1 Corinthians 9:3

1 Corinthians 9:3 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Mine answer to them that do examine me is this,
• New International Version (NIV)This is my defense to those who sit in judgment on me.
• English Standard Version (ESV)This is my defense to those who would examine me.
• New King James Version (NKJV)My defense to those who examine me is this:

Context of 1 Corinthians 9:3

1Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you yourselves not my workmanship in the Lord? 2Even if I am not an apostle to others, surely I am to you. For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. This is my defense to those who scrutinize me: 4Have we no right to food and to drink? 5Have we no right to take along a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas?

1 Corinthians 9:3 word by word

ἡ ἐμὴ ἀπολογία τοῖς ἐμὲ ἀνακρίνουσίν ἐστιν αὕτη·Read the interlinear

• Thisοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• myἐμόςemos · mineG1699
• defenseἀπολογίαapologia · defenceG627
• scrutinizeἀνακρίνωanakrinō · to investigateG350
• meἐγώegō · I/weG1473

Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 9:3

• Acts 22:1“Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense before you.”
• Acts 25:16I told them that it is not the Roman custom to hand a man over before he has had an opportunity to face his accusers and defend himself against their charges.
• Philippians 1:7It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart. For in my chains and in my defense and confirmation of the gospel, you are all partners in grace with me.
• 2 Timothy 4:16At my first defense, no one stood with me, but everyone deserted me. May it not be charged against them.
• 1 Corinthians 14:37If anyone considers himself a prophet or spiritual person, let him acknowledge that what I am writing you is the Lord’s command.
• 2 Corinthians 10:7You are looking at outward appearances. If anyone is confident that he belongs to Christ, he should remind himself that we belong to Christ just as much as he does.
• 2 Corinthians 12:16Be that as it may, I was not a burden to you; but crafty as I am, I caught you by trickery.
• 2 Corinthians 13:3since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me. He is not weak in dealing with you but is powerful among you.

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 9:3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3Mine answer to them - ̔ · This is my defense against those who examine me. The words are forensic; and the apostle considers himself as brought before a legal tribunal, and questioned so as to be obliged to answer as upon oath. His defense therefore was this, that they were converted to God by his means. This verse belongs to the two preceding verses.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3Mine answer - Greek ̔ ̓̀ ̓́ Hē emē apologiaMy “apology;” my defense. The same word occurs in Acts 22:1; Acts 25:16; 2 Corinthians 7:11; Philemon 1:7, Philemon 1:17; 2 Timothy 4:16; 1 Peter 3:15; see the note at Acts 22:1. Here it means his answer, or defense against those who sat in judgment on his claims to be an apostle. To them that do examine me. - To those who “inquire” of me; or who “censure” and condemn me as not having any claims to the…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3This is my defense: This is a legal term for the argument made in response to accusations. those who scrutinize me: See 2 Corinthians 11–12 for another response to their challenge.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 33. to them that ... examine me--that is, who call in question mine apostleship. is this--namely, that you are the seal of mine apostleship.Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Corinthians 9:3

• Minister, Christian

In the dictionaries

• Crown
• Forbear
• Mastery
• Plow
• Wait
• Corinthians, First Epistle to the
• Examine; Examination
• Mystery
• Paul, the Apostle
• Scribes

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