The Watchtower boasts, “What group is noted for having no paid clergy, all of its members being preachers?” It claims, “Some religious leaders do preach for money…  In contrast, the Witnesses have no paid clergy, and often their Bible literature is offered without price to sincere seekers of truth…” (p. 236)

Your objective is to show the Witnesses from the Scriptures that those who preach the gospel have a right to be paid for their work, although if they wish to decline such financial support, they are free to do so.

Have one of the Witnesses read aloud 1 Corinthians 9:13-14: “Don’t you know that those who work in the temple get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar? In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.” Ask, “What does verse 14 say Lord commanded?” Ask them to give a direct answer to that question.

Sometimes they will reply, “But 1 Corinthians 9:12 says that Paul didn’t take money from the Corinthians. He didn’t accept any money, and neither do we!”

In response, ask one of them to read aloud 2 Corinthians 11:7-8, where Paul says, “… did I commit a sin by humbling myself that you might be exalted, because I gladly declared the good news of God to you without cost? Other congregations I deprived by accepting provisions in order to minister to you.” (Watchtower translation). Ask, “Doesn’t this show that Paul did take money to support his ministry—just not from the Corinthians?”

You can also refer them to Philippians 4:15-17: “Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid again and again when I was in need. Not that I am looking for a gift, but I am looking for what may be credited to your account.”

Ask, “There is nothing wrong with Christian workers accepting financial support for their ministry, is there? Paul did so again and again.”

You can sum up this issue by having one of the Witnesses read aloud 1 Timothy 5:17-18: “The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, ‘Do not muzzle the ox while it is treading out the grain,’ and ‘The worker deserves his wages.’” Ask, “What does this passage say about whether or not elders deserve to be paid?”

I recommend that you finish this topic by adding something like this: “I’m sure that Jehovah’s Witness elders have administrative, teaching, counseling, and disciplinary duties. In addition, I would suppose that they are expected to be good examples in the door-to-door witnessing. If they are not paid for any of this work, they must have secular jobs as well in order to earn a living. This must put a lot of stress on them and on their families. That seems to me to be the reason why the Bible says that the worker is entitled to his wages. Given what the Scripture says, help me understand why the Watchtower doesn’t make a bona fide offer to pay them.”

Study Questions

What would you say to a Jehovah’s Witness who tells you:

  • “Some religious leaders… preach for money… In contrast, the Witnesses have no paid clergy, and often their Bible literature is offered without price to sincere seekers of truth…”? (p. 236)
  • “Paul didn’t accept any money and neither do we!” (1 Corinthians 9:18) (p. 237)