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<td valign="top" ><p><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times;">I must approach this inquiry with uneasiness when I find [Paul] affirmed to be an apostle of whom in the list of apostles in the gospel I find no trace. Tertullian</span></p></td>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: 18pt; color: #494a44;"><span style="color: #0000ff; font-size: 18pt;"><strong><span style="background: white;">Did Paul Attempt a Bribe of the Jerusalem Church?</span></strong></span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">A Paul defender released a non-fiction movie </span></span></div>
<div style="direction: ltr; margin-top: 0in; width: 6.109in;"><span style="background: white;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">entitled <strong>A</strong> <strong>Polite</strong> <strong>Bribe</strong> in 2013. This title puts </span></span></div>
<div style="direction: ltr; margin-top: 0in; width: 6.109in;"><span style="background: white;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">a nice face on Paul's action mentioned in 1 </span></span></div>
<div style="direction: ltr; margin-top: 0in; width: 6.109in;"><span style="background: white;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">Corinthians 16, calling it a "polite bribe." The </span></span></div>
<div style="direction: ltr; margin-top: 0in; width: 6.109in;"><span style="background: white;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">movie concedes Paul's effort was to bribe the </span></span></div>
<div style="direction: ltr; margin-top: 0in; width: 6.109in;"><span style="background: white;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">Jerusalem church to accept Paul. </span></span></div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div style="direction: ltr; margin-top: 0in; width: 6.109in;"><span style="background: white;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">We shall examine that question in this article.</span></span></div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div style="direction: ltr; margin-top: 0in; width: 6.109in;"><span style="background: white;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">But first, let's review the point of this movie <strong>A</strong> <strong>Polite</strong> <strong>Bribe</strong>. </span></span></div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div style="direction: ltr; margin-top: 0in; width: 6.109in;"><span style="background: white;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">Remarkably, and without any basis in fact, the movie claims James asking Paul in Acts 21 to prove Paul has not rejected the Law by Paul taking a Nazarite vow, and paying the costs of several other individuals to do so too, was a means of accepting Paul's bribe. However, that is pure conjecture, as we will demonstrate.</span></span></div>
<div style="direction: ltr; margin-top: 0in; width: 6.109in;">&nbsp;</div>
<div style="direction: ltr; margin-top: 0in; width: 6.109in;"><span style="background: white;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">The movie's purpose was to smear Bishop James for supposedly accepting Paul's bribe and then allegedly using the Nazarite vow request in Acts 21 to set up Paul for a physical attack by Jews at the Temple. The Romans stepped in to protect Paul as a Roman citizen, supposedly foiling James' initial plan to have Paul killed by the mob.&nbsp;</span></span></div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div style="direction: ltr; margin-top: 0in; width: 6.109in;"><span style="background: white;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">Yet, in the end, James allegedly succeeded by Nero's execution of Paul at the ensuing trial of Paul for his alleged responsibility that his companion from Ephesus -- Trophimus -- defiled the Temple at Jerusalem by means of entry in an uncircumcised state. </span></span></div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div style="direction: ltr; margin-top: 0in; width: 6.109in;"><span style="background: white;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">However, the researchers for this movie missed the fact Paul was acquitted at this trial. There are only tales that years later Paul was back in Rome, and on different charges was executed by Nero. See our review of&nbsp;</span></span><strong><span style="background: white;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">A Polite Bribe </span></span></strong><span style="background: white;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">at</span></span><span style="background: white;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"> </span></span><span style="background: white;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">this</span></span><a href="/recommendedreading/748-review-of-a-polite-bribe.html"><span style="background: white;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"> </span></span><span style="background: white;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">link</span></span><strong><span style="background: white;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">.</span></span></strong></a>&nbsp;&nbsp;</div>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div><span style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">Now let's review the issue whether Paul was attempting a bribe in 1 Corinthians 16 as conceded in this very Paul-friendly movie.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;
<div style="color: #494a44; font-family: Tahoma, Verdana, Geneva, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; background-color: #ffffff; direction: ltr; margin-top: 0in; width: 6.109in;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"></span></div>
</div>
<div style="direction: ltr; margin-top: 0in; width: 6.109in;">
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: 18pt; color: #494a44;"><span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><span style="background: white; font-size: 18pt;">Did Paul</span><span style="background: white; font-size: 18pt;"> Attem</span><span style="background: white; font-size: 18pt;">pt</span><span style="background: white; font-size: 18pt;"> a Bribe?</span></strong></span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: 18pt; color: #494a44;"><span style="background: white; font-size: 18pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"></span></span></p>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
