English Standard Version
1 Corinthians 9:12
12If others share this rightful claim on you, do not we even more? Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ.
1 Corinthians 9:12 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ.
- New International Version (NIV)If others have this right of support from you, shouldn’t we have it all the more? But we did not use this right. On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ.
- New King James Version (NKJV)If others are partakers of this right over you, are we not even more? Nevertheless we have not used this right, but endure all things lest we hinder the gospel of Christ.
- New Living Translation (NLT)If you support others who preach to you, shouldn’t we have an even greater right to be supported? But we have never used this right. We would rather put up with anything than be an obstacle to the Good News about Christ.
Context of 1 Corinthians 9:12
10Does he not certainly speak for our sake? It was written for our sake, because the plowman should plow in hope and the thresher thresh in hope of sharing in the crop. 11If we have sown spiritual things among you, is it too much if we reap material things from you? If others share this rightful claim on you, do not we even more? Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ. 13Do you not know that those who are employed in the temple service get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in the sacrificial offerings? 14In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.
Read all of 1 Corinthians 91 Corinthians 9:12 word by word
εἰ ἄλλοι τῆς ὑμῶν ἐξουσίας μετέχουσιν, οὐ μᾶλλον ἡμεῖς; ἀλλ᾽ οὐκ ἐχρησάμεθα τῇ ἐξουσίᾳ ταύτῃ, ἀλλὰ πάντα στέγομεν ἵνα μή τινα ἐγκοπὴν δῶμεν τῷ εὐαγγελίῳ τοῦ Χριστοῦ.¶Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Ifεἰei · ifG1487
- othersἄλλοςallos · anotherG243
- be partakersμετέχωmetechō · to shareG3348
- powerὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- powerἐξουσίαexousia · authorityG1849
- over youσύsu · youG4771
- notοὐou · noG3756
- weἐγώegō · I/weG1473
- ratherμᾶλλονmallon · moreG3123
- Neverthelessἀλλάalla · butG235
- we haveχράωchraomai · to useG5530
- thisοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
- sufferστέγωstegō · to endureG4722
- all thingsπᾶςpas · allG3956
- lestἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
- ·μήmē · notG3361
- we shouldδίδωμιdidōmi · to giveG1325
- ·τιςtis · oneG5100
- hinderἐγκοπήegkopē · hindranceG1464
- the gospelεὐαγγέλιονeuaggelion · gospelG2098
- of ChristΧριστόςChristos · ChristG5547
Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 9:12
- 2 Corinthians 11:20For you bear it if someone makes slaves of you, or devours you, or takes advantage of you, or puts on airs, or strikes you in the face.
- 1 Corinthians 9:2If to others I am not an apostle, at least I am to you, for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.
- 1 Corinthians 4:14I do not write these things to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children.
- 1 Corinthians 9:15But I have made no use of any of these rights, nor am I writing these things to secure any such provision. For I would rather die than have anyone deprive me of my ground for boasting.
- Acts 20:31Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears.
- 2 Corinthians 11:7Or did I commit a sin in humbling myself so that you might be exalted, because I preached God's gospel to you free of charge?
- 2 Corinthians 12:13For in what were you less favored than the rest of the churches, except that I myself did not burden you? Forgive me this wrong!
- 1 Thessalonians 2:6Nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others, though we could have made demands as apostles of Christ.
- 2 Thessalonians 3:8nor did we eat anyone's bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you.
- 1 Corinthians 4:11To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are poorly dressed and buffeted and homeless,
- 1 Corinthians 6:7To have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you. Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded?
- Genesis 24:56But he said to them, "Do not delay me, since the Lord has prospered my way. Send me away that I may go to my master."
- Nehemiah 4:8And they all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and to cause confusion in it.
- Luke 11:52Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge. You did not enter yourselves, and you hindered those who were entering."
- Romans 15:22This is the reason why I have so often been hindered from coming to you.
- 2 Corinthians 11:12And what I am doing I will continue to do, in order to undermine the claim of those who would like to claim that in their boasted mission they work on the same terms as we do.
Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 9:12
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 12If others be partakers of this power - If those who in any matter serve you have a right to a recompense for that service, surely we who have served you in the most essential matters have a right to our support while thus employed in your service. We have not used this power - Though we had this right, we have not availed ourselves of it, but have worked with our hands to bear our own charges, lest any of you should think that we preached the Gospel…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 12If others - Other teachers living with you. There can be no doubt that the teachers in Corinth urged this right, and received a support. Be partakers of this power - Of this right to a support and maintenance. Are not we rather - We the apostles; we who have labored for your conversion; who have founded your church; who have been the first, and the most laborious in instructing you, and imparting to you spiritual blessings? Have not we a better claim than…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 12Paul believed he deserved support from the Corinthians more than other Christian workers because he first shared the good news about Jesus with them. However, he chose not to use this right to avoid criticism (see 9:6, 14–15, 18; compare Acts 18:3; 2 Cor 11:7–9; 12:13–14).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1212. others--whether true apostles (1Co 9:5) or false ones (2Co 11:20). we rather--considering our greater labors for you (2Co 11:23). suffer all things--without complaining of it. We desire to conceal (literally, "hold as a water-tight vessel") any distress we suffer from straitened circumstances. The same Greek is in 1Co 13:7. lest we ... hinder ... gospel--not to cause a hindrance to its progress by giving a handle for the imputation of self-seeking, if…Read the comment
Topics related to 1 Corinthians 9:12
In the dictionaries
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
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