1-corinthians 9:6
Translations
King James Version (KJV)
Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working?
American King James Version (AKJV)
Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working?
American Standard Version (ASV)
Or I only and Barnabas, have we not a right to forbear working?
Basic English Translation (BBE)
Or I only and Barnabas, have we no right to take a rest from work?
Webster's Revision
Or I only and Barnabas, have we not power to forbear working?
World English Bible
Or have only Barnabas and I no right to not work?
English Revised Version (ERV)
Or I only and Barnabas, have we not a right to forbear working?
Definitions for 1-corinthians 9:6
Clarke's 1-corinthians 9:6 Bible Commentary
Or I only and Barnabas - Have we alone of all the apostles no right to be supported by our converts? It appears from this,
1. That the apostles did not generally support themselves by their own labor.
2. That Paul and Barnabas did thus support themselves.
Some of the others probably had not a business at which they could conveniently work; but Paul and Barnabas had a trade at which they could conveniently labor wherever they came.
Barnes's 1-corinthians 9:6 Bible Commentary
Or I only and Barnabas - Paul and Barnabas had worked together as tent-makers at Corinth; Acts 18:3. From this fact it had been inferred that they "knew" that they had no claim to a support.
Power to forbear working - To abstain from labor, and to receive support as others do. The question implies a strong affirmation that they had such power. The sense is, 'Why should I and Barnabas be regarded as having no right to support? Have we been less faithful than others? Have we done less? Have we given fewer evidences that we are sent by the Lord, or that God approves us in our work? Have we been less successful? Why then should we be singled out; and why should it be supposed that we are obliged to labor for our support? "Is there no other conceivable reason" why we should support ourselves than a consciousness that we have no right to support from the people with whom we labor?" It is evident from 1 Corinthians 9:12, that Barnabas as well as Paul relinquished his right to a support, and labored to maintain himself. And it is manifest from the whole passage, that there was some special "spleen" ("Doddridge") against these two ministers of the gospel. What it was we know not. It might have arisen from the enmity and opposition of Judaizing teachers, who were offended at their zeal and success among the Gentiles, and who could find no other cause of complaint against them than that they chose to support themselves, and not live in idleness, or to tax the church for their support. That must have been a bad cause which was sustained by such an argument.
Wesley's 1-corinthians 9:6 Bible Commentary
9:6 To forbear working - With our hands.