1 Corinthians 9:6 kjv
Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working?
1 Corinthians 9:6 nkjv
Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working?
1 Corinthians 9:6 niv
Or is it only I and Barnabas who lack the right to not work for a living?
1 Corinthians 9:6 esv
Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working for a living?
1 Corinthians 9:6 nlt
Or is it only Barnabas and I who have to work to support ourselves?
1 Corinthians 9 6 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Cor 9:14 | The Lord commanded that those who proclaim the Gospel should get their living by the Gospel. | Deut 18:1-5; Matt 10:10; Luke 10:7; 1 Tim 5:18 |
| 1 Cor 9:15 | Paul affirms his right but did not exercise it, to avoid hindering the Gospel. | 2 Cor 11:7-12; 1 Thess 2:6 |
| 1 Cor 9:12 | If others share this right over you, do not we have more? | 1 Cor 9:6 |
| Gal 6:6 | Let the one who is taught the word share all his good things with the one who teaches. | Phil 4:15-16 |
| 1 Thess 2:9 | For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not burden any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. | Acts 18:3; 2 Thess 3:8 |
| Matt 10:9-10 | Provide no gold or silver or copper for your belts, no bag for your journey, or two tunics or sandals or a staff, for the laborer deserves his food. | Luke 10:4; Luke 10:8 |
| 1 Tim 5:17 | Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. | Heb 13:17 |
| John 12:26 | If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him. | John 13:35; John 17:24 |
| 1 Cor 3:9 | For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field, God's building. | 1 Cor 3:5; 2 Cor 6:1 |
| Acts 20:33-35 | I coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel. I myself worked with my own hands to supply my own needs and the needs of those who were with me. | Acts 18:1-3; 1 Thess 2:9 |
| 1 Cor 7:29-31 | ... for the form of this world is passing away. I want you to be free from anxieties. | Phil 3:18-19 |
| 2 Cor 11:22 | Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they offspring of Abraham? So am I. | Gal 3:28-29 |
| 2 Cor 12:13 | For what were you less than the other churches, except that I myself did not burden you? Forgive me this wrong! | 1 Cor 9:12 |
| 1 Tim 6:12 | Fight the good fight of faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. | 2 Tim 4:7 |
| 2 Cor 11:12 | And what I do, I will continue to do, in order to cut off the opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to boast about in the very thing that they glory in. | 1 Cor 9:12; 1 Thess 2:6 |
| 1 Pet 5:2 | Shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God chooses—not for shameful gain, but eagerly. | John 21:16; Acts 20:28 |
| 1 Cor 4:2 | Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. | Luke 12:42 |
| 2 Thess 3:9 | Not because we do not have the right, but to give ourselves as a pattern to you, so that you might imitate us. | 1 Thess 2:10 |
| Mark 10:43 | But it is not so among you. Whoever would be great among you must be your servant. | Matt 20:26; Luke 22:26 |
| Acts 4:32 | Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. | Acts 2:44-45; Acts 4:34-35 |
1 Corinthians 9 verses
1 Corinthians 9 6 Meaning
The truth of the Gospel empowers an apostle, like Paul, to proclaim it freely without expecting financial support from those he evangelizes. It is his right, a divine provision, to receive sustenance for his ministry, akin to other laborers who are compensated for their work. This principle establishes that those who dedicate themselves to the work of the Gospel have a right to be supported by the Gospel.
1 Corinthians 9 6 Context
In 1 Corinthians 9, Paul is defending his apostolic rights and authority, particularly his right to be financially supported by the church he serves. He has been addressing criticisms or questions about his ministry within the Corinthian church. This verse specifically elaborates on his right to receive maintenance for his preaching of the Gospel. This right is rooted in principles already established in the Old Testament law and the common sense of everyday labor and sustenance.
1 Corinthians 9 6 Word Analysis
Ekei (here / in this place): Refers to the immediate context of his ministry or any place where the Gospel is preached and received.
Ei tis (if anyone): Introduces a conditional or hypothetical situation, stating a universal principle.
Epethela (has lawful right / has power): Denotes possessing a legitimate claim or authority according to established rights or customs.
Poinai (to make / to do): Implies carrying out or performing an action or undertaking.
Logon (account / word / Gospel): In this context, it refers to the ministry of the Gospel itself, the proclamation and teaching of God's Word.
Ei de (but / and if): A conjunction that transitions to an alternative or complementary statement.
Allos (another): Referring to someone other than himself or a different category of laborer.
Me metexi (not partakes): To not have a share in or to be excluded from a common benefit or sustenance.
ei de allos metexi toutou, mallon de kai hēmeis (but if another partakes of this, much more also we): This clause asserts that if others have the right to support from their work, Paul and his fellow apostles possess an even stronger claim due to their deeper commitment and foundational role in spreading the Gospel. It highlights the principle of fairness and established right extended to laborers in any field. The phrase "much more also we" emphasizes their greater entitlement.
1 Corinthians 9 6 Bonus Section
The principle articulated here underscores the concept of stewardship in ministry. The right to provision is not a privilege for personal enrichment but a necessity for the ongoing work of evangelism and discipleship. The Corinthians, being recipients of the Gospel through Paul's ministry, had a corresponding responsibility to support that ministry. Paul's stance here reflects a careful balance between asserting his rights as an apostle and demonstrating selfless devotion to the Gospel, ensuring that his conduct would not become an excuse for others to dismiss the message of Christ.
1 Corinthians 9 6 Commentary
Paul asserts that if others—perhaps referring to manual laborers, soldiers, or even teachers in general—have a right to be sustained by their work, then he and other apostles have an even more profound right to be supported by the Gospel they faithfully proclaim. This right is not about personal gain but about the enablement of the ministry. It acknowledges that dedicated service requires sustenance, and those who minister the Gospel should receive their livelihood from it. Paul's willingness not to exercise this right, as seen in later verses, was a strategic choice to avoid hindering the Gospel's progress, demonstrating a prioritization of the message over personal provision.