1 Corinthians 9:10

1 Corinthians 9:10

Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope.

a. NLT: Wasn’t he actually speaking to us? Yes, it was written for us, so that the one who plows and the one who threshes the grain might both expect a share of the harvest.

b. NIV: Surely he says this for us, doesn’t he? Yes, this was written for us, because whoever plows and threshes should be able to do so in the hope of sharing in the harvest.

c. YLT: or because of us by all means doth He say it? yes, because of us it was written, because in hope ought the plower to plow, and he who is treading ought of his hope to partake in hope.

d. Amplified Bible:  Or does He speak certainly and entirely for our sakes? [Assuredly] it is written for our sakes, because the plowman ought to plow in hope, and the thresher ought to thresh in expectation of partaking of the harvest.

e. Worrell Translation: Or doth He say it assuredly for our sakes? Yes, for our sakes it was written; because he that plows ought to plow in hope; and he that threshes ought to thresh in hope of partaking.

1. “Or saith he it altogether for our sakes?...”

a. or [2228 * e] [Strong: a primary particle of distinction between two connected terms; disjunctive, or; comparative, than:--and, but (either), (n-)either, except it be, (n-)or (else), rather, save, than, that, what, yea. Often used in connection with other particles.]

b. saith it [3004 * lego] [Strong: a primary verb; properly, to "lay" forth, i.e. (figuratively) relate (in words (usually of systematic or set discourse; whereas 2036 and 5346 generally refer to an individual expression or speech respectively; while 4483 is properly to break silence merely, and 2980 means an extended or random harangue)); by implication, to mean:--ask, bid, boast, call, describe, give out, name, put forth, say(-ing, on), shew, speak, tell, utter.]

c. altogether [3843 * pantos] [Strong: adverb from 3956; entirely; specially, at all events, (with negative, following) in no event:--by all means, altogether, at all, needs, no doubt, in (no) wise, surely.]

           1). Albert Barnes Commentary: The word "altogether" (πάντως pantōs) does not of necessity               require this interpretation. It may be rendered "chiefly, mainly, principally, or                                       doubtless;" Luke 4:23, "Ye will 'surely' (πάντως pantōs certainly, surely, doubtless) say unto                 me this proverb," etc.; Acts 18:21, "I must 'by all means' (πάντως pantōs, certainly, surely)                   keep this feast; Acts 21:22, "The multitude 'must needs' (πάντως pantōs, will certainly, surely,             inevitably) come together," etc.; Acts 28:4, "'No doubt' (πάντως pantōs) this man is a                           murderer," etc. The word here, therefore, means that the "principle" stated in the law about the             oxen was so broad and humane, that it might "certainly, surely, particularly" be regarded as                 applicable to the case under consideration. An important and material argument might be                     drawn from it; an argument from the less to the greater. The precept enjoined justice, equity,               humanity; and that was more applicable to the case of the ministers of the gospel than to the                 case of oxen.

            2). Jewish New Testament Commentary, David Stern (Messianic Jew): “A literal rendering of             this would be: “Is God concerned about cattle? Or is it all because of us that he says it?                       Because of us.” The literal rendering would suggest that God is not concerned with cattle;                   animal rights activists would have a legitimate complaint against Sha’ul! But in fact God is                 concerned with cattle; indeed this is why the Torah forbids muzzling an ox, and this law                       exemplifies kindness to animals. Nevertheless God’s primary concern is with human beings, a             point Shu’al makes by going beyond the simple sense of the text,…to make a drash                             (Commentary) giving the significance for us through allegory.”

d. our [2248 * hemas] [Strong: accusative case plural of 1473; us:--our, us, we.]

e. sakes [1223 * dia] [Strong: a primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through (in very wide applications, local, causal, or occasional):--after, always, among, at, to avoid, because of (that), briefly, by, for (cause) ... fore, from, in, by occasion of, of, by reason of, for sake, that, thereby, therefore, X though, through(-out), to, wherefore, with (-in). In composition it retains the same general importance.]

