New Living Translation
1 Corinthians 9:12
12If 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.
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
10Wasn’t he actually speaking to us? Yes, it was written for us, so that the one who plows and the one who threshes the grain might both expect a share of the harvest. 11Since we have planted spiritual seed among you, aren’t we entitled to a harvest of physical food and drink? 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. 13Don’t you realize that those who work in the temple get their meals from the offerings brought to the temple? And those who serve at the altar get a share of the sacrificial offerings. 14In the same way, the Lord ordered that those who preach the Good News should be supported by those who benefit from it.
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 11:20You put up with it when someone enslaves you, takes everything you have, takes advantage of you, takes control of everything, and slaps you in the face.
- 1 Corinthians 9:2Even if others think I am not an apostle, I certainly am to you. You yourselves are proof that I am the Lord’s apostle.
- 1 Corinthians 4:14I am not writing these things to shame you, but to warn you as my beloved children.
- 1 Corinthians 9:15Yet I have never used any of these rights. And I am not writing this to suggest that I want to start now. In fact, I would rather die than lose my right to boast about preaching without charge.
- Acts 20:31Watch out! Remember the three years I was with you—my constant watch and care over you night and day, and my many tears for you.
- 2 Corinthians 11:7Was I wrong when I humbled myself and honored you by preaching God’s Good News to you without expecting anything in return?
- 2 Corinthians 12:13The only thing I failed to do, which I do in the other churches, was to become a financial burden to you. Please forgive me for this wrong!
- 1 Thessalonians 2:6As for human praise, we have never sought it from you or anyone else.
- 2 Thessalonians 3:8We never accepted food from anyone without paying for it. We worked hard day and night so we would not be a burden to any of you.
- 1 Corinthians 4:11Even now we go hungry and thirsty, and we don’t have enough clothes to keep warm. We are often beaten and have no home.
- 1 Corinthians 6:7Even to have such lawsuits with one another is a defeat for you. Why not just accept the injustice and leave it at that? Why not let yourselves be cheated?
- Genesis 24:56But he said, “Don’t delay me. The Lord has made my mission successful; now send me back so I can return to my master.”
- Nehemiah 4:8They all made plans to come and fight against Jerusalem and throw us into confusion.
- Luke 11:52“What sorrow awaits you experts in religious law! For you remove the key to knowledge from the people. You don’t enter the Kingdom yourselves, and you prevent others from entering.”
- Romans 15:22In fact, my visit to you has been delayed so long because I have been preaching in these places.
- 2 Corinthians 11:12But I will continue doing what I have always done. This will undercut those who are looking for an opportunity to boast that their work is just like ours.
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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