In most churches, the pastor’s salary takes up roughly 50% of the church’s budget.

Scriptures:

Matthew 7: ¹⁵ “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are swindling (ἅρπαξ) wolves. ¹⁶ You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? ¹⁷ Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. ¹⁸ A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. ¹⁹ Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. ²⁰ Therefore by their fruits you will know them.

Luke 18:11-13: ¹¹ The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—swindlers (ἅρπαξ), unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. ¹² I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ ¹³ And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’”

1 Corinthians 5:9-11: ⁹ I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. ¹⁰ Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or swindlers (ἅρπαξ), or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. ¹¹ But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler (ἅρπαξ)—not even to eat with such a person.

1 Corinthians 6:7-10: ⁷ Now therefore, it is already an utter failure for you that you go to law against one another. Why do you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated? ⁸ No, you yourselves do wrong and cheat, and you do these things to your brethren! ⁹ Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, ¹⁰ nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers (ἅρπαξ) will inherit the kingdom of God.

Matthew 23:25: “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion (ἅρπαξ) and self-indulgence.”

Mark 9:35: And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.

Matthew 8:19-22: Then a certain scribe came and said to Him, “Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” Then another of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” ²² But Jesus said to him, “Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead.”

Luke 12:29-34: ²⁹ “And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. ³⁰ For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things. ³¹ But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you. ³² “Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. ³³ Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys. ³⁴ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Luke 19:8-9: Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.” ⁹ And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; ¹⁰ for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

Luke 16:9-15: ⁹ “And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by unrighteous mammon, that when you fail, they may receive you into an everlasting home. ¹⁰ He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much. ¹¹ Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? ¹² And if you have not been faithful in what is another man’s, who will give you what is your own? ¹³ “No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” ¹⁴ Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, also heard all these things, and they derided Him. ¹⁵ And He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God.

John 2:13-17: ¹³ Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. ¹⁴ And He found in the temple those who sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers doing business. ¹⁵ When He had made a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen, and poured out the changers’ money and overturned the tables. ¹⁶ And He said to those who sold doves, “Take these things away! Do not make My Father’s house a house of merchandise!” ¹⁷ Then His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for Your house has eaten Me up.”

John 10: ⁷ So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. ⁸ All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. ⁹ I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. ¹⁰ The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. ¹¹ I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. ¹² He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. ¹³ He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. ¹⁴ I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, ¹⁵ just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. ¹⁶ And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. ¹⁷ For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again.

[Jesus says that a hired shepherd who gets paid with money doesn’t truly care about the sheep, but abandons them.]

Matthew 26:6-13: ⁶ And when Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, ⁷ a woman came to Him having an alabaster flask of very costly fragrant oil, and she poured it on His head as He sat at the table. ⁸ But when His disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste? ⁹ For this fragrant oil might have been sold for much and given to the poor.” ¹⁰ But when Jesus was aware of it, He said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a good work for Me. ¹¹ For you always have the poor with you, but you do not always have Me with you. ¹² For in pouring this fragrant oil on My body, she did it for My burial. ¹³ Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.”

Mark 7:5-13 5 Then the Pharisees and scribes asked Him, “Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands?” 6 He answered and said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. 7 And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ 8 For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men—the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do.” 9 He said to them, “All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition. 10 For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’ 11 But you say, ‘If a man says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is Corban”—’ (that is, a gift to God), 12 then you no longer let him do anything for his father or his mother, 13 making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do.”

Matthew 10:8-10: ⁸ Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. ⁹ Provide neither gold nor silver nor copper in your money belts, ¹⁰ nor bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staffs; for a worker is worthy of his food (τροφή). ¹¹ “Now whatever city or town you enter, inquire who in it is worthy, and stay there till you go out. ¹² And when you go into a household, greet it.

Luke 10:7: And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer deserves his wages. Do not go from house to house.

Acts 3:6: Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.”

1 Timothy 6:3-11: ³ If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, ⁴ he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, ⁵ useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself. ⁶ Now godliness with contentment is great gain. ⁷ For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. ⁸ And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. ⁹ But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. ¹⁰ For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. ¹¹ But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.

Acts 20:33-35:  ³³ I have coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel. ³⁴ Yes, you yourselves know that these hands have provided for my necessities, and for those who were with me. ³⁵ I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”

1 Thessalonians 2:8-9: ⁸ So, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us. ⁹ For you remember, brethren, our labor and toil; for laboring night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God.

