Did the early apostolic churches have full-time pastors and buildings, and did Paul still give them instructions about giving?
The early apostolic churches were probably meeting in homes, and most probably did not even have full-time pastors as such. Yet Paul still gave them instructions for gathering offerings. Those offerings were primarily for the poor saints dwelling at Jerusalem, who had become destitute after pooling resources since Pentecost.
Les explains that the little churches founded back in the apostolic days were probably meeting in homes, and most of them probably did not even have full-time pastors as such. Nevertheless, Paul gives instructions for the gathering of their offerings. At that time, the giving was primarily for the poor saints dwelling at Jerusalem. They had been pooling all of their resources since Pentecost, and it had run out; they were now destitute. Because their destitution came from obedience to the Word of God, God took care of them through the offerings of Gentile believers. Paul stressed that the Jews were worthy of material gifts because of the spiritual things given to the Gentiles. Les notes Paul deals with giving for almost three chapters—7, 8, and 9.
Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.