive their living by the gospel" (1 Cor. 9:14b) and do so in a manner commensurate with the gospel. The question is how? The answer is simple… genuine ministry should be supported through cheerful, faithful giving of God's people. Money should not be a prerequisite for ministry.
