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

10or is He speaking entirely for our sake? Yes, it was written for our sake, because the one plowing ought to plow in hope and the one threshing in hope of a share in the crop. 11If we sowed spiritual things into you, is it too much if we reap material things from you? If others have a share in this claim over you, shouldn’t we even more? Nevertheless we did not use this right, but we put up with all things so that we cause no hindrance to the Good News of Messiah. 13Don’t you know that those who perform the holy services eat from the Temple, and those who wait on the altar receive a share at the altar? 14So also the Lord ordered those who proclaim the Good News to get 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 11:20For you put up with it if someone enslaves you, if someone devours you, if someone takes advantage of you, if someone puts on airs, if someone slaps you on the face.
• 1 Corinthians 9:2If to others I am not an emissary, at least I am to you—for you are the seal of my office of emissary in the Lord.
• 1 Corinthians 4:14I do not write these things to make you ashamed, but to warn you as my dearly loved children.
• 1 Corinthians 9:15But I have used none of these things, and I am not writing these things so it will happen this way in my case—for I would rather die than let anyone deprive me of my reason to boast.
• Acts 20:31Therefore be alert, remembering that night and day for three years I did not stop warning you with tears.
• 2 Corinthians 11:7Or did I commit a sin in humbling myself so that you might be exalted, because I proclaimed to you God’s Good News free of charge?
• 2 Corinthians 12:13For in what respect were you treated worse than the rest of Messiah’s communities—except that I myself did not burden you? Pardon me this injustice!
• 1 Thessalonians 2:6or seeking glory from people, whether from you or from others,
• 2 Thessalonians 3:8And we did not eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but worked night and day with labor and hardship, so as not to burden any of you.
• 1 Corinthians 4:11To this very hour we are both hungry and thirsty, dressed in rags and mistreated and homeless.
• 1 Corinthians 6:7Therefore, it is already an utter failure for you that you have lawsuits among yourselves. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated?
• Genesis 24:56But he said to them, “Don’t delay me, since Adonai has made my way successful. Send me off so that I can go to my master.”
• Nehemiah 4:8When I looked things over, I rose up and said to the nobles, the rulers and the rest of the people, “Do not be afraid of them. Remember the great and awesome Lord, and fight on behalf of your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes.”
• Luke 11:52“Woe to you, Torah lawyers, for you have taken away the key of knowledge. You yourselves did not enter, and you stood in the way of those entering.”
• Romans 15:22For this reason I was often hindered from coming to you.
• 2 Corinthians 11:12But what I am doing I will continue to do, so that I may cut off the opportunity from those who want an opportunity in what they boast about to also be regarded just as we are.

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