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Dr. Betters:
In reference to your letter on "Pastor's Insight," 18 April 2005: Where does it say that Paul lost money in Court defending himself that your message alludes to?

Pastor Betters responds:

Although you will not find any one scriptural reference to Paul losing his money in court defending himself, one must piece together several verses and arguments. Here is my logic on this statement.

First, it does say that he knew how to abound and how to suffer loss (Philippians 4:10-13). This means he knew how to have money and how to be poor. But he also learned that in whatever state he found himself to be content. Thus Paul went from rich to poor and in doing so learned the spirit of contentment.

Paul tells us that he was a Jew of Jews, a Pharisee of Pharisees taught in the best of schools. He was a master at Jewish law, thus a Jewish lawyer (Philippians 3:4-6). That is how he could defend himself in court. He knew the law. Lawyers in Isreal were very rich. He was taught at the feet of Gamaliel. This private education required a rich family with some social standing and prominence.

We also know he was a tent-maker in some trade after his conversion and that he lost his right to practice Jewish law. His family forsook him and he lost his ability to make a living as a lawyer (Acts 18:1-3). Additionally we know that Paul was poor during the last of his mission's trips. This we know because of the offerings that were taken in various churches to sustain his efforts (2 Cor.8:1-4).

We also know Paul went on trial several times, before Felix, Agrippa, and then when he made an appeal to Caesar (Acts 23:23-24,27; Acts 25:20-26:32). Since he refused to become dependant on any man for his survival (2 Cor.4:6-13), one must conclude he spent his own money on these various court cases.

We know that when Paul came to the end of his life he was alone with no family members with him (2 Timothy 4:11-16). Thus there was no last will and testament. Paul died broke.

I hope his helps.

In His Grip,
Dr. Chuck Betters

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