1 Corinthians 9:12

Contextual Overview

³ This is my defense to those who would examine me. ³ My defence to them that examine mee, is this, ³My defense to those who examine me is this: ³ My defense to those who examine me is this. ³ My defence to those who examine me is this: ³ Some people want to judge me. So this is the answer I give them: ³This is my defense to those who would put me on trial and interrogate me [concerning my authority as an apostle]: ³ My defence to them that examine me is this. ³This is my defense to those who scrutinize me: ³ When people question me, I tell them

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

others: 2 Corinthians 11:20

are not: 1 Corinthians 9:2, 1 Corinthians 4:14, 1 Corinthians 4:15

Nevertheless: 1 Corinthians 9:15, 1 Corinthians 9:18, Acts 20:31-34, 2 Corinthians 11:7-10, 2 Corinthians 12:13, 2 Corinthians 12:14, 1 Thessalonians 2:6-9, 2 Thessalonians 3:8, 2 Thessalonians 3:9

but: 1 Corinthians 4:11, 1 Corinthians 4:12, 1 Corinthians 6:7

hinder: Genesis 24:56, Nehemiah 4:8, Luke 11:52, Romans 15:22, 2 Corinthians 11:12

Reciprocal: Numbers 3:51 - Moses 2 Kings 5:26 - Is it a time Nehemiah 4:17 - with one Nehemiah 5:10 - I likewise Acts 20:33 - General Acts 20:35 - how that Romans 1:16 - the gospel 1 Corinthians 6:12 - are not 1 Corinthians 8:13 - if meat 1 Corinthians 9:23 - for 2 Corinthians 6:3 - General 2 Corinthians 12:19 - but Philippians 4:17 - because 3 John 1:7 - taking

Cross-References

Genesis 9:17
God said yet to Noah, This is the signe of the couenant, which I haue established betweene me and all flesh that is vpon the earth.

Genesis 9:17
And God said to Noah, This is the sign of the covenant which I have established between me and all the flesh that is upon the earth,

Genesis 9:17
God said to Noach, "This is the token of the covenant which I have established between me and all flesh that is on the eretz."

Genesis 9:17
So God said to Noah, "This rainbow is proof of the agreement that I made with all living things on earth."

Genesis 9:17
God said to Noah, "This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between me and all flesh that is on the earth."

Genesis 9:17
And God said unto Noah, This is the token of the covenant which I have established between me and all flesh that is upon the earth.

Genesis 9:17
And God said to Noah, This is the sign of the agreement which I have made between me and all flesh on the earth.

Genesis 9:17
The rainbow will be the sign of that solemn promise.

Genesis 9:17
God said to Noach, "This is the sign of the covenant which I have established between myself and every living creature on the earth."

Genesis 9:17
And God said to Noah, This is the sign of the covenant which I have established between me and all flesh that is upon the earth.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

If others are partakers of this power over you,.... Meaning not any tyrannical power and jurisdiction over them, with respect either to faith or practice; but the right of a maintenance, which either the false apostles, or the true ordinary ministers of the word there, justly claimed, and did enjoy:

are not we rather? he and Barnabas, especially himself, who was more than an ordinary minister, an apostle, and the first preacher of the Gospel to them:

nevertheless, we have not used this power; though others had, and they had a right to it, but did not choose to insist upon it; and, rather than do so, worked with their own hands; their not making use of this power was not because they stood in no need of it, and enjoyed an affluence of temporal things, for the reverse of this was their case:

but suffer all things: famine, thirst, nakedness, hard labour, and many other hardships:

lest we should hinder the Gospel of Christ; some might suggest, that they preached the Gospel only for gain, and not for the good of souls, and glory of Christ; and other mean spirited persons might be backward of embracing and professing the Gospel, lest it should become chargeable to them; wherefore that the Gospel might not be retarded in its course by the calumny of some, and the sordidness of others, the apostle thought fit to drop his claim to a maintenance from them; though at the same time he would have them know it was a just due, and therefore goes on to defend it by other arguments.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

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

Be partakers of this power - Of this right to a support and maintenance.

Are not we rather - We the apostles; we who have labored for your conversion; who have founded your church; who have been the first, and the most laborious in instructing you, and imparting to you spiritual blessings? Have not we a better claim than they?.

Nevertheless we have not used this power - We have not urged this claim; we have chosen to forego this right, and to labor for our own support. The reason why they had done this, he states in the subsequent part of the chapter; see 2Co 11:7-9; 2 Corinthians 12:14; compare Acts 18:3; Acts 20:34-35.

But suffer all things - Endure all privations and hardships; we subject ourselves to poverty, want, hunger, thirst, nakedness, rather than urge a “claim” on you, and thus leave the suspicion that we are actuated by mercenary motives. The word used here (στέγομεν stegomen suffer) means properly “to cover,” to keep off, as rain, etc., and then “to contain, to sustain, tolerate, endure.” Here it means to bear, or endure all hardships; compare the notes at 1 Corinthians 4:11-13.

Lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ - Paul here states the reason why he had not urged a claim to support in preaching the gospel. It was not because he was not entitled to a full support, but it was that by denying himself of this right he could do good, and avoid some evil consequences which would have resulted if he had strenuously urged it. His conduct therefore in this was just one illustration of the principle on which he said 1 Corinthians 8:13 he would always act; a readiness to deny himself of things lawful, if by that he could promote the welfare of others. The reasons why his urging this claim might have hindered the gospel may have been many:

(1) It might have exposed him and the ministry generally to the charge of being mercenary.

(2) It would have prevented his presenting in bold relief the fact that he was bound to preach the gospel at all events, and that he was actuated in it by a simple conviction of its truth.

(3) It might have alienated many minds who might otherwise have been led to embrace it.

(4) It would have prevented the exercise of self-denial in him, and the benefits which resulted from that self-denial, etc., 1 Corinthians 9:17-18, 1Co 9:23, 1 Corinthians 9:27.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 1 Corinthians 9:12. 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.

We have not used this power — Though we had this right, we have not availed ourselves of it, but have worked with our hands to bear our own charges, lest any of you should think that we preached the Gospel merely to procure a temporal support, and so be prejudiced against us, and thus prevent our success in the salvation of your souls.