1 Corinthians 9:4

4 numquid non habemus potestatem manducandi et bibendi

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 si aliis non sum apostolus sed tamen vobis sum nam signaculum apostolatus mei vos estis in Domino

3 mea defensio apud eos qui me interrogant haec est

4 numquid non habemus potestatem manducandi et bibendi

5 numquid non habemus potestatem sororem mulierem circumducendi sicut et ceteri apostoli et fratres Domini et Cephas

6 aut solus ego et Barnabas non habemus potestatem hoc operandi