2 Thessalonians 3:6-12: ⁶ But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us. ⁷ For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us, for we were not disorderly among you; ⁸ nor did we eat anyone’s bread free of charge, but worked with labor and toil night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, ⁹ not because we do not have authority, but to make ourselves an example of how you should follow us. ¹⁰ For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. ¹¹ For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies. ¹² Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread.

[The pastor may eat if he labors in preaching the word, not preaching for 15 minutes a week. Even then, he gets food, not a fortune.]

Ephesians 4:28: Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.

1 Corinthians 4:11-13: ¹¹ To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are poorly clothed and beaten and homeless, ¹² and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; ¹³ when slandered, we entreat. We have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, the refuse of all things.

2 Corinthians 11:25-28: ²⁵ Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; ²⁶ in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; ²⁷ in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness— ²⁸ besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches.

Acts 3:6: ⁶ Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” ⁷ And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.

1 Peter 5: ² Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for shameful gain but eagerly; ³ nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; ⁴ and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.

1 Timothy 3:3-9: 3 This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work. ² A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; ³ not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for shameful gain, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; ⁴ one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence ⁵ (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?); ⁶ not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. ⁷ Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. ⁸ Likewise deacons must be reverent, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy for shameful gain, ⁹ holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience.

Titus 1: ⁷ For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for shameful gain, ⁸ but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled, ⁹ holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.

Titus 1: ¹⁰ For there are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, ¹¹ whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of shameful gain.

2 Corinthians 12: ¹¹ I have become a fool in boasting; you have compelled me. For I ought to have been commended by you; for in nothing was I behind the most eminent apostles, though I am nothing. ¹² Truly the signs of an apostle were accomplished among you with all perseverance, in signs and wonders and mighty deeds. ¹³ For what is it in which you were inferior to other churches, except that I myself was not burdensome to you? Forgive me this wrong! ¹⁴ Now for the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be burdensome to you; for I do not seek yours, but you. For the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children. ¹⁵ And I will very gladly spend and be spent for your souls; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved. ¹⁶ But be that as it may, I did not burden you. Nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you by cunning! ¹⁷ Did I take advantage of you by any of those whom I sent to you? ¹⁸ I urged Titus, and sent our brother with him. Did Titus take advantage of you? Did we not walk in the same spirit? Did we not walk in the same steps?

Titus 3:14: And let our people also learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful.

2 Corinthians 2:17: For we are not, as so many, peddling the word of God; but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ.

[Some of these protestant pastors will say, “Well, we don’t have to be as extreme as Paul!” No, but you aren’t just barely missing the mark here. You’re the complete opposite of Paul! You’re the polar extreme on the other side of Paul! You follow neither Paul’s example nor Christ’s! You follow the example of no bishop in church history! You only follow the example of heretics.]

2 Peter 2:3: By their greed they will exploit you financially, using deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber.

2 Peter 2:13-16: They are spots and blemishes, carousing in their own deceptions while they feast with you, ¹⁴ having eyes full of adultery and that cannot cease from sin, enticing unstable souls. They have a heart trained in covetous practices, and are accursed children. ¹⁵ They have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; ¹⁶ but he was rebuked for his iniquity: a dumb donkey speaking with a man’s voice restrained the madness of the prophet.

Micah 3:2-3: Her leaders judge for gifts, and her priests answer for a fee, and her prophets divine for money; and they rest upon the Lord, saying, “Is not the Lord among us? No evil shall come upon us.” Therefore on account of you, Zion shall be plowed as a field, and Jerusalem shall be a heap of ruins, and the mountain of the house [of the Lord] shall be as a thicket of the forest.

Isaiah 55:1: You that thirst, go to the water; and as many as have no money, go and buy, and drink wine and milk without money or price.

Isaiah 56:10-12 – “His watchmen are all blind, they are all without knowledge; they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; dreaming, lying down, loving to slumber. And the dogs are greedy, they know not satisfaction; and they are shepherds that know no understanding; they all look to their own ways, every one for his own gain, from his own quarter. Come, say they, I will take wine; and let us fill ourselves with strong drink: and tomorrow shall be as this day, and much more abundant.”

Ezekiel 34:1-4 – 1 And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 2 “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel! Prophesy and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord to the shepherds: “Woe to the shepherds of Israel who feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flocks? 3 You eat the fat and clothe yourselves with the wool; you slaughter the fatted sheep, but you do not feed the flock. 4 You have not strengthened the weak, nor healed the sick, nor bound up the broken, nor brought back the straying, nor sought the lost; but with harshness you have ruled them.

