How did Jesus and his apostles make money?

by sabastious 69 Replies latest watchtower bible

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  sabastious

  Jesus and his apostles were once found eating other people's wheat yield. However the law in question was reported to be the sabbath; so it must not have been considered stealing?

  Regardless, how did they earn money? I seem to remember a post-Christ-death apostle arguing that people had a right to work for a living. That sounds a lot like how it works today, people going out and getting a job, be that stonecutting and whatnot.

  Do we have an accurate historical picture of how ecnomics worked in Jesus' time?

  -Sab
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  leavingwt

  Jesus was a magician. When needed, he could produce money out of thin air, faster than the Federal Reserve in panic mode.

  "Take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth, you will find a four drachma coin." Matthew 17:27
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  james_woods

  Not only that, but they could then either fry that fish or sell it at the market.
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  blondie

  Donations---Judas was accused of embezzling money from the box. It was not uncommon for traveling teachers to be given money and food by their students.

  The apostles had secular jobs, some were self-employed. At times they went home and worked for awhile to make some money.

  They didn't live lavish lives so weren't staying at the Hilton or dining out at the Rainbow Grill. They stayed with people (hospitality a big deal in that culture), slept outside
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  leavingwt

  Donations

  This is how the Governing Body functions, too.
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  dontplaceliterature

  Don't forget, leavingwt, it's a miracle that the organization survives. It's proof of Jehovah God's backing. Can you believe that all of the money comes from voluntary donations? These people are better at scraping together cash than Jesus.
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  leavingwt

  it's a miracle that the organization survives

  When something good happens, it's a blessing from Jehovah. When something bad happens, it's an attack by Satan.

  One size fits all.
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  designs

  He was living off of his Carpenter's Union pension.
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  dontplaceliterature

  There is a supernatural explanation for everything. Trust in Jehovah, leavingwt. He provides.
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  sabastious

  This is how the Governing Body functions, too.

  In theory, yes. But the GB aren't the only ones going around collecting money. In fact the money that is generated from their sermons would most likely make up a fraction of the actual revenue. I wonder if Paul collected the money from his peers because he "saw Jesus!"

  -Sab