1 Corinthians 9:14 kjv
Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.
1 Corinthians 9:14 nkjv
Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel.
1 Corinthians 9:14 niv
In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.
1 Corinthians 9:14 esv
In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.
1 Corinthians 9:14 nlt
In the same way, the Lord ordered that those who preach the Good News should be supported by those who benefit from it.
1 Corinthians 9 14 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lk 10:7 | "Remain in that house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer is worthy of his wages." | Minister's right to material support. |
| 1 Tim 5:18 | "For the Scripture says, 'You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,' and 'The laborer deserves his wages.'" | Cites OT and Jesus' saying for ministerial pay. |
| Matt 10:10 | "nor bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor a staff; for the worker is worthy of his food." | Christ's instruction to His disciples to depend on others for support. |
| Gal 6:6 | "Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches." | Principle of financial sharing with teachers. |
| Num 18:20-21 | "You shall have no inheritance in their land... I am your portion... I have given to the Levites all the tithes..." | Levites lived from tithes, supported by the people. |
| Deut 12:12 | "And you shall rejoice before the Lord your God, you and your sons and your daughters, your male and female servants, and the Levite who is within your towns..." | Priests/Levites supported through offerings/tithes. |
| Deut 25:4 | "You shall not muzzle an ox when it is treading out the grain." | Old Testament agricultural law applied metaphorically to support. |
| 1 Cor 9:13 | "Do you not know that those who are employed in the temple service get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in the sacrificial offerings?" | Paul's immediate OT context for living from ministry. |
| Php 4:10-18 | Paul rejoices in the Philippians' financial gift, acknowledging their sharing in his ministry. | Examples of financial support and partnership in gospel. |
| 2 Cor 11:7-9 | "Or did I commit a sin in humbling myself so that you might be exalted, because I preached God's gospel to you free of charge? I robbed other churches by accepting support from them..." | Paul’s personal practice of not taking support from Corinthians for their benefit. |
| 1 Thes 2:9 | "For you remember, brothers, our toil and hardship; working night and day, we proclaimed the gospel of God to you in order not to burden any of you." | Paul working with his hands to not be a burden. |
| Acts 18:3 | "and because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them and worked, for they were tentmakers by trade." | Paul's practice of self-sufficiency while ministering. |
| 1 Cor 9:3-12 | Paul defends his rights as an apostle to be supported but then waives them. | The broader context of Paul's discussion of ministerial rights. |
| Rom 15:27 | "For if the Gentiles have come to share in their spiritual blessings, they ought also to be of service to them in material blessings." | Mutual obligation between spiritual and material aid. |
| Rom 1:16 | "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes..." | Emphasizes the supreme value of the gospel preached. |
| Acts 20:33-35 | "I coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel. You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my own needs and to those who were with me..." | Paul's example of working to support himself and others, particularly to avoid covetousness. |
| Jas 2:15-16 | "If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, 'Go in peace, be warmed and filled,' without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?" | Illustrates the need for practical, material provision alongside good wishes. |
| Gal 2:10 | "...only, they asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do." | Paul's commitment to supporting the needy within the church, demonstrating responsibility to care. |
| Lk 8:1-3 | "...and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary Magdalene, Joanna the wife of Chuza... and many others who provided for them out of their means." | Example of Jesus and His disciples being supported by those ministered to. |
| 2 Tim 2:6 | "The hardworking farmer must be the first to receive his share of the crops." | Another vocational example illustrating that effort deserves reward/support. |
1 Corinthians 9 verses
1 Corinthians 9 14 Meaning
This verse states a clear divine mandate: just as the priests in the Old Testament derived their livelihood from the altar, and just as laborers deserve their wages, so too has the Lord Jesus Christ specifically ordained that those who proclaim the good news of salvation should receive their financial support directly from the ministry of the gospel. It establishes the principle that those who minister spiritually have a God-given right to be materially sustained by the Christian community they serve.
1 Corinthians 9 14 Context
This verse stands as a culminating principle in 1 Corinthians chapter 9, where Paul masterfully defends his apostleship and his God-given right to receive material support for his gospel work. Throughout the chapter, Paul employs various analogies: the soldier, farmer, and shepherd (1 Cor 9:7), the Ox treading grain (1 Cor 9:9-10), and especially the Levitical priests and temple workers who lived from their service to the altar (1 Cor 9:13). All these illustrations point towards the rightful remuneration of those who perform dedicated labor. Verse 14 then serves as the highest authority, moving beyond analogies and Old Testament customs to a direct command from the Lord Jesus Christ himself, thereby confirming the principle's divine and universal validity for the New Covenant ministry. This direct affirmation underscores Paul's immense self-sacrifice, as he chooses to waive this legitimate right (as stated in 1 Cor 9:15ff) in Corinth, aiming to remove any potential obstacle to the gospel's spread and demonstrate his selfless motives to his critics. The chapter's immediate aim is to defend apostolic freedom and rights within the broader Corinthian church context of discussions on Christian liberty and responsible conduct.
