1 Corinthians 9:12
in 1 Corinthians 9If others have this right to your support, shouldn’t we have it all the more? But we did not exercise this right. Instead, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
If others partake of this right over you, do not we yet more? Nevertheless we did not use this right; but we bear all things, that we may cause no hindrance to the gospel of Christ.
KJV
If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ.
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This verse in 1 Corinthians 9
Commentary
10 notes on this verseHe hints at certain false teachers who took from them shamelessly and of their own accord. Therefore he did not say: if others take, but: "have authority over you," that is, they lord it over you, rule over you, order you about like slaves; do …
This site's exposition
If we have sown spiritual
on 1 Corinthians 9:11-12
Paul proves the right in full and then says we did not exercise this right. Some at Corinth read that refusal as proof he lacked apostolic standing.
This site's exposition
put up with anything
Barnes takes the others as teachers in Corinth who received support, and Paul bore every hardship instead. Jamieson, Fausset and Brown explain the hindrance he feared, for pay taken from the flock could give a handle for the charge of self-seeking.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
"If others partake of this right over you, do not we yet more?" See also again another argument, and this too from examples though not of the same kind. For it is not Peter whom he mentions here nor the Apostles, but certain other spurious ones, with whom he afterwards enters into combat, and concerning whom he says, "If a man devour you, if he take you captive, if he exalt himself, if he smite you on the face," and already he is sounding the prelude to the fight with them. Wherefore neither did he say, "If others take of you," but pointing out their insolence and tyranny and trafficking, he says, "if others partake of this right over you," i.e., "rule you, exercise authority, use you as servants, not taking you captive only, but with much authority." Wherefore he added "do not we yet more?" which he would not have said if the discourse were concerning the Apostles. But it is evident that he hints at certain pestilent men, and deceivers of them. "So that besides the law of Moses even ye yourselves have made a law in behalf of the duty of contribution." And having said, "do not we yet more?" he does not prove why yet more, but leaves it to their consciences to convince them of that, wishing at the same time both to alarm and to abash them more thoroughly. "Nevertheless, we did not use this right;" i.e., "did not receive." Do you see, when he had by so many reasons before proved that receiving is not unlawful, how he next says, "we receive not," that he might not seem to abstain as from a thing forbidden? […]
Paul does not exercise his rights because they might be an obstacle to the gospel. That left him free to argue that he was not one of the false apostles.
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Partake of this power - Have a right to be maintained. Do not we rather - On account of our having laboured so much more? Lest we should give any hindrance to the gospel - By giving an occasion of cavil or reproach.
If others are partakers of this power over you,....
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
The same Greek is in 1Co 13:7. lest we . . . hinder . . . gospel--not to cause a hindrance to its progress by giving a handle for the imputation of self-seeking, if we received support from our flock. The less of incumbrance and expense caused to the Church, and the more of work done, the better for the cause of the Gospel (2Ti 2:4).
2 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
If others be partakers of this power - If those who in any matter serve you have a right to a recompense for that service, surely we who have served you in the most essential matters have a right to our support while thus employed in your service.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
If others - Other teachers living with you. There can be no doubt that the teachers in Corinth urged this right, and received a support. Be partakers of this power - Of this right to a support and maintenance. Are not we rather - We the apostles; we who have labored for your conversion; who have founded your church; who have been the first, and the most laborious in instructing you, and imparting to you spiritual blessings? Have not we a better claim than they?. Nevertheless we have not used this power - We have not urged this claim; we have chosen to forego this right, and to labor for our own support. The reason why they had done this, he states in the subsequent part of the chapter; see 2Co 11:7-9; 2Co 12:14; compare Act 18:3; Act 20:34-35. But suffer all things - Endure all privations and hardships; we subject ourselves to poverty, want, hunger, thirst, nakedness, rather than urge a “claim” on you, and thus leave the suspicion that we are actuated by mercenary motives. The word used here (στέγομεν stegomen suffer) means properly “to cover,” to keep off, as rain, etc., and then “to contain, to sustain, tolerate, endure.” Here it means to bear, or endure all hardships; compare the notes at 1Co 4:11-13. Lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ - Paul here states the reason why he had not urged a claim to support in preaching the gospel. It was not because he was not entitled to a full support, but it was that by denying himself of this right he could do good, and avoid some evil consequences which would have resulted if he had strenuously urged it. His conduct therefore in this was just one illustration of the principle on which he said 1Co 8:13 he would always act; a readiness to deny himself of things lawful, if by that he could promote the welfare of others. […]