2. “…For our sakes, no doubt, this is written…”

a. our [2248 * hemas] [Strong: accusative case plural of 1473; us:--our, us, we.]

b. sakes [1223 * dia] [Strong: a primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through (in very wide applications, local, causal, or occasional):--after, always, among, at, to avoid, because of (that), briefly, by, for (cause) ... fore, from, in, by occasion of, of, by reason of, for sake, that, thereby, therefore, X though, through(-out), to, wherefore, with (-in). In composition it retains the same general importance.]

c. no doubt [1063 * gar] [Strong: a primary particle; properly, assigning a reason (used in argument, explanation or intensification; often with other particles):--and, as, because (that), but, even, for, indeed, no doubt, seeing, then, therefore, verily, what, why, yet.]

d. this is written [1125 * grapho] [Strong: a primary verb; to "grave", especially to write; figuratively, to describe:--describe, write(-ing, -ten).]

3. “…that he that ploweth should plow in hope…”

a. that [3754 * hoti] [Strong: neuter of 3748 as conjunction; demonstrative, that (sometimes redundant); causative, because:--as concerning that, as though, because (that), for (that), how (that), (in) that, though, why.]

b. he that ploweth [722 * arotrioo] [Strong: from 723; to plow:--plough.]

c. should [3784 * opheilo] [Strong: or (in certain tenses), its prolonged form opheileo of-i-leh'-o probably from the base of 3786 (through the idea of accruing); to owe (pecuniarily); figuratively, to be under obligation (ought, must, should); morally, to fail in duty:--behove, be bound, (be) debt(-or), (be) due(-ty), be guilty (indebted), (must) need(-s), ought, owe, should.]

d. plow [722 * arotrioo] See “ploweth” above.

e. in [1909 * epi] [Strong: a primary preposition; properly, meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution (with the genitive case), i.e. over, upon, etc.; of rest (with the dative case) at, on, etc.; of direction (with the accusative case) towards, upon, etc.:--about (the times), above, after, against, among, as long as (touching), at, beside, X have charge of, (be-, (where-))fore, in (a place, as much as, the time of, -to), (because) of, (up-)on (behalf of), over, (by, for) the space of, through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), with. In compounds it retains essentially the same import, at, upon, etc. (literally or figuratively).]

f. hope [1680 * elpis] [Strong: from a primary elpo (to anticipate, usually with pleasure); expectation (abstractly or concretely) or confidence:--faith, hope.]

          1). In hope of a harvest. It is all sowing and reaping. When we give into the ministry we are                  sowing and we will reap.

4. “…and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope.”

a. and [2532 * kai] [Strong: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]

b. he that thresheth [248 * aloao] [Strong: from the same as 257; to tread out grain:--thresh, tread out the corn.]

c. in hope [1680 * elpis] [Strong: from a primary elpo (to anticipate, usually with pleasure); expectation (abstractly or concretely) or confidence:--faith, hope.]

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

e. of [1909 * epi] [Strong: a primary preposition; properly, meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution (with the genitive case), i.e. over, upon, etc.; of rest (with the dative case) at, on, etc.; of direction (with the accusative case) towards, upon, etc.:--about (the times), above, after, against, among, as long as (touching), at, beside, X have charge of, (be-, (where-))fore, in (a place, as much as, the time of, -to), (because) of, (up-)on (behalf of), over, (by, for) the space of, through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), with. In compounds it retains essentially the same import, at, upon, etc. (literally or figuratively).]

f. his [846 * autos] [Strong:  from the particle au (perhaps akin to the base of 109 through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative 1438) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:--her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which.]

g. hope [1680 * elpis] [Strong: from a primary elpo (to anticipate, usually with pleasure); expectation (abstractly or concretely) or confidence:--faith, hope.]

           1). Here, Paul is continuing to build the case for believers financing the gospel by providing                 supply to its ministers, just as you do not muzzle oxen when harvesting grain, you do not                     withhold giving to those who are ministering to you. This is answered by Paul in the next few             verses.