<div style="color: #494a44; font-family: Tahoma, Verdana, Geneva, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; background-color: #ffffff;"><span style="background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">Paul made a play to the Corinthians -- Gentiles -- to make a collection that Paul intends to include a cover letter to the church at Jerusalem. This means the collection from Gentiles would be brought to the Jerusalem church with a letter from Paul. Yet, Paul himself would not be present. This is in 1 Cor. 16:2-3.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span>&nbsp;&nbsp;
<div style="background-color: #ffffff; direction: ltr; margin-top: 0in; width: 6.109in;">&nbsp;&nbsp;</div>
</div>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: 18pt; color: #494a44;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"></span><span style="background: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Let's break this down, and analyze the import of </span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: 18pt; color: #494a44;"><span style="background: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Paul's plan of action.</span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: 18pt; color: #494a44;"><span style="background: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Paul in 1 Cor. 16:2 asks the people to set aside some </span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: 18pt; color: #494a44;"><span style="background: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">of their income for him when he comes. He calls this </span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: 18pt; color: #494a44;"><span style="background: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">a collection. It would be for the Jerusalem church.</span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #494a44; background: white;">Then in 1 Cor. 16:3 Paul asks them to wait so he can </span></span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #494a44; background: white;">arrive to include a cover letter for the Jerusalem </span></span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #494a44; background: white;">church. He writes: "Then on my arrival, I will send </span></span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #494a44; background: white;">letters with those you recommend to carry <strong>your</strong> <strong>gift</strong></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #494a44; background: white;"> to Jerusalem." (See&nbsp;</span><a href="https://biblehub.com/1_corinthians/16-3.htm"><span style="background: white;">link</span></a><span style="color: #494a44; background: white;">.) </span></span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: 18pt;"><span style="color: #494a44; background: white;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">This quote means (a) Paul is not accompanying the</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: 18pt;"><span style="color: #494a44; background: white;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"> gift to Jerusalem because otherwise the letter itself</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: 18pt;"><span style="color: #494a44; background: white;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"> would be unnecessary; and (b) had Paul not included</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: 18pt;"><span style="color: #494a44; background: white;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"> the letter, the Jerusalem church would not necessarily </span></span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: 18pt;"><span style="color: #494a44; background: white;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">have known Paul had any responsibility for the gift.</span> </span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: 18pt;"><span style="color: #494a44; background: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Hence, Paul clearly wanted credit for the giving of this</span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: 18pt;"><span style="color: #494a44; background: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"> collection by the Corinthians. In a sense, Paul wanted </span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: 18pt;"><span style="color: #494a44; background: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">to prove he was a money-maker to the Jerusalem </span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: 18pt;"><span style="color: #494a44; background: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">church.</span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: 18pt; color: #494a44;"><span style="background: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Thus, Paul is trying once more to gain favor with the </span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: 18pt; color: #494a44;"><span style="background: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Jerusalem church but in this case by means of </span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: 18pt; color: #494a44;"><span style="background: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">money. The purpose is obvious.</span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: 18pt; color: #494a44;"><span style="background: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">Accordingly, Paul's involvement turned a gift from the </span></span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: 18pt; color: #494a44;"><span style="background: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">Corinthians into a bribe from Paul. While there is a </span></span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: 18pt; color: #494a44;"><span style="background: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">fine line between a gift and a bribe, </span></span><span style="background: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">Paul clearly </span></span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: 18pt; color: #494a44;"><span style="background: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">crossed it. He did not need to include any letter at all. </span></span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: 18pt; color: #494a44;"><span style="background: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">The Corinthians intended a gift. Paul intended to </span></span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: 18pt; color: #494a44;"><span style="background: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">obtain favor with the Jerusalem church -- something </span></span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: 18pt; color: #494a44;"><span style="background: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">he complained frequently elsewhere he did not </span></span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: 18pt; color: #494a44;"><span style="background: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">receive. See&nbsp;</span></span><span style="background: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><a href="/recommendedreading/744-twelve-apostles-refuse-to-commend-paul.html">The 12 Apostles Refuse to Commend </a></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: 18pt; color: #494a44;"><span style="background: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><a href="/recommendedreading/744-twelve-apostles-refuse-to-commend-paul.html">Paul.</a>&nbsp;</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: 18pt; color: #494a44;">&nbsp;<a href="/recommendedreading/744-twelve-apostles-refuse-to-commend-paul.html"><br /></a></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: 18pt; color: #494a44;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white;">The Bible talks negatively of what Paul was doing. </span></span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: 18pt; color: #494a44;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white;">The&nbsp;</span><span style="font-weight: bold; background: white;">Internatonal Standard Bible&nbsp;</span><span style="font-weight: bold; background: white;">Encyclopedia</span><span style="background: white;"></span></span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: 18pt; color: #494a44;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white;">(1979) vol. 2 at <a href="https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_International_Standard_Bible_Encyclo/yklDk6Vv0l4C?hl=en&amp;gbpv=1&amp;dq=corinthians+fine+line+between+bribery+and+gift&amp;pg=PA466&amp;printsec=frontcover">477 </a>explains:</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: 18pt; color: #494a44; padding-left: 30px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white;">[T]he giving of gifts among people often followed a </span></span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: 18pt; color: #494a44; padding-left: 30px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white;">lower standard, so that what is described as a 'gift' </span></span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: 18pt; color: #494a44; padding-left: 30px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white;">in OT passages may be&nbsp;</span><span style="font-weight: bold; background: white;">indistinguishable</span><span style="background: white;">&nbsp;from a </span></span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: 18pt; color: #494a44; padding-left: 30px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white;">'</span><span style="font-weight: bold; background: white;">bribe</span><span style="background: white;">' or '</span><span style="font-weight: bold; background: white;">payoff</span><span style="background: white;">.' Proverbs 18:16 indicates the&nbsp;</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: 18pt; color: #494a44; padding-left: 30px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: bold; background: white;">fine&nbsp;</span><span style="font-weight: bold; background: white;">line</span><span style="background: white;">&nbsp;between gift and bribe, and the&nbsp;</span><span style="font-weight: bold; background: white;">selfish&nbsp;</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: 18pt; color: #494a44; padding-left: 30px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: bold; background: white;">abuse</span><span style="background: white;">&nbsp;of giving: 'A man's gift makes room for him </span></span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: 18pt; color: #494a44; padding-left: 30px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white;">and brings him before great men.' The numerous </span></span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: 18pt; color: #494a44; padding-left: 30px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white;">injunctions in the OT against the taking of bribes </span></span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: 18pt; color: #494a44; padding-left: 30px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white;">suggests that such abuse was well-known. (Ex. </span></span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: 18pt; color: #494a44; padding-left: 30px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white;">23:8.) In Sirach, the sage suggests "a word is </span></span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: 18pt; color: #494a44; padding-left: 30px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background: white;">better than a gift."</span></span></p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">&nbsp;</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: 18pt; color: #494a44;"><span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">So how did the apostles at Jerusalem view such gifts</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: 18pt; color: #494a44;"><span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"> being sent directly to themselves from Gentiles rather</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: 18pt; color: #494a44;"><span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"> than put in the poor box at the Temple anonymously?</span> </span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: 18pt; color: #494a44;"><span style="background: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Here's the clear answer. Apostle John commended </span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: 18pt; color: #494a44;"><span style="background: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">preachers who refused to take money from Gentiles,</span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: 18pt; color: #494a44;"><span style="background: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"> obviously viewing such money as bribes to preach </span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: 18pt; color: #494a44;"><span style="background: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">doctrine the Gentiles would like:&nbsp;</span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18pt; padding-left: 30px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #494a44; background: white;">Because that for his name's sake they went forth,</span></span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18pt; padding-left: 30px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #494a44; background: white;"></span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: #494a44; background: white;">taking nothing of the Gentiles.