The words behind it
27 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| εἰ | ei | If | G1487 → | 508 times |
| ἄλλοι | alloi | others | G243 → | 155 times |
| τῆς | tes | of the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ὑμῶν | humon | over you | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| ἐξουσίας | exousias | authority | G1849 → | 102 times |
| μετέχουσιν, | metechousin | partake, | G3348 → | 8 times |
| οὐ | ou | surely | G3756 → | 1664 times |
| μᾶλλον | mallon | more | G3123 → | 81 times |
| ἡμεῖς; | hemeis | we ourselves? | G3165 → | 1936 times |
| ἀλλ᾽ | all᾽ | But | G235 → | 635 times |
| οὐκ | ouk | not | G3756 → | 1664 times |
| ἐχρησάμεθα | echresametha | we did use | G5530 → | 11 times |
| τῇ | tea | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἐξουσίᾳ | exousia | right | G1849 → | 102 times |
| ταύτῃ, | taute | this, | G3778 → | 1381 times |
| ἀλλὰ | alla | Instead | G235 → | 635 times |
| πάντα | panta | all things | G3956 → | 1235 times |
| στέγομεν | stegomen | we bear | G4722 → | |
| ἵνα | ina | so that | G2443 → | 668 times |
| μή | me | not | G3361 → | 1066 times |
| τινα | tina | any | G5100 → | 528 times |
| ἐγκοπὴν | egkopen | hindrance | G1464 → | |
| δῶμεν | domen | we may place | G1325 → | 412 times |
| τῷ | to | to the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| εὐαγγελίῳ | euangelio | gospel | G2098 → | 73 times |
| τοῦ | tou | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| Χριστοῦ.¶ | christou | of Christ. | G5547 → | 523 times |
εἰIf
eiG1487 →508 times
ἄλλοιothers
alloiG243 →155 times
τῆςof the
tesG3588 →19766 times
ὑμῶνover you
humonG4771 →2973 times
ἐξουσίαςauthority
exousiasG1849 →102 times
μετέχουσιν,partake,
metechousinG3348 →8 times
οὐsurely
ouG3756 →1664 times
μᾶλλονmore
mallonG3123 →81 times
ἡμεῖς;we ourselves?
hemeisG3165 →1936 times
ἀλλ᾽But
all᾽G235 →635 times
οὐκnot
oukG3756 →1664 times
ἐχρησάμεθαwe did use
echresamethaG5530 →11 times
τῇ<the>
teaG3588 →19766 times
ἐξουσίᾳright
exousiaG1849 →102 times
ταύτῃ,this,
tauteG3778 →1381 times
ἀλλὰInstead
allaG235 →635 times
πάνταall things
pantaG3956 →1235 times
στέγομενwe bear
stegomenG4722 →
ἵναso that
inaG2443 →668 times
μήnot
meG3361 →1066 times
τιναany
tinaG5100 →528 times
ἐγκοπὴνhindrance
egkopenG1464 →
δῶμενwe may place
domenG1325 →412 times
τῷto the
toG3588 →19766 times
εὐαγγελίῳgospel
euangelioG2098 →73 times
τοῦ<the>
touG3588 →19766 times
Χριστοῦ.¶of Christ.
christouG5547 →523 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
1 Corinthians 9:15But I have not used any of these rights. And I am not writing this to suggest that something be done for me. Indeed, I would rather die than let anyone nullify my boast.
it leads to
- 1 Thessalonians 2:9
Surely you recall, brothers, our labor and toil. We worked night and day so that we would not be a burden to anyone while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.
- 2 Thessalonians 3:8
nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. Instead, in labor and toil, we worked night and day so that we would not be a burden to any of you.
- Acts 20:34
You yourselves know that these hands of mine have ministered to my own needs and those of my companions.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:9
Through
1 Corinthians 9:18What then is my reward? That in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not use up my rights in preaching it.
it leads to
- 2 Corinthians 11:7–9
Was it a sin for me to humble myself in order to exalt you, because I preached the gospel of God to you free of charge?
- 1 Thessalonians 2:6
Nor did we seek praise from you or from anyone else, although as apostles of Christ we had authority to demand it.
- 2 Thessalonians 3:8–9
nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. Instead, in labor and toil, we worked night and day so that we would not be a burden to any of you.
- 1 Corinthians 8:9
Be careful, however, that your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak.
- 1 Corinthians 10:33
as I also try to please everyone in all I do. For I am not seeking my own good, but the good of many, that they may be saved.
- 2 Corinthians 11:7–9
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About 1 Corinthians
This page draws on 10 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the First Epistle to the Corinthians; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Ambrosiaster, COMMENTARY ON PAUL'S EPISTLES; Charles Hodge, An Exposition of the First Epistle to the Corinthians; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on 1 Corinthians 21; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 1 Corinthians.