Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working for a living?
English Standard Version (ESV)
All verses
1 Corinthians 9:6
What does 1 Corinthians 9:6 mean?
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
1 Corinthians 9:6
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
Paul's question isn't just about his and Barnabas's right to not work, but also about the inherent right all laborers have to be supported by their work. He's subtly highlighting that the expectation for him and Barnabas to be self-sufficient is actually the exception, not the rule.
Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working for a living?
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul is defending his apostolic authority and his right to receive financial support from the churches he serves. He's addressing the Corinthians' doubts and criticisms about his ministry, highlighting that his right to be supported is no different from that of other apostles, like Barnabas. This verse directly follows his argument that laborers deserve their wages, setting up his point that he, too, is a laborer deserving of that right.
Paul mentions his right to earn a living, but also his choice not to exercise it. What was this 'right,' and why did he sometimes forgo it?
In 1 Corinthians 9, Paul is defending his apostolic authority. He argues that just as soldiers don't fight at their own expense, and shepherds don't eat the flock's produce without compensation, apostles have a God-given right to be supported by the communities they serve. This wasn't a suggestion; it was a recognized principle rooted in fairness and the Old Testament law (Deuteronomy 25:4). God provided for His workers, and Paul saw this principle extending to the New Testament ministry.
He emphasizes that this right comes directly from the Lord's provision for His messengers. It's not about Paul's personal preference, but about a divine entitlement for those who dedicate their lives to the Gospel.
If Paul had a 'right' to be supported, why didn't he always take it? This verse hints at a deeper strategy behind his ministry.
While Paul had the right to financial support from the Corinthian church, he chose to forgo it. He was a skilled craftsman (a tentmaker, as we know from Acts 18:3) and was willing to work with his own hands to support himself.
His motivation was strategic: to avoid hindering the Gospel. He didn't want his financial dependence to be used as a reason by opponents to discredit him or his message. By not taking payment, he could present the Gospel freely, without any strings attached, ensuring its purity and his own integrity were beyond reproach. It was a sacrificial choice made for the sake of the Gospel's advance.
Ask a follow-up
Understand the original words
exousia · Greek Noun
A legal or moral claim to authority, privilege, or freedom of action; in this context, the legitimate authority of an apostle to receive support from those he serves.
Paul’s defense of his apostolic rights is set against the backdrop of his extensive missionary work and the specific challenges faced by the Corinthian church, who seem to be questioning his authority and legitimacy.
c. AD 46-48
First Missionary Journey
Paul and Barnabas travel through Cyprus and Asia Minor, spreading the gospel and establishing churches. This journey was foundational to their ministry and the early expansion of Christianity.
c. AD 49
Jerusalem Council
A pivotal meeting where apostles and elders debated the inclusion of Gentiles in the church. The decision affirmed that salvation is by grace through faith, not adherence to the Law, impacting the mission strategy.
c. AD 49-50
Disagreement Between Paul and Barnabas
Paul and Barnabas part ways over taking John Mark on a second missionary journey. This personal conflict highlights the intense challenges and differing approaches within the early leadership.
c. AD 50-52
Second Missionary Journey
Paul, now accompanied by Silas, travels through Asia Minor and into Greece, facing significant opposition but establishing thriving churches in cities like Corinth.
c. AD 53-57— this verse
Ministry in Corinth
Paul spends an extended period in Corinth, a major Roman city, facing religious and social opposition. He establishes a strong church there, which becomes the recipient of this letter.
c. AD 57
Writing of 1 Corinthians
Paul writes his first letter to the Corinthian church from Ephesus to address various issues plaguing the community, including divisions, moral problems, and questions about spiritual gifts and apostolic authority.
This verse directly follows and continues Paul's argument about his right to support, highlighting the principle that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel.
2 Corinthians 11:7-9Paul contrasts his own humble practice of not taking payment from the Corinthian church with the practices of other apostles, showing his voluntary self-denial for their sake.
Acts 18:3This passage shows Paul working as a tentmaker alongside Aquila and Priscilla, demonstrating the practical reality of his statement in 1 Corinthians 9:6 that he worked for a living.
1 Thessalonians 2:9Paul reminds the Thessalonians that he and his companions worked with their own hands to avoid being a burden, reinforcing the idea that he didn't always exercise his right to financial support.
Paul's question isn't just about his and Barnabas's right to not work, but also about the inherent right all laborers have to be supported by their work. He's subtly highlighting that the expectation for him and Barnabas to be self-sufficient is actually the exception, not the rule.
Paul is defending his apostolic authority and his right to receive financial support from the churches he serves. He's addressing the Corinthians' doubts and criticisms about his ministry, highlighting that his right to be supported is no different from that of other apostles, like Barnabas. This verse directly follows his argument that laborers deserve their wages, setting up his point that he, too, is a laborer deserving of that right.
Paul is defending his apostolic authority and his right to receive financial support from the churches he serves. He's addressing the Corinthians' doubts and criticisms about his ministry, highlighting that his right to be supported is no different from that of other apostles, like Barnabas. This verse directly follows his argument that laborers deserve their wages, setting up his point that he, too, is a laborer deserving of that right.
"Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working for a living?" — Paul's question isn't just about his and Barnabas's right to not work, but also about the inherent right all laborers have to be supported by their work. He's subtly highlighting that the expecta…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026