1 Corinthians 9:12 - An Understandable Version (2005 edition)

¹² If other people have the right to receive a share of what you have, should we not have even more [right to it]? Yet we did not make use of this right, but instead we put up with whatever we had to so we would not become a hindrance to [the spread of] the good news [about Christ].

More versions

King James Version (Oxford) 1769

¹² 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.

Amplified Bible - Classic Edition

¹² If others share in this rightful claim upon you, do not we [have a still better and greater claim]? However, we have never exercised this right, but we endure everything rather than put a hindrance in the way [of the spread] of the good news (the Gospel) of Christ.

American Standard Version (1901)

¹² 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.

Common English Bible

¹² If others have these rights over you, don’t we deserve them all the more? However, we haven’t made use of this right, but we put up with everything so we don’t put any obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ.

Catholic Public Domain Version

¹² If others are sharers in this authority over you, why are we not more entitled? And yet we have not used this authority. Instead, we bear all things, lest we give any hindrance to the Gospel of Christ.

1 Corinthians 9:12 Cross References

Luke 11:52

“It is too bad for you teachers of the Law of Moses! For you took away the key of knowledge [i.e., preventing people from understanding God’s plan]. You did not enter [the kingdom of heaven. See Matt. 23:13] yourselves, and [you even] prevented those who [wanted] to enter [to get in].”

Acts 18:3

and, because they followed the same trade of tent making, he stayed with them and went to work [for them].

Romans 15:22

This is why I have been so often hindered from coming to you.

1 Corinthians 13:7

[Love] conceals all [people’s] faults; it believes [the best about] all people; it hopes [for the best in] all people; it endures [ill treatment from] all people.

1 Corinthians 6:7

Indeed, the fact that you have lawsuits with one another is [evidence of] a complete failure among you. Why should you not rather take the wrong? Why should you not rather accept being cheated?

1 Corinthians 9:14

Even so the Lord directed that those who proclaim the good news [about Christ] should get their living from [preaching] that good news.

1 Corinthians 9:15

But I have not availed myself of any of these rights. And I am not writing this so that it would be done in my case, for I would rather die than have anyone make my boast [i.e., of preaching without financial support] an empty one.

1 Corinthians 9:16

[But] I do not have anything to boast about if I preach the good news because I am compelled to do it. For it would be too bad for me if I did not preach the good news.

1 Corinthians 9:18

Then what is my reward? It is being able to preach the good news without receiving financial support [for it], so as not to claim my full rights in [the work of preaching] the good news.

1 Corinthians 9:2

[Even] if I am not [accepted as] an apostle with other people, at least I am with you. For you people are my seal [i.e., proof] of my apostleship in [the service of] the Lord.

2 Corinthians 11:12

But what I am doing, I will continue to do, so that I can cut off the opportunity from those who want an occasion [to receive financial support for themselves because of my example of receiving it]. They want to boast [that they are preaching] on the same terms as I do. [Note: Paul’s argument seems to be that one reason for his foregoing financial support was so those “super apostles” in Corinth (see verse 5) would not be able to use his example to wrongfully exact financial support from the church].

2 Corinthians 11:20

For you put up with someone, [even] if he enslaves you [i.e., exercises control over your life]; [even] if he takes [unfair] advantage of you; [even] if he acts superior toward you; and [even] if he slaps you in the face.

2 Corinthians 2:12

Now when I came to Troas [See Acts 16:8], in order to preach the good news about Christ, and when a door [of opportunity] was opened to me in [the service of] the Lord [there],

2 Corinthians 6:3

[We try] not to place an obstacle in anyone’s way [i.e., to keep them from accepting the Gospel message], so that our ministry would not be blamed.