If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your material things?
Read Chapter 9
Augustine of Hippo
AD 430
Paul emphasizes the fact that his fellow apostles were not transgressing in any way when they did not engage in manual labor to provide the necessities of life, but, as the Lord directed, living on the gospel, they accepted, without offering payment, bodily nourishment from those to whom they in turn furnished spiritual nourishment without demanding payment.
Is it a great matter? The apostle is here speaking of what he had given to the Corinthians, and what he had received from them; and this he does under the comparison of the sower and the reaper. Can any of you think it hard that we receive some part of your temporal goods, when we have bestowed upon you spiritual: nevertheless, we have not used this power, but we bear all things (ver. 12.) (Estius)
Lo, he adds also a fourth argument for the duty of yielding support. For since he had said, What soldier ever serves at his own charges? and, who plants a vineyard? and, who feeds a flock? and introduced the ox that treads the grain; he points out likewise another most reasonable cause on account of which they might justly receive; viz. having bestowed much greater gifts, no more as having labored only. What is it then? if we sowed unto you spiritual things, is it a great matter if we shall reap your carnal things? Do you see a most just allegation and fuller of reason than all the former? For in those instances, says he, carnal is the seed, carnal also is the fruit; but here not so, but the seed is spiritual, the return carnal. Thus, to prevent high thoughts in those who contribute to their teachers, he signified that they receive more than they give. As if he had said, Husbandmen, whatsoever they sow, this also do they receive; but we, sowing in your souls spiritual things, do reap c...