Twisting Scriptures (backfires):

Romans 15:25-27: ²⁵ But now I am going to Jerusalem to minister to the saints. ²⁶ For it pleased those from Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints who are in Jerusalem. ²⁷ It pleased them indeed, and they are their debtors. For if the Gentiles have been partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister to them in material things.

Philippians 4:14-16: ¹⁴ Nevertheless you have done well that you shared in my distress. ¹⁵ Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only. ¹⁶ For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities.

1 Corinthians 9:6-19: ⁶ Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working? ⁷ Who ever goes to war at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? Or who tends a flock and does not drink of the milk of the flock? ⁸ Do I say these things as a mere man? Or does not the law say the same also? ⁹ For it is written in the law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain.” Is it oxen God is concerned about? ¹⁰ Or does He say it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written, that he who plows should plow in hope, and he who threshes in hope should be partaker of his hope. ¹¹ If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it a great thing if we reap your material things? ¹² If others are partakers of this right over you, are we not even more? Nevertheless we have not used this right, but endure all things lest we hinder the gospel of Christ. ¹³ Do you not know that those who minister the holy things eat of the things of the temple, and those who serve at the altar partake of the offerings of the altar? ¹⁴ Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel. ¹⁵ But I have used none of these things, nor have I written these things that it should be done so to me; for it would be better for me to die than that anyone should make my boasting void. ¹⁶ For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel! ¹⁷ For if I do this willingly, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have been entrusted with a stewardship. ¹⁸ What is my reward then? That when I preach the gospel, I may present the gospel of Christ without charge, that I may not abuse my authority in the gospel. 19 For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more;

2 Corinthians 11:7-11: ⁷ Did I commit sin in humbling myself that you might be exalted, because I preached the gospel of God to you free of charge? ⁸ I robbed other churches, taking wages from them to minister to you. ⁹ And when I was present with you, and in need, I was a burden to no one, for what I lacked the brethren who came from Macedonia supplied. And in everything I kept myself from being burdensome to you, and so I will keep myself. ¹⁰ As the truth of Christ is in me, no one shall stop me from this boasting in the regions of Achaia. ¹¹ Why? Because I do not love you? God knows!

1 Timothy 5:17-18: Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine. For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer is worthy of his wages.”

Luke 8:1-3: Now it came to pass, afterward, that He went through every city and village, preaching and bringing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with Him, ² and certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities—Mary called Magdalene, out of whom had come seven demons, ³ and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others who provided for Him from their substance.

Matthew 25: “Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ ⁴⁵ Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ ⁴⁶ And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

Galatians 6:6: Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches.

Church Fathers:

The Didache:

“But if he ask money, he is a false prophet.” – The Didache, chapter 11

But whoever says in the Spirit, “Give me money,” or something else, you shall not listen to him; but if he says to you to give for others’ sake who are in need, let no one judge him. – The Didache, chapter 11

Irenaeus:

“3. Since, therefore, there exist among them error and misleading influences, and magical illusions are impiously wrought in the sight of men; but in the Church, sympathy, and compassion, and steadfastness, and truth, for the aid and encouragement of mankind, are not only displayed without fee or reward, but we ourselves lay out for the benefit of others our own means; and inasmuch as those who are cured very frequently do not possess the things which they require, they receive them from us—[since such is the case,] these men are in this way undoubtedly proved to be utter aliens from the divine nature, the beneficence of God, and all spiritual excellence” — Irenaeus, Against Heresies, Book 2, chapter 31

“It is not possible to name the number of the gifts which the Church, [scattered] throughout the whole world, has received from God, in the name of Jesus Christ, who was crucified under Pontius Pilate, and which she exerts day by day for the benefit of the Gentiles, neither practising deception upon any, nor taking any reward Acts 8:9, 18 from them [on account of such miraculous interpositions]. For as she has received freely Matthew 10:8 from God, freely also does she minister [to others].” – Irenaeus, Against Heresies, Book 2, chapter 32

Tertullian:

The tried men of our elders preside over us, obtaining that honour not by purchase, but by established character. There is no buying and selling of any sort in the things of God. Though we have our treasure chest, it is not made up of purchase-money, as of a religion that has its price. On the monthly day, if he likes, each puts in a small donation; but only if it be his pleasure, and only if he be able: for there is no compulsion; all is voluntary. These gifts are, as it were, piety’s deposit fund. For they are not taken thence and spent on feasts, and drinking-bouts, and eating-houses, but to support and bury poor people, to supply the wants of boys and girls destitute of means and parents, and of old persons confined now to the house; such, too, as have suffered shipwreck; and if there happen to be any in the mines, or banished to the islands, or shut up in the prisons, for nothing but their fidelity to the cause of God’s Church, they become the nurslings of their confession. – Tertullian, The Apology, chapter 39