</span><span style="color: #494a44; background: white;">&nbsp;(</span><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=3%20John%207"><span style="background: white;">3 John 7</span></a><span style="color: #494a44; background: white;">.)&nbsp;</span></span></p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">&nbsp;</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18pt; color: #494a44;"><span style="background: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Obviously, John as a "pillar of the church," as Paul </span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18pt; color: #494a44;"><span style="background: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">said, was commending the missionaries to the </span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18pt; color: #494a44;"><span style="background: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Gentiles for refusing any Gentile money to avoid </span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18pt; color: #494a44;"><span style="background: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">compromise. John was implying they would be bribes </span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18pt; color: #494a44;"><span style="background: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">if accepted.</span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18pt; color: #494a44;"><span style="background: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">This means if Paul came with an offering of Gentile</span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18pt; color: #494a44;"><span style="background: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"> money to be given directly to the Jerusalem church,</span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18pt; color: #494a44;"><span style="background: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"> the church would naturally and appropriately refuse it. </span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18pt; color: #494a44;"><span style="background: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">The money had to be instead distributed directly to </span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18pt; color: #494a44;"><span style="background: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">the poor, e.g., put in a poor box anonymously, with</span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18pt; color: #494a44;"><span style="background: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"> no possible influence being gained over the church </span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18pt; color: #494a44;"><span style="background: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">itself. </span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18pt; color: #494a44;"><span style="background: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Hence, we have one more piece of evidence of the </span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18pt; color: #494a44;"><span style="background: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">selfish fruit of Paul -- not <strong>good</strong> fruit. Jesus told us to </span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18pt; color: #494a44;"><span style="background: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">assess those claiming to be prophets by examining </span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18pt; color: #494a44;"><span style="background: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">their fruit.</span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18pt; color: #494a44;">&nbsp;</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18pt; color: #494a44;"><span style="background: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">This adds to the list of Paul's misdeeds. This time it </span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18pt; color: #494a44;"><span style="background: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">represents the condemnable use of the well-meaning </span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18pt; color: #494a44;"><span style="background: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">efforts of others' charity.&nbsp; </span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18pt; color: #494a44;"><span style="background: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">For some of the other misdeeds of Paul to weigh </span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18pt; color: #494a44;"><span style="background: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">whether his fruit disqualifies accepting him as a </span></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18pt; color: #494a44;"><span style="background: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">prophet, see [1]&nbsp;</span><a href="/recommendedreading/188-blasphemy-a-paul.html">Blasphemy &amp; Paul</a>, [2]&nbsp;<a href="/recommendedreading/283-guile-in-paul.html">Guile and Paul</a>&nbsp;</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18pt; color: #494a44;">[3]&nbsp;<a href="/recommendedreading/427-did-paul-ever-deliberately-lie.html">Did Paul ever deliberately lie?</a> And [4]&nbsp;<a href="/recommendedreading/578-evil-immoral-commands-from-paul.html">Evil immoral </a></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18pt; color: #494a44;"><a href="/recommendedreading/578-evil-immoral-commands-from-paul.html">commands of Paul.</a>&nbsp;See also [a]&nbsp;<a href="/recommendedreading/99-paul-women-and-sex.html">Paul on Sex and Marriage</a>&nbsp;</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 18pt; color: #494a44;">and [b]&nbsp;<a href="/recommendedreading/318-pauls-command-not-to-help-young-widows.html" style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 18pt;">Paul's Commands not to Help Young Widows.</a></p>
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