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Selected Verse: 1 Corinthians 9:6 - King James

Verse	Translation	Text
1Co 9:6	King James	Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working?

Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
Barnabas--long the associate of Paul, and, like him, in the habit of self-denyingly forbearing to claim the maintenance which is a minister's right. So Paul supported himself by tent-making (Act 18:3; Act 20:34; Th1 2:9; Th2 3:8).

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

Barnabas--long the associate of Paul, and, like him, in the habit of self-denyingly forbearing to claim the maintenance which is a minister's right. So Paul supported himself by tent-making (Act 18:3; Act 20:34; Th1 2:9; Th2 3:8).

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
Or I only and Barnabas - Paul and Barnabas had worked together as tent-makers at Corinth; Act 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 Co1 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.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]

Or I only and Barnabas - Paul and Barnabas had worked together as tent-makers at Corinth; Act 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 Co1 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.

Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886]
Barnabas The only mention of Barnabas along with Paul since the quarrel, Act 15:39. Forbear working For their own support. Ἑργάζεσθαι to work, is the regular word for manual labor. See Mat 21:28; Act 18:3. See on Jo3 1:5; and see on trade, Rev 18:17.

Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886]

Barnabas

The only mention of Barnabas along with Paul since the quarrel, Act 15:39.

Forbear working

For their own support. Ἑργάζεσθαι to work, is the regular word for manual labor. See Mat 21:28; Act 18:3. See on Jo3 1:5; and see on trade, Rev 18:17.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
To forbear working - With our hands.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]

To forbear working - With our hands.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
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.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826

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.

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