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1 Corinthians 9:4
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2 If I am not an apostle to others, yet doubtless I am to you. For you are athe seal of my apostleship in the Lord.  
3 My defense to those who examine me is this:
4 aDo we have no1 right to eat and drink?  
5 Do we have no right to take along1 a believing wife, as do also the other apostles, athe brothers of the Lord, and bCephas?  
6 Or is it only Barnabas and I awho have no right to refrain from working?  
7 Who ever agoes to war at his own expense? Who bplants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? Or who ctends a flock and does not drink of the milk of the flock?  
8 Do I say these things as a mere man? Or does not the law say the same also?
9 For it is written in the law of Moses, a“You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain.” Is it oxen God is concerned about?  
10 Or does He say it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written, that ahe who plows should plow in hope, and he who threshes in hope should be partaker of his hope.  
11 aIf we have sown spiritual things for you, is it a great thing if we reap your material things?  
12 If others are partakers of this right over you, are we not even more? aNevertheless we have not used this right, but endure all things blest we hinder the gospel of Christ.  
13 aDo you not know that those who minister the holy things eat of the things of the btemple, and those who serve at the altar partake of the offerings of the altar?  
14 Even so athe Lord has commanded bthat those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel.  
15 But aI have used none of these things, nor have I written these things that it should be done so to me; for bit would be better for me to die than that anyone should make my boasting void.  
16 For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for anecessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!  
17 For if I do this willingly, aI have a reward; but if against my will, bI have been entrusted with a stewardship.  
Commentaries:
Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown
<< 1 Corinthians 9:3   1 Corinthians 9:5 >>


1 Corinthians 9:4

Have we not power—Greek, "right," or lawful power, equivalent to "liberty" claimed by the Corinthians (I Corinthians 8:9). The "we" includes with himself his colleagues in the apostleship. The Greek interrogative expresses, "You surely won't say (will you?) that we have not the power or right," etc.

eat and drink—without laboring with our hands (I Corinthians 9:11, I Corinthians 9:13-14). Paul's not exercising this right was made a plea by his opponents for insinuating that he was himself conscious he was no true apostle (II Corinthians 12:13-16).




Other Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown entries containing 1 Corinthians 9:4:

1 Corinthians 9:15
2 Thessalonians 3:9

 

<< 1 Corinthians 9:3   1 Corinthians 9:5 >>

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