1 Corinthians 9:4 Meaning and Explanation
“Have we not power to eat and to drink?”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Paul asserts that he and his fellow workers have every right to be supported in the basic needs of food and drink while doing the Lord's work.
What Does 1 Corinthians 9:4 Mean?
Paul begins listing the rights, or authority, that belong to an apostle, starting with the simplest: the right to receive food and drink from those he serves. The word translated power means rightful authority or entitlement. He is not complaining of hunger but establishing a principle.
The question expects a yes. Those who labor in the gospel deserve to have their daily needs met by the community they serve. Paul raises this not to demand it for himself, but to set up the larger point he will make about willingly surrendering such rights. The kingdom honors its laborers, even as its laborers may choose, for love's sake, to ask for nothing. Both the right and its surrender flow from the same gospel.
1 Corinthians 9:4 in the Original Language
exousia (ἐξουσία), 'power' -- authority or rightful entitlement to do something.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Corinthians 9:4
What does 1 Corinthians 9:4 mean?
Paul asserts that he and his fellow workers have every right to be supported in the basic needs of food and drink while doing the Lord's work.