God’s Word Translation
1 Corinthians 9:4
4Don’t we have the right to eat and drink?
1 Corinthians 9:4 in other versions
Context of 1 Corinthians 9:4
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. 3This is how I defend myself to those who cross-examine me. Don’t we have the right to eat and drink? 5Don’t we have the right to take our wives along with us like the other apostles, the Lord’s brothers, and Cephas do? 6Or is it only Barnabas and I who don’t have any rights, except to find work to support ourselves?
Read all of 1 Corinthians 91 Corinthians 9:4 word by word
μὴ οὐκ ἔχομεν ἐξουσίαν φαγεῖν καὶ πεῖν;Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 9:4
- 1 Corinthians 9:7Does a soldier ever serve in the army at his own expense? Does anyone plant a vineyard and not eat the grapes? Does anyone take care of a flock and not drink milk from the sheep?
- Matthew 10:10Don’t take a traveling bag for the trip, a change of clothes, sandals, or a walking stick. After all, the worker deserves to have his needs met.
- Luke 10:7Stay with the family that accepts you. Eat and drink whatever they offer you. After all, the worker deserves his pay. Do not move around from one house to another.
- Galatians 6:6The person who is taught God’s word should share all good things with his teacher.
- 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 Timothy 5:17Give double honor to spiritual leaders who handle their duties well. This is especially true if they work hard at teaching God’s word.
Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 9:4
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 4Have we not power to eat and to drink? - Have we not authority, or right, , to expect sustenance, while we are labouring for your salvation? Meat and drink, the necessaries, not the superfluities, of life, were what those primitive messengers of Christ required; it was just that they who labored in the Gospel should live by the Gospel; they did not wish to make a fortune, or accumulate wealth; a living was all they desired. It was probably in reference to…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 4Have we not power - ( ̓́ exousian) Have we not the “right.” The word “power” here is evidently used in the sense of “right” (compare John 1:12, “margin”); and the apostle means to say that though they had not exercised this “right by demanding” a maintenance, yet it was not because they were conscious that they had no such right, but because they chose to forego it for wise and important purposes. To eat and to drink - To be maintained at the expense of…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4As an apostle, Paul had the right to expect food and housing from those he served (compare 9:14; Luke 10:7–8). However, to avoid any criticism, he chose not to use this right (see 9:6, 12, 14–15, 18; 2 Corinthians 11:7–9; 12:13–14).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. Have we not power--Greek, "right," or lawful power, equivalent to "liberty" claimed by the Corinthians (1Co 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," &c. eat and drink--without laboring with our hands (1Co 9:11, 13, 14). Paul's not exercising this right was made a plea by his opponents for insinuating that he was…Read the comment
Topics related to 1 Corinthians 9:4
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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