Cyprian:

Apollonius of Ephesus:

1. As the so-called Phrygian heresy was still flourishing in Phrygia in his time, Apollonius also, an ecclesiastical writer, undertook its refutation, and wrote a special work against it, correcting in detail the false prophecies current among them and reproving the life of the founders of the heresy. But hear his own words respecting Montanus: 2. His actions and his teaching show who this new teacher is. This is he who taught the dissolution of marriage; who made laws for fasting; who named Pepuza and Tymion, small towns in Phrygia, Jerusalem, wishing to gather people to them from all directions; who appointed collectors of money; who contrived the receiving of gifts under the name of offerings; who provided salaries for those who preached his doctrine, that its teaching might prevail through gluttony. 3. He writes thus concerning Montanus; and a little farther on he writes as follows concerning his prophetesses: We show that these first prophetesses themselves, as soon as they were filled with the Spirit, abandoned their husbands. How falsely therefore they speak who call Prisca a virgin.

4. Afterwards he says: Does not all Scripture seem to you to forbid a prophet to receive gifts and money? When therefore I see the prophetess receiving gold and silver and costly garments, how can I avoid reproving her? 5. And again a little farther on he speaks thus concerning one of their confessors: So also Themiso, who was clothed with plausible covetousness, could not endure the sign of confession, but threw aside bonds for an abundance of possessions. Yet, though he should have been humble on this account, he dared to boast as a martyr, and in imitation of the apostle, he wrote a certain catholic epistle, to instruct those whose faith was better than his own, contending for words of empty sound, and blaspheming against the Lord and the apostles and the holy Church.

6. And again concerning others of those honored among them as martyrs, he writes as follows: Not to speak of many, let the prophetess herself tell us of Alexander, who called himself a martyr, with whom she is in the habit of banqueting, and who is worshipped by many. We need not mention his robberies and other daring deeds for which he was punished, but the archives contain them. 7. Which of these forgives the sins of the other? Does the prophet the robberies of the martyr, or the martyr the covetousness of the prophet? For although the Lord said, ‘Provide neither gold, nor silver, neither two coats’ (Matthew 10:9-10), these men, in complete opposition, transgress in respect to the possession of the forbidden things. For we will show that those whom they call prophets and martyrs gather their gain not only from rich men, but also from the poor, and orphans, and widows. 8. But if they are confident, let them stand up and discuss these matters, that if convicted they may hereafter cease transgressing. For the fruits of the prophet must be tried; ‘for the tree is known by its fruit’ (Matthew 12:33).

10. Exposing him, through him we expose also the pretense of the prophet. We could show the same thing of many others. But if they are confident, let them endure the test. 11. Again, in another part of his work he speaks as follows of the prophets of whom they boast: If they deny that their prophets have received gifts, let them acknowledge this: that if they are convicted of receiving them, they are not prophets. And we will bring a multitude of proofs of this. But it is necessary that all the fruits of a prophet should be examined. Tell me, does a prophet dye his hair? Does a prophet stain his eyelids? Does a prophet delight in adornment? Does a prophet play with tables and dice? Does a prophet lend on usury? Let them confess whether these things are lawful or not; but I will show that they have been done by them. 12. This same Apollonius states in the same work that, at the time of his writing, it was the fortieth year since Montanus had begun his pretended prophecy.  – Apollonius, bishop of Ephesus, cited by Eusebius, Church History, book 5, chapter XVIII

Apostolic Constitutions:

Eusebius:

Natalius was persuaded by them to allow himself to be chosen bishop of this heresy with a salary, to be paid by them, of one hundred and fifty denarii a month. 11. When he had thus connected himself with them, he was warned oftentimes by the Lord through visions. For the compassionate God and our Lord Jesus Christ was not willing that a witness of his own sufferings, being cast out of the Church, should perish. 12. But as he paid little regard to the visions, because he was ensnared by the first position among them and by that shameful covetousness which destroys a great many, he was scourged by holy angels, and punished severely through the entire night. Thereupon having risen in the morning, he put on sackcloth and covered himself with ashes, and with great haste and tears he fell down before Zephyrinus, the bishop, rolling at the feet not only of the clergy, but also of the laity; and he moved with his tears the compassionate Church of the merciful Christ. And though he used much supplication, and showed the welts of the stripes which he had received, yet scarcely was he taken back into communion.” – Eusebius, Church History, Book 5, Chapter 28

