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 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

10Or does He say it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written, that he who plows should plow in hope, and he who threshes in hope should be partaker of his hope. 11If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it a great thing if we reap your material things? 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. 13Do you not know that those who minister the holy things eat of the things of the temple, and those who serve at the altar partake of the offerings of the altar? 14Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel.

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 11:20For you put up with it if one brings you into bondage, if one devours you, if one takes from you, if one exalts himself, if one strikes you on the face.
• 1 Corinthians 9:2If I am not an apostle to others, yet doubtless 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 shame you, but as my beloved children I warn you.
• 1 Corinthians 9:15But I have used none of these things, nor have I written these things that it should be done so to me; for it would be better for me to die than that anyone should make my boasting void.
• Acts 20:31Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.
• 2 Corinthians 11:7Did I commit sin in humbling myself that you might be exalted, because I preached the gospel of God to you free of charge?
• 2 Corinthians 12:13For what is it in which you were inferior to other churches, except that I myself was not burdensome to you? Forgive me this wrong!
• 1 Thessalonians 2:6Nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, when we might have made demands as apostles of Christ.
• 2 Thessalonians 3:8nor did we eat anyone’s bread free of charge, but worked with labor and toil night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you,
• 1 Corinthians 4:11To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless.
• 1 Corinthians 6:7Now therefore, it is already an utter failure for you that you go to law against one another. Why do you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated?
• Genesis 24:56And he said to them, “Do not hinder me, since the Lord has prospered my way; send me away so that I may go to my master.”
• Nehemiah 4:8and all of them conspired together to come and attack Jerusalem and create confusion.
• Luke 11:52“Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge. You did not enter in yourselves, and those who were entering in you hindered.”
• Romans 15:22For this reason I also have been much hindered from coming to you.
• 2 Corinthians 11:12But what I do, I will also continue to do, that I may cut off the opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the things of which they boast.

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

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