1 Corinthians 9:8

1 Corinthians 9:8 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also?
• New International Version (NIV)Do I say this merely on human authority? Doesn’t the Law say the same thing?
• English Standard Version (ESV)Do I say these things on human authority? Does not the Law say the same?
• New King James Version (NKJV)Do I say these things as a mere man? Or does not the law say the same also?

Context of 1 Corinthians 9:8

6Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to stop doing manual labor [in order to support our ministry]? 7[Consider this:] Who at any time serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat its fruit? Or who tends a flock and does not use the milk of the flock? Do I say these things only from a man’s perspective? Does the Law not endorse the same principles? 9For it is written in the Law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain [to keep it from eating the grain].” Is it [only] for oxen that God cares? 10Or does He speak entirely for our sake? Yes, it was written for our sake: The plowman ought to plow in hope, and the thresher to thresh in hope of sharing the harvest.

1 Corinthians 9:8 word by word

μὴ κατὰ ἄνθρωπον ταῦτα λαλῶ; ἢ καὶ ὁ νόμος ταῦτα οὐ λέγει;Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Say Iλαλέωlaleō · to speakG2980
• these thingsοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• ·μήmē · notG3361
• asκατάkata · according toG2596
• a manἄνθρωποςanthrōpos · a humanG444
• orἤē · orG2228
• saithλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• notοὐχίouchi · not!G3780
• the lawὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• the lawνόμοςnomos · lawG3551
• alsoκαίkai · andG2532

Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 9:8

• 1 Corinthians 7:40But in my opinion a widow is happier if she stays as she is. And I think that I also have the Spirit of God [in this matter].
• Romans 6:19I am speaking in [familiar] human terms because of your natural limitations [your spiritual immaturity]. For just as you presented your bodily members as slaves to impurity and to [moral] lawlessness, leading to further lawlessness, so now offer your members [your abilities, your talents] as slaves to righteousness, leading to sanctification [that is, being set apart for God’s purpose].
• 1 Thessalonians 2:13And we also thank God continually for this, that when you received the word of God [concerning salvation] which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of [mere] men, but as it truly is, the word of God, which is effectually at work in you who believe [exercising its inherent, supernatural power in those of faith].
• 1 Thessalonians 4:8So whoever rejects and disregards this is not [merely] rejecting man but the God who gives His Holy Spirit to you [to dwell in you and empower you to overcome temptation].
• 1 Corinthians 14:34the women should be silent in the churches, for they are not authorized to speak, but are to take a subordinate place, as the Law says.
• Isaiah 8:20[Direct those people] to the law and to the testimony! If their teachings are not in accord with this word, it is because they have no dawn.
• Romans 3:31Do we then nullify the Law by this faith [making the Law of no effect, overthrowing it]? Certainly not! On the contrary, we confirm and establish and uphold the Law [since it convicts us all of sin, pointing to the need for salvation].

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 9:8

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 8Say I these things as a man? - Is this only human reasoning? or does not God say in effect the same things? See note on Romans 6:19.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 8Say I these things as a man? - Do I speak this on my own authority, or without the sanction of God? Is not this, which appears to be so reasonable and equitable, also supported by the authority of God? Or saith not the law the same also? - The Law of Moses, to which the “Jewish” part of the church at Corinth - which probably had mainly urged these objections - professed to bow with deference. Paul was accustomed, especially in arguing with the Jews, to…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 7-10These examples support Paul's point that he and other Christian workers had the right to receive support from those they served.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 88. as a man--I speak thus not merely according to human judgment, but with the sanction of the divine law also.Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Corinthians 9:8

• Evil
• Minister, Christian

In the dictionaries

• Crown
• Forbear
• Mastery
• Plow
• Wait
• Corinthians, First Epistle to the
• Law in the New Testament
• Manner; Manners
• Mystery
• Paul, the Apostle

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 9

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings