1 Corinthians 9:3
in 1 Corinthians 9This is my defense to those who scrutinize me:
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
My defence to them that examine me is this.
KJV
Mine answer to them that do examine me is this,
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This verse in 1 Corinthians 9
Commentary
10 notes on this verseA commentator
Theodoret of CyrusCOMMENTARY ON THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS 219 · Written before 458.
Paul says that if anyone wants to examine his works, let him look at the Corinthians, for they are a sufficient witness to his labors.
This site's exposition
Mine answer to them that do examine me
on 1 Corinthians 9:3-4
Mine answer to them that do examine me is this: examine is anakrino, the word for a formal legal inquiry, and Paul writes as a man standing in the dock before self-appointed judges at Corinth. Have we not power to eat and to drink? opens the specific right in question, the apostle's claim to material support from the churches he serves, exousia meaning a right rather than mere ability. The bench notes that Paul is not defending an abstract principle here but his own long-standing practice of declining it, which the chapter will explain.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
Here Paul begins to develop the argument which he set out above, namely: "All things are lawful for me, but I will not be enslaved by anything" (6:12).
"My defence to them that examine me is this." What is, "My defence to them that examine me is this?" "To those who seek to know whereby I am proved to be an Apostle, or who accuse me as receiving money, or inquire the cause of my not receiving, or would fain shew that I am not an Apostle: to all such, my instruction given to you and these things which I am about to say, may stand for a full explanation and defence."
The Medieval Church1 voice
To those wishing to know whence it is evident that I am an apostle, I will present you in my defense. For having proved that you were taught everything by me, I will strike down those who condemn me.
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
. " My answer to those that do examine me (that is, enquire into my authority, or the reasons of my conduct, if I am an apostle) is this: Have we not power to eat and drink (
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-punctuation+unbalanced-parens+odd-straight-quotes
Mine answer to them that do examine me is this.
3 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Mine answer - Greek Ἡ ἐμὴ ἀπολογία Hē emē apologia. My “apology;” my defense. The same word occurs in Act 22:1; Act 25:16; 2Co 7:11; Php 1:7, Php 1:17; 2Ti 4:16; 1Pe 3:15; see the note at Act 22:1. Here it means his answer, or defense against those who sat in judgment on his claims to be an apostle. To them that do examine me. - To those who “inquire” of me; or who “censure” and condemn me as not having any claims to the apostolic office.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
to them that . . . examine me--that is, who call in question mine apostleship. is this--namely, that you are the seal of mine apostleship.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
Mine answer to them - Ἡ εμη απολογια τοις εμε ανακρινουσιν· This is my defense against those who examine me. The words are forensic; and the apostle considers himself as brought before a legal tribunal, and questioned so as to be obliged to answer as upon oath. His defense therefore was this, that they were converted to God by his means. This verse belongs to the two preceding verses.
The words behind it
8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ἡ | he | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἐμὴ | eme | My | G1473 → | 839 times |
| ἀπολογία | apologia | defense | G627 → | |
| τοῖς | tois | to those | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἐμὲ | eme | me myself | G1473 → | 839 times |
| ἀνακρίνουσίν | anakrinousin | examining | G350 → | 16 times |
| ἐστιν | estin | is | G1510 → | 2333 times |
| αὕτη· | haute | this: | G3778 → | 1381 times |
ἡ<the>
heG3588 →19766 times
ἐμὴMy
emeG1473 →839 times
ἀπολογίαdefense
apologiaG627 →
τοῖςto those
toisG3588 →19766 times
ἐμὲme myself
emeG1473 →839 times
ἀνακρίνουσίνexamining
anakrinousinG350 →16 times
ἐστινis
estinG1510 →2333 times
αὕτη·this:
hauteG3778 →1381 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 14:37If anyone considers himself a prophet or spiritual person, let him acknowledge that what I am writing you is the Lord’s command.
it leads to
- 1 John 4:6
We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. That is how we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of deception.
- 2 Corinthians 10:7
You are looking at outward appearances. If anyone is confident that he belongs to Christ, he should remind himself that we belong to Christ just as much as he does.
- Jude 1:17
But you, beloved, remember what was foretold by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ
- 2 Peter 3:2
by recalling what was foretold by the holy prophets and commanded by our Lord and Savior through your apostles.
- 1 John 4:6
Through
2 Corinthians 13:3since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me. He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among you.
it leads to
- Matthew 10:20
For it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
- Matthew 10:20
Through
Acts 22:1“Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense before you.”
it leads to
- Acts 7:2
And Stephen declared: “Brothers and fathers, listen to me! The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham while he was still in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran,
- Acts 7:2
Through
Philippians 1:17The former, however, preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can add to the distress of my chains.
it leads to
- 2 Timothy 1:11–12
to which I was appointed as a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher.
- Philippians 2:3
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves.
- 2 Timothy 1:11–12
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; 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); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Theodoret of Cyrus, COMMENTARY ON THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS 219 and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 1 Corinthians.