1 Corinthians 9:12

1 Corinthians 9:12

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.

a. 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.

b. 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.

c. YLT: if others do partake of the authority over you -- not we more? but we did not use this authority, but all things we bear, that we may give no hindrance to the good news of the Christ.

d. Amplified Bible: If others share in this rightful claim upon you, do not we [have a still better and greater claim]? However, we have never exercised this right, but we endure everything rather than put a hindrance in the way [of the spread] of the good news (the Gospel) of Christ.

e. Worrell Translation: If other partake of this authority over you, do not we still more? But we used not this right; but we bear all things, that we may cause no hindrance to the Gospel of Christ?

1. “If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather?

a. if [1487 * ei] [Strong: a primary particle of conditionality; if, whether, that, etc.:--forasmuch as, if, that, (al-)though, whether. Often used in connection or composition with other particles, especially as in 1489, 1490, 1499, 1508, 1509, 1512, 1513, 1536, 1537.]

b. others [243 * allos] [Strong: a primary word; "else," i.e. different (in many applications):--more, one (another), (an-, some an-)other(-s, -wise).]

1). Albert Barnes Commentary: If others - Other teachers living with you. There can be no doubt that the teachers in Corinth urged this right, and received a support.

2). Adam Clarke: If 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.

c. be partakers [3348 * metecho] [Strong: from 3326 and 2192; to share or participate; by implication, belong to, eat (or drink):--be partaker, pertain, take part, use.]

1). Albert Barnes Commentary: Of this right to a support and maintenance.

d. power [1849 * exousia] [Strong: from 1832 (in the sense of ability); privilege, i.e. (subjectively) force, capacity, competency, freedom, or (objectively) mastery (concretely, magistrate, superhuman, potentate, token of control), delegated influence:--authority, jurisdiction, liberty, power, right, strength.]

e. over you [5216 * humon] [Strong: genitive case of 5210; of (from or concerning) you:--ye, you, your (own, -selves).]

f. are not [3756 * ou] [Strong: also (before a vowel) ouk ook, and (before an aspirate) ouch ookh a primary word; the absolute negative (compare 3361) adverb; no or not:--+ long, nay, neither, never, no (X man), none, (can-)not, + nothing, + special, un(-worthy), when, + without, + yet but.]

g. we [2249 * hemeis] [Strong: nominative plural of 1473; we (only used when emphatic):--us, we (ourselves).]

h. rather [3123 * mellon] [Strong: neuter of the comparative of the same as 3122; (adverbially) more (in a greater degree)) or rather:--+ better, X far, (the) more (and more), (so) much (the more), rather.]

1). Some believe this is referring to spiritual service such as other ministers, while other believe this is referring to other ministers who expect support for ministry. I personally believe it could refer to both. A comparison using the same principle would be in our financial culture of capitalism, i.e., providing goods and services for a fee. Kroger, Ford, Duke Energy and thousands of companies provide goods or services for a fee. The company I work for exists for this purpose.

2. “…Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ.”

a. nevertheless [235 * alla] [Strong: neuter plural of 243; properly, other things, i.e. (adverbially) contrariwise (in many relations):--and, but (even), howbeit, indeed, nay, nevertheless, no, notwithstanding, save, therefore, yea, yet.]

b. have…used [5530 * chraomai] [Strong: middle voice of a primary verb (perhaps rather from 5495, to handle); to furnish what is needed; (give an oracle, "graze" (touch slightly), light upon, etc.), i.e. (by implication) to employ or (by extension) to act towards one in a given manner:--entreat, use.]

c. not [3756 * ou] [Strong: a primary word; the absolute negative (compare 3361) adverb; no or not:--+ long, nay, neither, never, no (X man), none, (can-)not, + nothing, + special, un(-worthy), when, + without, + yet but.]

d. this [5026 * taute; tauten; tautes] [Strong: dative case, accusative case and genitive case respectively of the feminine singular of 3778; (towards or of) this:--her, + hereof, it, that, + thereby, the (same), this (same).]

e. power [1849 * exousia] [Strong: from 1832 (in the sense of ability); privilege, i.e. (subjectively) force, capacity, competency, freedom, or (objectively) mastery (concretely, magistrate, superhuman, potentate, token of control), delegated influence:--authority, jurisdiction, liberty, power, right, strength.]

f. but [235 * alla] See “nevertheless” above.

g. suffer [4722 * stego] [Strong: from 4721; to roof over, i.e. (figuratively) to cover with silence (endure patiently):--(for-)bear, suffer.]

h. all things [3956 * pas] [Strong:  including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole:--all (manner of, means), alway(-s), any (one), X daily, + ever, every (one, way), as many as, + no(-thing), X thoroughly, whatsoever, whole, whosoever.]

i. lest [3363 * hina] [Strong: 2443 and 3361; in order (or so) that not:--albeit not, lest, that, no(-t, (-thing)).]

j. we should [1325 * didomi] [Strong: a prolonged form of a primary verb (which is used as an alternative in most of the tenses); to give (used in a very wide application, properly, or by implication, literally or figuratively; greatly modified by the connection):--adventure, bestow, bring forth, commit, deliver (up), give, grant, hinder, make, minister, number, offer, have power, put, receive, set, shew, smite (+ with the hand), strike (+ with the palm of the hand), suffer, take, utter, yield.]

1). [5100 * tis] [Strong: an enclitic indefinite pronoun; some or any person or object:--a (kind of), any (man, thing, thing at all), certain (thing), divers, he (every) man, one (X thing), ought, + partly, some (man, -body, - thing, -what), (+ that no-)thing, what(-soever), X wherewith, whom(-soever), whose(-soever).]

k. hinder [1464 * egkope] [Strong: from 1465; a hindrance:--X hinder.]

l. the gospel [2098 * euaggelion] [Strong: from the same as 2097; a good message, i.e. the gospel:--gospel.]

m. of Christ [5547 * Christos] [Strong: from 5548; anointed, i.e. the Messiah, an epithet of Jesus:--Christ.]

1). Even though he was entitled to it Paul did not receive offerings/get paid for his preaching in Corinth. At least a partial explanation for this is given in his second letter to Corinth. Paul felt that if he received payment for his ministry in Corinth it would hinder the gospel. Yet in this very letter, chapters 8 & 9, he strongly encouraged the Corinthians to give to help the poor.

a). 2 Corinthians 11:7-15 Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely?

11:8 I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service.

11:9 And when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man: for that which was lacking to me the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied: and in all things I have kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and so will I keep myself.

11:10 As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me of this boasting in the regions of Achaia.

11:11 Wherefore? because I love you not? God knoweth.

11:12 But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we.

11:13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.

11:14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

11:15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of   righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.