1 Corinthians 9 14 Word analysis
- Even so (οὕτως - houtōs): This adverb links the preceding examples (soldier, farmer, shepherd, muzzled ox, temple workers) to a universal, concluding divine command. It signifies "in the same way" or "likewise," emphasizing the consistent principle of a worker receiving sustenance from their labor.
- the Lord (ὁ Κύριος - ho Kyrios): Refers to Jesus Christ, establishing the absolute authority behind this command. This elevates the principle beyond human reasoning, custom, or Old Testament law to the very word of the head of the church. This divine utterance provides the foundational legitimacy for supporting gospel ministers.
- has commanded (διέταξεν - dietaxen): A strong, decisive verb in the aorist tense, signifying a completed action with ongoing validity. It implies an authoritative ordination or clear instruction given by Christ. This is not a suggestion or a recommendation, but a definitive decree, a settled arrangement from the Lord. It signifies a divine institution, a fixed and unchangeable truth regarding ministerial provision.
- that those who preach (τοὺς τὸ εὐαγγέλιον καταγγελόντας - tous to euangelion katangelontas):
- those who preach (katangelontas - present active participle of katangellō): To proclaim, announce, make thoroughly known, declare. It implies a public, active, and persistent declaration of a message. This defines a specific group: individuals whose primary work is the bold and consistent proclamation of the good news. It highlights a committed, full-time dedication to this task.
- the gospel (to euangelion): The "good news" of salvation through Jesus Christ. This is the core message of the Christian faith. It identifies the unique content and purpose of their ministry: to announce the transforming message of God's grace and Christ's finished work.
- should live (ζῇν - zēn): Literally, "to live" or "to have life." In this context, it means to derive one's sustenance or livelihood; to be financially supported. It refers to receiving the necessities for existence, enabling the minister to dedicate themselves fully to their calling without distraction of finding other means of support.
- from the gospel (ἐκ τοῦ εὐαγγελίου - ek tou euangeliou): This prepositional phrase indicates the source of their living. It implies that their livelihood is to come from the very ministry they perform, or more specifically, from those who benefit from the gospel they preach. It establishes a direct, organic link between the spiritual labor and the material provision. The church, having received spiritual blessings through the gospel, is thereby obliged to provide material blessings for those who bring it.
1 Corinthians 9 14 Bonus section
- The specific historical occasion of "the Lord has commanded" is generally understood to refer to Jesus' instructions to his disciples in Lk 10:7 or Matt 10:10, or a general principle established during his ministry. Paul's authoritative declaration suggests it was a well-known command or an established theological truth derived from Jesus' teachings and practice.
- This verse provides a crucial balance to the minister's duty: while the minister is called to sacrificial service, the church is called to generous provision. This reciprocal relationship fosters healthy interdependence within the body of Christ, enabling ministers to focus on their divine mandate.
- The principle ensures the availability of full-time, dedicated workers. If those proclaiming the gospel constantly had to worry about securing their livelihood through other means, it would inherently compromise the single-minded devotion and extensive labor often required for effective ministry.
- Paul's personal decision not to exercise this right in Corinth (1 Cor 9:15) was a unique act of strategic self-denial, demonstrating radical love for the Corinthians and removing potential financial barriers to belief. It does not nullify the general command but highlights Paul's extraordinary commitment to making the gospel "free of charge."
1 Corinthians 9 14 Commentary
First Corinthians 9:14 solidifies a foundational principle for ministerial support within the Christian faith: Christ himself ordained that those who faithfully proclaim His good news are entitled to be financially sustained by it. This is not merely an option or a charitable gesture, but a divine command, establishing a spiritual and material covenant. The essence is reciprocity: spiritual laborers sow spiritual seeds and are, by divine decree, entitled to reap material support from the harvest, enabling them to devote themselves entirely to the sacred task of evangelism and teaching without distraction. Paul cites this command, not to demand support for himself (as he waived this right in Corinth for strategic gospel purposes), but to underscore the legitimacy of the principle, thereby defending the right of all gospel ministers and magnifying his selfless sacrifice in declining it. It means the Christian community bears a responsibility to care for those who feed them spiritually, ensuring the propagation of the gospel.