If others have this right to your support, shouldn’t we have it all the more? But we did not exercise this right. Instead, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ.
Parallel translations
- WEB If others partake of this right over you, don’t we yet more? Nevertheless we did not use this right, but we bear all things, that we may cause no hindrance to the Good News of Christ.
- 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.
- 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.
- NASB If others share the right over you, do we not more? Nevertheless, we did not use this right, but we endure all things so that we will cause no hindrance to the gospel of Christ.
- 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.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
If others have a claim to support from the Corinthians, Paul has even more—yet he refused to use this right, enduring all things so as not to hinder the gospel of Christ. He sacrifices his rights for the gospel's advance.
Overview
This verse reaches the heart of Paul's argument. Though his right to support is greater than anyone's, he willingly forgoes it, bearing hardship rather than risk placing any obstacle before the gospel. Here he models exactly the love-driven self-denial he urged on the strong in chapter 8. His example shows that the gospel's progress and others' good outweigh the assertion of personal entitlement.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 19
- 1 Cor 9:18What then is my reward? That in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not use up my rights in preaching it.
- 1 Cor 9:15But I have not used any of these rights. And I am not writing this to suggest that something be done for me. Indeed, I would rather die than let anyone nullify my boast.
- 2 Cor 11:12But I will keep on doing what I am doing, in order to undercut those who want an opportunity to be regarded as our equals in the things of which they boast.
- 1 Th 2:6–9Nor did we seek praise from you or from anyone else, although as apostles of Christ we had authority to demand it.
- 2 Cor 11:7–10Was it a sin for me to humble myself in order to exalt you, because I preached the gospel of God to you free of charge?
- 1 Cor 9:2Even if I am not an apostle to others, surely I am to you. For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.
- 2 Cor 6:3We put no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no one can discredit our ministry.
- Acts 18:3and he stayed and worked with them because they were tentmakers by trade, just as he was.
- Rom 15:22That is why I have often been hindered from coming to you.
- 1 Cor 6:7The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means that you are thoroughly defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated?
- Gen 24:56But he replied, “Do not delay me, since the LORD has made my journey a success. Send me on my way so that I may go to my master.”
- 1 Cor 4:14–15I am not writing this to shame you, but to warn you as my beloved children.
- 2 Th 3:8–9nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. Instead, in labor and toil, we worked night and day so that we would not be a burden to any of you.
- Luke 11:52Woe to you experts in the law! For you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering.”
- Neh 4:8and all of them conspired to come and fight against Jerusalem and create a hindrance.
- 1 Cor 4:11–12To this very hour we are hungry and thirsty, we are poorly clothed, we are brutally treated, we are homeless.
- 2 Cor 11:20In fact, you even put up with anyone who enslaves you or exploits you or takes advantage of you or exalts himself or strikes you in the face.
- Acts 20:31–34Therefore be alert and remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.
- 2 Cor 12:13–14In what way were you inferior to the other churches, except that I was not a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong!
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Christ at the center
Christ crucified is the wisdom and power of God; he is our Passover sacrificed for us, the firstfruits of resurrection, the foundation on which everything is built.
How 1 Corinthians 9:12 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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