Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Corinthians 9:11
If we have sown unto you spiritual things, [is it] a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?
11. If we have sown unto you spiritual things ] St Paul’s third argument is drawn from the principles of natural gratitude. If we have conferred on you such inestimable benefits, it is surely no very burdensome return to give us our maintenance. Not, says Estius, that the one is in any sense the price paid for the other, for the two are too unequal: but that he who receives gifts so invaluable certainly lies under an obligation to him who imparts them an obligation which he may well requite by ministering to his benefactor in such trifles (see Act 6:1-4) as food and drink. Cf. Rom 15:17; Gal 6:6.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
If we have sown unto you spiritual things – If we have been the means of imparting to you the gospel, and bestowing upon you its high hopes and privileges; see the note at Rom 15:27. The figure of sowing, to denote the preaching of the gospel, is not unfrequently employed in the Scriptures; see Joh 4:37, and the parable of the sower, Mat 13:3 ff.
Is it a great thing … – See the note at Rom 15:27. Is it to be regarded as unequal, unjust, or burdensome? Is it to be supposed that we are receiving that for which we have not rendered a valuable consideration? The sense is, We impart blessings of more value than we receive. We receive a supply of our temporal needs. We impart to you, under the divine blessing, the gospel, with all its hopes and consolations. We make you acquainted with God; with the plan of salvation; with the hope of heaven. We instruct your children; we guide you in the path of comfort and peace; we raise you from the degradations of idolatry and of sin; and we open before you the hope of the resurrection of the just, and of all the bliss of heaven; and to do this, we give ourselves to toil and peril by land and by sea. And can it be made a matter of question whether all these high and exalted hopes are of as much value to dying man as the small amount which shall be needful to minister to the needs of those who are the means of imparting these blessings? Paul says this, therefore, from the reasonableness of the case. The propriety of support might be further urged:
(1) Because without it the ministry would be comparatively useless. Ministers, like physicians, lawyers, and farmers, should be allowed to attend mainly to the great business of their lives, and to their appropriate work. No physician, no farmer, no mechanic, could accomplish much, if his attention was constantly turned off from his appropriate business to engage in something else. And how can the minister of the gospel, if his time is nearly all taken up in laboring to provide for the needs of his family?
(2) The great mass of ministers spend their early days, and many of them all their property, in preparing to preach the gospel to others. And as the mechanic who has spent his early years in learning a trade, and the physician and lawyer in preparing for their profession, receive support in that calling, why should not the minister of the gospel?
(3) People in other things cheerfully pay those who labor for them. They compensate the schoolmaster, the physician, the lawyer; the merchant, the mechanic; and they do it cheerfully, because they suppose they receive a valuable consideration for their money. But is it not so with regard to ministers of the gospel? Is not a mans family as certainly benefited by the labors of a faithful clergyman and pastor, as by the skill of a physician or a lawyer, or by the service of the schoolmaster? Are not the affairs of the soul and of eternity as important to a mans family as those of time and the welfare of the body? So the music-master and the dancing master are paid, and paid cheerfully and liberally; and yet can there be any comparison between the value of their services and those of the minister of the gospel?
(4) It might be added, that society is benefited in a pecuniary way by the service of a faithful minister to a far greater extent than the amount of compensation which he receives. One drunkard, reformed under his labors, may earn and save to his family and to society as much as the whole salary of the pastor. The promotion of order, peace, sobriety, industry, education, and regularity in business, and honesty in contracting and in paying debts, saves much more to the community at large than the cost of the support of the gospel. In regard to this, any man may make the comparison at his leisure, between those places where the ministry is established, and where temperance, industry, and sober habits prevail, and those places where there is no ministry, and where gambling, idleness, and dissipation abound. It is always a matter of economy to a people, in the end, to support schoolmasters and ministers as they ought to be supported.
