New International Version
1 Corinthians 9:12
12If 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.
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.
- 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.
- 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
10Surely he says this for us, doesn’t he? Yes, this was written for us, because whoever plows and threshes should be able to do so in the hope of sharing in the harvest. 11If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you? 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. 13Don’t you know that those who serve in the temple get their food from the temple, and that those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar? 14In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from 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 11:20In fact, you even put up with anyone who enslaves you or exploits you or takes advantage of you or puts on airs or slaps you in the face.
- 1 Corinthians 9:2Even though I may not be an apostle to others, surely I am to you! For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.
- 1 Corinthians 4:14I am writing this not to shame you but to warn you as my dear children.
- 1 Corinthians 9:15But I have not used any of these rights. And I am not writing this in the hope that you will do such things for me, for I would rather die than allow anyone to deprive me of this boast.
- Acts 20:31So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.
- 2 Corinthians 11:7Was it a sin for me to lower myself in order to elevate you by preaching the gospel of God to you free of charge?
- 2 Corinthians 12:13How were you inferior to the other churches, except that I was never a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong!
- 1 Thessalonians 2:6We were not looking for praise from people, not from you or anyone else, even though as apostles of Christ we could have asserted our authority.
- 2 Thessalonians 3:8nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you.
- 1 Corinthians 4:11To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless.
- 1 Corinthians 6:7The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated?
- Genesis 24:56But he said to them, “Do not detain me, now that the Lord has granted success to my journey. Send me on my way so I may go to my master.”
- Nehemiah 4:8They all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and stir up trouble against it.
- Luke 11:52“Woe to you experts in the law, because you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering.”
- Romans 15:22This is why I have often been hindered from coming to you.
- 2 Corinthians 11:12And I will keep on doing what I am doing in order to cut the ground from under those who want an opportunity to be considered equal with us in the things they boast about.
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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