Didymus the Blind:

You yourselves know that in my needs and in the matters concerning me, these hands have served alongside me. In every way I showed you that by working hard one must help the weak. Remember the words of the Lord Jesus, who Himself said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” [Acts 20:34-35] These things are said to those governing the Church, so that, in addition to the other things, they may abstain from receiving money, deciding to be imitators of the One speaking [to them]. For he indicates this inference next: “In every way I showed you that by working hard one must help the weak,” aiding them. And provision will be made for this, if through recollection the words of the Lord who has said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive,” should abide; hence, let giving be preferred by bishops. – Didymus the Blind (Source: A Fragment of Didymus the Blind in the Pandects of Nikon of the Black Mountain)

Ambrose of Milan:

141. These treasures [i.e. the poor in the Church] Lawrence pointed out, and prevailed, for the persecutors could not take them away. Jehoiachim, who preserved his gold during the siege and spent it not in providing food, saw his gold carried off, and himself led into captivity. Lawrence, who preferred to spend the gold of the Church on the poor, rather than to keep it in hand for the persecutor, received the sacred crown of martyrdom for the unique and deep-sighted vigour of his meaning. Or was it perhaps said to holy Lawrence: Thou should not spend the treasures of the Church, or sell the sacred vessels? 142. It is necessary that every one should fill this office, with genuine good faith and clear-sighted forethought. If any one derives profit from it for himself it is a crime, but if he spends the treasures on the poor, or redeems captives, he shows mercy. For no one can say: Why does the poor man live? None can complain that captives are redeemed, none can find fault because a temple of the Lord is built, none can be angry because a plot of ground has been enlarged for the burial of the bodies of the faithful, none can be vexed because in the tombs of the Christians there is rest for the dead. In these three ways it is allowable to break up, melt down, or sell even the sacred vessels of the Church. – Ambrose of Milan, On the Duties of the Clergy, Book 2, chapter 28

John Chrysostom:

“For we are not as the rest, which corrupt the word of God.” 2 Corinthians 2:17 ‘For even if we use great sounding words, yet we declared nothing to be our own that we achieved, but all Christ’s. For we will not imitate the false apostles; the men who say that most is of themselves.’ For this is “to corrupt,” when one adulterates the wine; when one sells for money what he ought to give freely. For he seems to me to be here both taunting them in respect to money, and again hinting at the very thing I have said, as that they mingle their own things with God’s; which is the charge Isaiah brings when he said, “Your vintners mingle wine with water:” Isaiah 1:22 for even if this was said of wine, yet one would not err in expounding it of doctrine too. “But we,” says he, “do not so: but such as we have been entrusted with, such do we offer you, pouring out the word undiluted.” Whence he added, “But as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.” – John Chrysostom, Homily 5 on Second Corinthians

“Do you not know that those who perform the sacred services eat from the temple, and those who attend continually at the altar share with the altar? So also the Lord ordained that those who proclaim the gospel should live from the gospel” (1 Corinthians 9:13–14). He is very earnest to show that receiving support is not forbidden. Therefore, after saying so many things before, he was not satisfied, but goes on also to the law, bringing forward an example more fitting than the former one. For it was not the same thing to bring oxen into the discussion and to bring forward a law expressly laid down concerning priests. And observe here too, I ask you, the wisdom of Paul, how magnificently he mentions the matter. For he did not say, Those who perform the sacred services receive from those who make the offerings, but what? “They eat from the temple,” so that neither those who receive may be reproached, nor those who provide become puffed up. Therefore he has also set the next phrase in this way. For here too he did not say, Those who attend continually at the altar receive from those who offer the sacrifices, but, They share with the altar. For what was offered no longer belonged to those who offered it, but to the temple and to the altar. And he did not say, They receive the holy things, but, “They eat from the temple,” again showing moderation, and that they ought neither to make a trade of it nor grow rich. And if he says, They share with the altar, he does not mean an equal distribution, but the consolation given to them as something owed. And yet the things belonging to the apostles were far greater. For there it was an honor, the priesthood; but here there were dangers and slaughters and murders. Therefore, far greater than all the other examples was the saying, “If we sowed spiritual things among you” (1 Corinthians 9:11). For when he says, We sowed, he shows the storms and dangers and plots and unspeakable evils which they endured while preaching. But even though the superiority was so great, he did not wish either to belittle the things of the Old Testament or to exalt his own; rather, he also restrains his own claim, grounding the superiority not in the dangers, but in the greatness of the gift. For he did not say, If we faced dangers or plots, but, “If we sowed spiritual things among you.” And he also exalts the things belonging to the priests, as far as possible, saying, “Those who perform the sacred services,” and, “those who attend continually at the altar,” wishing by these words to show their unceasing service and endurance. And by mentioning the priests among the Jews, both the Levites and the high priests, he indicated both ranks, both the lesser and the greater: the lesser by saying, “those who perform the sacred services,” and the greater by saying, “those who attend continually at the altar.” For not all had one and the same task assigned to them, but some had been entrusted with the lower duties, and others with the higher. Therefore, after including them all, lest anyone should say, What is it to us that you mention the Old Testament? Do you not know that this is a time for more perfect commandments?—after all that he set down what was strongest of all, saying: “So also the Lord ordained that those who proclaim the gospel should live from the gospel” (1 Corinthians 9:14). And here too he does not say that they are fed from men, but just as in the case of the priests he said, “from the temple” and “from the altar,” so here also, he says, “from the gospel”; and just as there he said, “eat,” so here, “live”—not to trade, nor to store up treasure. For, he says, “The laborer is worthy of his wages” (Luke 10:7). – John Chrysostom, Homily 22 on 1 Corinthians, Migne PG 61.181-182

