Commentaries:
Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown
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
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