Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working?
Parallel translations
- WEB Or have only Barnabas and I no right to not work?
- BSB Or are Barnabas and I the only apostles who must work for a living?
- NKJV Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working?
- NASB Or do only Barnabas and I have no right to refrain from working?
- NLT Or is it only Barnabas and I who have to work to support ourselves?
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
Are only Paul and Barnabas required to work for a living rather than be supported? He points out that they, too, have the right not to labor at a trade.
Overview
Paul and Barnabas were known for supporting themselves through manual labor (cf. Acts 18:3) rather than depending on the churches. Here Paul insists this was a choice, not an obligation—they possessed the same right to support as the other apostles. The rhetorical question presses his point: his self-sufficiency is a freely chosen sacrifice, illustrating the very principle of foregoing one's rights for the gospel's sake.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- 2 Th 3:7–9For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;
- Acts 13:1–2Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
- Acts 4:36And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus,
- 1 Th 2:9For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God.
- Acts 18:3And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers.
- Acts 14:12And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker.
- Acts 20:34–35Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me.
- Acts 11:22Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch.
- 1 Cor 4:11–12Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace;
- Acts 15:36–37And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the LORD, and see how they do.
- Acts 13:50But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts.
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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.
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Original language
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