[The Priesthood is not for anybody to make a trade of it or grow rich]

“And, in general, prophecy is of four kinds: one is spiritual, another diabolical, another intermediate between these—some natural or technical kind—and a fourth is common and ordinary. Spiritual prophecy belongs primarily to the saints, though by dispensation it is also given to those who are not such, as to Nebuchadnezzar, and Pharaoh, and Balaam, and Caiaphas. Diabolical prophecy belongs only to the servants of that power. Such are the diviners by meal, and the Pythia who gives oracles through her frenzied possession, and the priestess of Dodona through the oak, and the divination by entrails, by flights of birds, by cries, by omens and sneezes, by chance sounds and thunder, by hands, by mice and weasels, by creakings and the ringing of the ears, by the twitchings of the body, by pebbles, rods, and bark, by the dead and by the belly, by names and stars, by bowls, and by ten thousand other such things. For divination through dreams also belongs among these, and among us too this happens through possession. But their foreknowledge comes not through virtue, as with us, but through some evil art. And they prophesy about money, diseases, and wars, with no virtue or vice at all being required of them; but among us prophecy is for the correction of character and for change to the better. And those predictions must necessarily come to pass, but ours not in every case. For what profit would there be in a prediction spoken for the benefit of souls, if the things foretold were bound to happen no matter what, allowing no change from what lies within our power? For when God foretells, He also sets forth the way of deliverance from evils, if we are willing to repent. And this is the profit of prophecy. And when men do not change, these things certainly come to pass. But those others, though by chance they may have spoken truly in some matters, in most things they failed. And they need instruments, and places, and seasons, and they speak for money; but God is free from all these things. Such, then, is the difference between divine prophecy and diabolical prophecy. Natural prophecy is that of irrational creatures; for swallows perceive the coming of winter from other swallows, and cranes from cranes, and ants likewise, as do hedgehogs and kingfishers, having this by nature. Technical prophecy is found among physicians, counselors, and pilots: some foretell sicknesses, others the remedies for them; some predict changes in the winds, and others by skill make a reasoned estimate of what is coming.” – John Chrysostom, Fragments on Jeremiah, Migne PG 64.741

Jerome:

10.7–8. “Now as you go, preach, saying that the kingdom of heaven is at hand; cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons; freely you have received, freely give.” Lest it turn out that no one believe these rustic men, unschooled and illiterate, and lacking the charm of eloquence, who are promising the kingdom of heaven, he gives them power: “Cure the sick, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons.” Thus the greatness of the signs will prove the greatness of the promises. And because spiritual gifts are always demeaned if wages intervene, he adds a condemnation of avarice: “Freely you have received, freely give.” I, your Teacher and Lord, gave this to you free of charge, and you are to give free of charge, lest the grace of the Gospel be corrupted.

