1 Corinthians 9:12

¹⁰ Isn’t He actually speaking on our behalf? Indeed, this was written for us, because when the plowman plows and the thresher threshes, they should also expect to share in the harvest.

¹¹ If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much for us to reap a material harvest from you?

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.

¹³ Do you not know that those who work in the temple eat of its food, and those who serve at the altar partake of its offerings?

¹⁴ In the same way, the Lord has prescribed that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: 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.
KJV: 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.
WEB: If others partake of this right over you, don’t we yet more? Nevertheless we didn’t use this right, but we bear all things, that we may cause no hindrance to the Good News of Christ.
ASV: If others partake of [this] right over you, do not we yet more? Nevertheless we did not use this right; but we bear all things, that we may cause no hindrance to the gospel of Christ.
DARBY: If others partake of this right over you, should not rather *we*? But we have not used this right, but we bear all things, that we may put no hindrance in the way of the glad tidings of the Christ.
BLB: If others partake of the authority over you⁺, [should] we not more? But we did not use this authority. But we bear all things, so that we should not give any hindrance to the gospel of Christ.

ÅB: Har andre rett over dere, skulle da ikke vi meget mere ha det? Men denne rett har vi ikke brukt; vi tåler alt, for ikke å legge noen hindring for Kristi evangelium.
OTB: Hvis andre deler denne retten over dere, har ikke vi enda mer? Likevel har vi ikke gjort bruk av denne retten, men vi tåler alt for ikke å hindre Kristi evangelium.
B1930: Har andre rett over eder, skulde da ikke vi meget mere ha det? Men denne rett har vi ikke brukt; vi tåler alt, for ikke å legge nogen hindring for Kristi evangelium.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

2 Corinthians 11:12
But I will keep on doing what I am doing, in order to undercut those who want an opportunity to be regarded as our equals in the things of which they boast.
Read in context
1 Corinthians 9:15
But I have not used any of these rights. And I am not writing this to suggest that something be done for me. Indeed, I would rather die than let anyone nullify my boast.
Read in context
1 Corinthians 9:18
What then is my reward? That in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not use up my rights in preaching it.
Read in context
2 Corinthians 11:7–10
Was it a sin for me to humble myself in order to exalt you, because I preached the gospel of God to you free of charge?
Read in context
1 Thessalonians 2:6–9
Nor did we seek praise from you or from anyone else, although as apostles of Christ we had authority to demand it.
Read in context
1 Corinthians 9:2
Even if I am not an apostle to others, surely I am to you. For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.
Read in context
2 Corinthians 11:20
In fact, you even put up with anyone who enslaves you or exploits you or takes advantage of you or exalts himself or strikes you in the face.
Read in context
1 Corinthians 6:7
The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means that you are thoroughly defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated?
Read in context