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1 Corinthians 9:3

WEBKJVBSBESVNKJVNASBNLT
This is my defense to those who scrutinize me:
1 Corinthians 9:3 · Berean Standard Bible
Parallel translations
  • WEB My defense to those who examine me is this.
  • KJV Mine answer to them that do examine me is this,
  • NKJV My defense to those who examine me is this:
  • NASB My defense to those who examine me is this:
  • NLT This is my answer to those who question my authority.

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

This is Paul's defense to those who scrutinize and criticize him. He now answers his critics regarding his apostolic rights.

Overview

Paul frames the following verses as a formal reply to those who sit in judgment of him. The point of his defense is not to assert privilege for its own sake but to establish that the rights he possesses are real—so that his choice to waive them is meaningful. His self-defense thus serves his larger pastoral aim of teaching loving self-denial by personal example.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 11

  • 2 Tim 4:16At my first defense, no one stood with me, but everyone deserted me. May it not be charged against them.
  • 2 Cor 13:5Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Can’t you see for yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you—unless you actually fail the test?
  • 2 Cor 10:7–8You are looking at outward appearances. If anyone is confident that he belongs to Christ, he should remind himself that we belong to Christ just as much as he does.
  • 2 Cor 13:10This is why I write these things while absent, so that when I am present I will not need to be severe in my use of the authority that the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing you down.
  • Acts 22:1“Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense before you.”
  • Phil 1:17The former, however, preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can add to the distress of my chains.
  • 1 Cor 14:37If anyone considers himself a prophet or spiritual person, let him acknowledge that what I am writing you is the Lord’s command.
  • Acts 25:16I told them that it is not the Roman custom to hand a man over before he has had an opportunity to face his accusers and defend himself against their charges.
  • 2 Cor 13:3since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me. He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among you.
  • Phil 1:7It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart. For in my chains and in my defense and confirmation of the gospel, you are all partners in grace with me.
  • 2 Cor 12:16–19Be that as it may, I was not a burden to you; but crafty as I am, I caught you by trickery.

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Commentaries & study tools

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 9:3 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

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.

Mineἐμόςanswerἀπολογίαto them that do examineἀνακρίνωmeἐμέisἐστίthisοὗτος
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