10.9–10. “Do not possess gold or silver or money in your belts, no wallet for the journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor a staff in your hand; for the worker is worthy of his food.” This command is consistent with what he had previously said to the evangelizers of the truth: “Freely you have received, freely give.” For if they preach in such a way that they do not accept pay, the possession of gold and silver coins is superfluous. For if they had gold and silver, they would seem to be preaching not for the sake of human salvation but rather for the sake of gain. “Nor copper in your sacks.” He who decapitates wealth practically cuts off what is necessary for life. Thus the apostles, the teachers of the true religion, who were instructing that all things are governed by providence, show that they themselves take no thought for tomorrow. “No wallet for the journey.” By this precept he convicts the philosophers who are commonly called “Bactroperitae,” because, as despisers of the world, they considered all things as nothing and took the pantry along with them. We should have one set of clothes and should not keep another set for ourselves out of fear for the future. “Nor sandals.” Even Plato commands that the two extremities of the body are not to be covered nor should they be accustomed to the softness of cap and shoes. For when these are tough, the other parts are tougher. “Nor staff.” Since we have the Lord’s help, why should we seek the aid of a staff? He had sent the apostles to preach when they were stripped, so to speak, and unencumbered, so that the condition of the teachers seemed to be hard. Now he has tempered the severity of the command with the following judgment, saying: “The worker is worthy of his food.” Receive, he says, only as much as is necessary for yourselves by way of food and clothing. For this reason the apostle also repeats this: “Having food and clothes, we are content with these”; and in another passage: “But let the one who is instructed share in every good thing with him who instructs.” Thus as the disciples reap spiritual things, they make their teachers sharers in their own material things. This is done not out of greed but out of necessity. We have said these things at the level of historical interpretation. But there is a lesson at the level of the anagogical interpretation. He says that it is not permitted to teachers to possess gold, silver, and money in their belts. Now we often read “gold” for “thought,” “silver” for “speech,” and “copper” for “voice.” It is not permitted to us to receive these things from others. Rather, they should be possessed as things given from the Lord. Nor is it permitted to take up the disciplines of perverted teaching from the heretics and philosophers; nor to be weighed down by a secular paycheck, nor to be double- minded. – Jerome, Commentary on Matthew 10.7–10

“But let him who is instructed in the word share with him who instructs him in all good things” (Galatians 6:6). … Above, he had commanded to the spiritual that they should instruct those who had been caught in some transgression in a spirit of gentleness and should carry the burdens of one another, fulfilling the law of Christ. Now, on the other hand, he commands those who were still rather weak, who were both disciples and fleshly, that just as they reap spiritual things from their teachers, so they should supply fleshly things to their teachers (1 Corinthians 9:11). For the teachers devote themselves completely to study and divine learning and are in need of the necessities of this life. Therefore, let what is written about the manna be done: “He [that gathered] much had nothing over, and he [that gathered] little had no lack” (Exodus 16:18). Now in the present passage the “good things” he is speaking of are food and clothing and other things that men count among their “goods” by common usage and common custom. “For having food and clothing, we are content with these” (1 Timothy 6:8). — Jerome, Commentary on Galatians 3.6.6

He who will be a bishop ought to be estranged too from being a seeker after “disgraceful gain” (Titus 1:7). For there are many who teach what is not fitting for the sake of “disgraceful gain,” who subvert entire households and think that piety is profit (1 Timothy 6:5). But according to Solomon “a modest acceptance is better with justice than much produce with iniquity” (Proverbs 16:8). And one should rather choose a good name with poverty than an evil name with riches (Proverbs 22:1). A bishop who desires to be an imitator of the apostle, “having food and clothing,” ought to be content with these alone. Those who serve at the altar live from the altar (1 Corinthians 9:13). They do not live, he says, who become rich. This is why copper is shaken out of our belts, we wear only one tunic (Matthew 10:9–10); we do not think about tomorrow (Matthew 6:34). The appetite for “disgraceful gain” indicates that one is thinking more about the present. — Jerome, Commentary on Titus 1.7

