Paul’s tent-cloths and manual service

Meaning

Literally carpets or coverings; the supplied translation gives tent-cloths in the account of Paul’s manual labour. The modern edition explains that choice through the traditional identification of Paul as a tentmaker. In the argument, the exact craft is less important than its conjunction with religious service: preaching does not excuse an unwillingness to work with one’s hands. “Tent-cloths” is therefore a contextual translation, not the ordinary unrestricted meaning of the German noun.