1 Corinthians 9:12
Nothing in the gospel's way
- The gospel’s word εὐαγγέλιον euangelion · gospel
Original
Translations
If others have this right to your support, shouldn’t we have it all the more? But we did not exercise this right. Instead, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ.
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.
If others partake of the authority over you—[do] we not more? But we did not use this authority, but we bear all things, that we may give no hindrance to the good news of the Christ.
다른 이들도 너희에게 이런 권을 가졌거든 하물며 우리일까보냐 그러나 우리가 이 권을 쓰지 아니하고 범사에 참는 것은 그리스도의 복음에 아무 장애가 없게 하려 함이로다
다른 이들이 너희에 대한 이 권리에 참여하거든 하물며 우리는 더 그리하지 아니하겠느냐? 그럼에도 불구하고 우리가 이 권리를 쓰지 아니하고 모든 것을 참는 것은 우리가 그리스도의 복음을 가로막지 아니하려 함이라.
Commentaries
Matthew Henry on 1Cor 9:1-14 as a whole
It is not new for a minister to meet with unkind returns for good-will to a people, and diligent and successful services among them. To the cavils of some, the apostle answers, so as to set forth himself as an example of self-denial, for the good of others. …
Read the whole commentary →Wesley 1Cor 9:12
If others - Whether true or false apostles. Partake of this power - Have a right to be maintained. Do not we rather - On account of our having laboured so much more? Lest we should give any hinderance to the gospel - By giving an occasion of cavil or reproach.
Read the whole commentary →
Note
Paul had every right to be supported by the church he served. In this verse he establishes that right and in the same breath sets it aside, for one reason: nothing must stand in the way of the gospel of Christ.
If others have this right to your support, shouldn’t we have it all the more? But we did not exercise this right. Instead, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ.
1 Corinthians 9:12In chapter 8 Paul told the Corinthians that knowledge gives freedom, but that love may give up a freedom for a weaker brother's sake. Chapter 9 shows the same thing in his own life. "Am I not free? Am I not an apostle?" (1 Corinthians 9:1) he asks, and then he builds the case for his support: the soldier, the vineyard, the flock, and the law that forbids muzzling the ox that treads the grain (1 Corinthians 9:9). The argument is complete, and then, in the middle of this verse, it turns: we did not use the right.
The noun stands in the dative, the thing that must receive no , ‘hindrance’. Literally: so that we may put no hindrance in the way of the gospel of Christ. The noun occurs only here in the New Testament. It comes from the verb , to cut in, to block a road, the verb Paul uses when he says, "I have often been hindered from coming to you" (Romans 15:22). Hindrances from outside he could not always help; a hindrance from his own side he could remove. The word for "put up with" is , the verb of chapter 13, where love "bears all things" (1 Corinthians 13:7).
The KJV says "Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ." Its "power" renders , which the BSB gives as "right," the claim one may justly make. The BSB's "rather than hinder the gospel" makes the choice plain, while the LSV keeps the noun: "that we may give no hindrance to the good news of the Christ." Each puts the weight where Paul does: not on the apostle's rights, but on the gospel's free course.
Wesley glosses "others" as "Whether true or false apostles" Wesley, and explains how Paul might have hindered the gospel: "By giving an occasion of cavil or reproach" Wesley. Matthew Henry writes, "But he renounced his right, rather than hinder his success by claiming it" Matthew Henry, and then guards against reading too much into it: "It is the people's duty to maintain their minister" Matthew Henry.
At Corinth Paul lived with Aquila and Priscilla and worked with his hands, "because they were tentmakers by trade, just as he was" (Acts 18:3). He reminds the Thessalonians that "We worked night and day so that we would not be a burden to anyone" (1 Thessalonians 2:9).
The life of the one who tells the gospel can open the way for it or close it. Those who first carried it gave up what was theirs to keep that way clear.