… But we have taught that the heretics are indicated in Hosea under the name of Israel, Samaria, Ephraim and the sons of Joseph—the tribe from which Jeroboam came, who separated the people from the kingdom of David and Jerusalem and from the temple of God. Even now, after Judah and Jerusalem, we should understand that the prophetic speech is directed to heretics, who sell the holy and just man, but also the poor man, for money. (Amos 2:6). The poor and just man is the man of the church who does not have knowledge of the Scriptures but, content with his simplicity, does the commands that have been ordered. About him it is written: “A poor man does not endure a threat.” (Proverbs 13:8). And to the Galatians he says: “only that we should be mindful of the poor.” (Galatians 2:10). The heretics do all these things for riches and for “shoes with which to tread on the dust of the earth,” (Amos 2:6) for since they are not able to stand with bare feet on the holy ground on which Moses and Joshua the son of Nun stood; (Exodus 3:5; Joshua 5:15) for this reason, the apostles also are commanded to walk with bare feet, in order not to have any death and hides, which pertain to the flesh. (Matthew 10:10). Therefore they “strike the poor on the head.” (Amos 2:7). And the Savior commanded his disciples to shake off the dust from their feet, in case something mortal had stuck to their works, since they were still dwelling on earth. (Matthew 10:14). The heretics “strike the heads of the poor” because they have “turned aside the way of the humble” (Amos 2:7) (though this is not read in the Hebrew text). “The way of the humble” is that which says “I am the way, and the life and the truth,” (John 14:6) which invites us to walk through it and says, “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will restore you.” (Matthew 11:28). But all of the leaders of the heretics become puffed up with pride. The apostle speaks about them in these words: “Lest as one puffed up he fall into the devil’s judgment.” (1 Timothy 3:6). … – Jerome, Commentary on Amos 2:6-8

Asterius of Amasea:

Such was his [Paul’s] teaching. And what about the other philosophy of his life—what a man he was? Always and constantly devoted to the word and enslaved to the Gospel, he did not even get the bread he ate as a gift from someone else. By day he fought the contest against countless enemies; by night he had his awl and leather and the work of his trade—so that from that he might get his food and appear to all an unburdensome apostle, a costless herald, sparing even his hosts the cost of bread. Let us priests hear these words—we who not only share in the altars but get rich from them, live in luxury, turn the sacred property into private wealth, and issue harsh commands to our subjects for Christ as if they were slaves. Priesthood is not lordship; for the one who understands, it is rather servitude. It is not a rank for overbearing pride, but the stewardship of reverent service. – Asterius of Amasea, Sermon 8, chapter 31.1-31.2

Chromatius of Aquileia:

1. When our Lord and Savior entered into the temple of the Jews and saw the illicit business being carried out, namely the selling of sheep, oxen, and doves, and money changers sitting there, as your love has heard in today’s reading [see Matt 21:12–13; John 2:13–15], he made a whip out of cords21 and expelled them all, and he overturned the chairs of those selling, saying to them, “My house shall be called a house of prayer; but you have made it a house of merchandise” [Matt 21:13; John 2:16]. The Jews were unmindful of the divine religion and faith. They made the temple of God a house of merchandise, and that is why they were all expelled. But they were expelled with a whip made of cords. Solomon plainly shows what is signified in the whip made of cords when he says, “And a threefold rope is not easily broken” [Eccl 4:12]. Doubtless in the threefold rope the Trinity is shown, which cannot be broken apart, since faith in the Trinity is incorruptible.22 Frequently the heretics have attempted to corrupt this faith, as far as lies within them; but they have corrupted only themselves. But the faith in the Trinity necessarily should abide incorrupt. And on that account Solomon says well, “A threefold rope will not be corrupted” [Eccl 4:12].

2. All then who act contrary to law are expelled from the temple with a whip of this sort made of cords because all who conduct themselves illicitly are condemned by no other judgment than that of the Trinity. And this is why the chairs of those selling doves are overturned, who seemed to be teaching the people while sitting on chairs, as if occupying the priestly rank. The chairs of the synagogue were overturned so that the chairs of the church would be sanctified in Christ. For the priestly office was taken away from the synagogue and given to the church. For the synagogue no longer deserved to possess the priestly office because it did not receive the chief priest himself, Christ the Lord. But let us see, or rather, beware lest any among us be found to be like this, who distributes sheep or oxen or doves in the Lord’s temple. He sells sheep, who judges innocent one who pays coin. He sells oxen, who disperses the grace of God for an accepted price, though it is written, “Freely you have received, freely give” [Matt 10:8]. Whence even now money changers, namely those who reckon that God’s work must be done for a wage, are shown to be overturned in the temple.

3. The church indeed is called a “house of merchandise,” but of spiritual merchandise, where not earthly but heavenly money is lent on interest; it is not the interest of earthly coin that is acquired but interest of the heavenly kingdom. After all, we read the statement of the Lord in the gospel: “And why did you not give the money to the table of the money changers and I would have come and surely collected it back with interest” [Matt 25:27]. Daily therefore the money of the divine word, heavenly doctrine, is lent to us on interest in the Lord’s church, and we do business with it well if we return it to the Lord with the profit of salvation and faith. In fact the apostles traded solely with this money, so that they gained the entire world for God.  – Chromatius of Aquileia, Sermon 4, chapters 1-3

An Encyclical Letter of the Fifth Synod (Chalcedon):