1 Corinthians 9:4

4 Don't we have the right to be given food and drink?

1 Corinthians 9:4 Meaning and Commentary

1 Corinthians 9:4

Have we not power to eat and to drink?
] Having proved his apostleship, he proceeds to establish his right to a maintenance as a Gospel minister; which he expresses by various phrases, and confirms by divers arguments: by a "power to eat and drink", he does not mean the common power and right of mankind to perform such actions, which everyone has, provided he acts temperately, and to the glory of God; nor a liberty of eating and drinking things indifferent, or which were prohibited under the ceremonial law; but a comfortable livelihood at the public charge, or at the expense of the persons to whom he ministered; and he seems to have in view the words of Christ, ( Luke 10:7 Luke 10:8 ) .

1 Corinthians 9:4 In-Context

2 Even if to others I am not an emissary, at least I am to you; for you are living proof that I am the Lord's emissary.
3 That is my defense when people put me under examination.
4 Don't we have the right to be given food and drink?
5 Don't we have the right to take along with us a believing wife, as do the other emissaries, also the Lord's brothers and Kefa?
6 Or are Bar-Nabba and I the only ones required to go on working for our living?
Complete Jewish Bible Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.