Reap your carnal things – Partake of those things which relate to the present life; the support of the body, that is, food and raiment.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 11. If we have sown unto you spiritual things] If we have been the means of bringing you into a state of salvation by the Divine doctrines which we have preached unto you, is it too much for us to expect a temporal support then we give ourselves up entirely to this work? Every man who preaches the Gospel has a right to his own support and that of his family while thus employed.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
By spiritual things the apostle meaneth the doctrine and sacraments of the gospel; which are called spiritual things, because they come from heaven, they affect the soul and spirit of a man, they tend to make men spiritual, they prepare the soul for heaven. By carnal things he means things which only serve our bodies, which are our carnal, fleshly part. From the inequality of these things, and the excellency of the former above the latter, the apostle argueth the reasonableness of ministers maintenance from their people, they giving them quid pro quo, a just compensation for such allowance, yea, what was of much more value; for there is a great disproportion between things spiritual and things carnal, the former much excelling the latter: so as the minister of the gospel had the odds of them, giving people things of a much greater and more excellent value, for things of a much less and inferior value.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
11. we . . . weemphatical inthe Greek. WE, thesame persons who have sown to you the infinitely more precioustreasures of the Spirit, may at least claim in return what isthe only thing you have to give, namely, the goods that nourish theflesh (“your carnal things”).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
If we have sown unto you spiritual things,…. The preachers of the Gospel are compared to sowers of seed; the seed they sow is the word of God, which is like to seed, for its smallness and despicableness in the eyes of carnal men; and yet as the seed is the choicest which is laid by for sowing, the Gospel is most choice and excellent to true believers; like seed, it has a generative virtue through divine influence; and whereas unless sown into the earth, it brings forth no fruit, so neither does the word, unless it has a place in the heart, where, as seed in the ground, its operation is secret, its increase gradual, and its fruitfulness different. The ground they sow upon is, very various; some of their hearers are like the wayside, careless, ignorant, and on whom no impression is made; others are like the stony ground, who though for a while they express some affection and liking, yet not having the root of grace in them, whenever persecution arises, forsake the hearing of it; others are like the thorny ground, which are at first very promising, and greatly reformed, but inwardly full of the cares and lusts of the world, which choke the word, and make it unfruitful; and others are like the good ground, who are made good by the grace of God, understand the word, receive it, hold it fast, and in whom it is fruitful: sowing requires skill and art, and so preaching the Gospel does, and that more than human; and is constantly in its returning season to be attended to, notwithstanding the winds and clouds, and so the ministry of the word, notwithstanding all reproaches, persecutions, and afflictions; and as the same sort of seed, without mixture, and in plenty, is to be cast into the earth, so the same pure and unmixed Gospel of Christ is to be preached, and that without keeping back any thing that is profitable: and once more, as the sower, when he has cast his seed into the earth, waits long and with patience for its springing up and increase, so do the faithful dispensers of the Gospel: and what they sow or minister is of a spiritual nature; it comes from the Spirit of God, he is the dictator of it; he by his gifts qualifies men to preach it, and by his power makes it effectual to the souls of men; and through it conveys himself to them, as a spirit of regeneration and sanctification: the matter of the Gospel is spiritual; it contains spiritual doctrines, such as justification, pardon of sin, adoption, regeneration, c. and are what concern the souls and spirits of men, and their spiritual and eternal welfare:
is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things? meaning temporal ones, what concern the flesh, the body, the outward man, and the support thereof. The argument is from the greater to the less, and much the same with that in Ro 15:27. The difference between carnal and spiritual things is very great the one has a vastly superior excellency to the other; and therefore if for carnal things men receive spiritual ones, they can be no losers thereby, but must be gainers; nor should it be thought any hardship or burden upon them, or any great and wonderful thing done by them, to support and maintain such who are so useful to their souls, and the spiritual welfare of them.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Is it a great matter? (;). The copula has to be supplied. Note two conditions of first class with , both assumed to be true. On and see on 1Cor 2:14; 1Cor 3:3. This point comes out sharply also in Ga 6:6.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
1) “If we have sown unto you spiritual things. (ei hemeis humin ta oneumatika spaeiramen) “if we sowed to you all spiritual things, ideas, and services.” And they had, 1Co 2:1-8.
2) “Is it a great thing. (mega) is it a great or marvelous thing?” or is it out of context of moral and ethical expectancy that we missionaries should
be financially assisted so that we might give ourselves to the ministry of the Word and teaching and prayer, rather than secular labors? Act 6:4-7.
3) “If we shall reap your carnal things?” (ei hemeis humon ta sarkika therisomen) “If we should reap or gather from you the fIeshly things?” Paul suggests that it is not, although he might have asserted the validity of it more harshly. The reaping of their carnal things referred to their needs of food, drink, and clothes and material needs that missionaries also have. Of such Gal 6:6 declares that the one taught in the Word is morally obligated to communicate with or contribute to him that teaches in every good thing!
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
11. If we have sown unto you spiritual things There was one cavil remaining — for it might be objected, that labors connected with this life should without doubt have food and clothing as their reward; and that plowing and thrashing yield fruit, of which those that labor in these things are partakers; but that it is otherwise with the gospel, because its fruit is spiritual; and hence the minister of the word, if he would receive fruit corresponding to his labor, ought to demand nothing that is carnal. Lest any one, therefore, should cavil in this manner, he argues from the greater to the less. “Though food and clothing are not of the same nature with a minister’s labors, what injury do you sustain, if you recompense what is inestimable with a thing that is small and contemptible? For in proportion to the superiority of the soul above the body, does the word of the Lord excel outward sustenance, (486) inasmuch as it is the food of the soul.”
(486) “ Et le vestement;” — “And clothing.”
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(11) If we have sown unto you spiritual things.The two sentences in this verse contain a striking double antithesis, the we and you being emphatic, and spiritual being opposed to carnal. The spiritual things are, of course, the things of the Spirit of God, by which their spiritual natures are sustained; the carnal things those which the teachers might expect in return, the ordinary support of their physical nature. The force of the climax will be better realised if we notice that the previous argument proved the right of a labourer to receive a remuneration the same in kind as was the quality of his labour. A plougher or a sower would have his reward in a harvest of the same kind as he had sown. That being the principle recognised in civilised life, and sanctioned by the object which the Law of God had in view, the Apostle adds, with a slight touch of sarcasmSuch being an ordinary thing in life, is it a great thing for us to have a reward as inferior to our work as carnal things are to spiritual things?
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
11. Carnal things That is, secular goods.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘If we have sowed to you spiritual things, is it a great matter if we shall reap your fleshly things?’
So the Scripture is here declaring that those who sow spiritual things should be able to reap from the ‘fleshly’ things that are possessed by those to whom they sow spiritual things, those who are blessed by the spiritual things. That should only be as expected.
Note the change to ‘we’. This probably includes his fellow-workers who were with him in Corinth as 1Co 9:12 confirms.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
1Co 9:11 . