1 Corinthians 9:12

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.
• English Standard Version (ESV)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.
• 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.

Context of 1 Corinthians 9:12

10Isn’t he speaking entirely for our benefit? This was written for our benefit so that the person who plows or threshes should expect to receive a share of the crop. 11If we have planted the spiritual seed that has been of benefit to you, is it too much if we receive part of the harvest from your earthly goods? If others have the right to expect this from you, don’t we deserve even more? But we haven’t used our rights. Instead, we would put up with anything in order not to hinder the Good News of Christ in any way. 13Don’t you realize that those who work at the temple get their food from the temple? Don’t those who help at the altar get a share of what is on the altar? 14In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who spread the Good News should earn their living from the Good News.

1 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 11:20When someone makes you slaves, consumes your wealth, seizes your property, orders you around, or slaps your faces, you put up with it.
• 1 Corinthians 9:2If I’m not an apostle to other people, at least I’m an apostle to you. You are the seal which proves that I am the Lord’s apostle.
• 1 Corinthians 4:14I’m not writing this to make you feel ashamed but to instruct you as my dear children.
• 1 Corinthians 9:15I haven’t used any of these rights, and I haven’t written this in order to use them now. I would rather die than have anyone turn my bragging into meaningless words.
• Acts 20:31So be alert! Remember that I instructed each of you for three years, day and night, at times with tears in my eyes.
• 2 Corinthians 11:7Did I commit a sin when I humbled myself by telling you the Good News of God free of charge so that you could become important?
• 2 Corinthians 12:13How were you treated worse than the other churches, except that I didn’t bother you for help? Forgive me for this wrong!
• 1 Thessalonians 2:6We didn’t seek praise from people, from you or from anyone else,
• 2 Thessalonians 3:8We didn’t eat anyone’s food without paying for it. Instead, we worked hard and struggled night and day in order not to be a burden to any of you.
• 1 Corinthians 4:11To this moment, we are hungry, thirsty, poorly dressed, roughly treated, and homeless.
• 1 Corinthians 6:7You are already totally defeated because you have lawsuits against each other. Why don’t you accept the fact that you have been wronged? Why don’t you accept that you have been cheated?
• Genesis 24:56He said to them, “Don’t delay me now that the Lord has made my trip successful. Let me go back to my master.”
• Nehemiah 4:8All of them plotted to attack Jerusalem to create confusion.
• Luke 11:52“How horrible it will be for you experts in Moses’ Teachings! You have taken away the key that unlocks knowledge. You haven’t gained entrance into ⌞knowledge⌟ yourselves, and you’ve kept out those who wanted to enter.”
• Romans 15:22This is what has so often kept me from visiting you.
• 2 Corinthians 11:12But I’ll go on doing what I’m doing. This will take away the opportunity of those people who want to brag because they think they’re like us.

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

• Evil
• Gospel
• Minister, Christian
• Self-Denial
• Zeal, Religious

In the dictionaries

• Christ
• Christ, Messiah
• Crown
• Forbear
• Mastery
• Plow
• Wait
• Authority in Religion
• Corinthians, First Epistle to the
• Gospel

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