While Paul was careful to set before his converts the plain teaching of Scripture regarding the proper support of the work of God, and while he claimed for himself as a minister of the gospel the "power to forbear working" (1 Corinthians 9:6) at secular employment as a means of self-support, yet at various times during his ministry in the great centers of civilization he wrought at a handicraft for his own maintenance.

Mens Paulus var omhyggelig for at forkynde skriftens tydelige lære om den rette støtte for Guds riges arbejde for de omvendte og mens han for sit eget vedkommende som ordets forkynder hævdede at have ret til ikke at arbejde (1Kor. 9,6), med timeligt arbejde for at skaffe sig det nødvendige til livets ophold, så arbejdede han dog undertiden under sin virksomhed i de store kulturbyer ved et håndværk for at kunne opretholde livet.