Les Feldick Bible Study

Did Paul have a home to go back to after his missionary journeys?

No. Scripture says Paul had no certain dwelling place and did not have a mansion to return to after missionary journeys. He evidently surrendered his former wealth and prestige to serve as the apostle of the Gentiles, laboring with his own hands as a tentmaker for personal needs.

Les explains that Paul did not have a nice big beautiful mansion to go home to after a missionary journey. In 1 Corinthians 4:11, Paul says he had no certain dwelling place. Les notes that Paul evidently chucked all his previous wealth and prestige in order to become the apostle of the Gentiles. Instead, Paul labored with his own hands to get enough cash to take care of his personal needs, and we know from the book of Acts that he worked as a tent maker. This fits the broader list of sufferings and persecutions Paul describes, including hunger, thirst, nakedness, buffeting, and being defamed.

1 Corinthians 4:11

Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace;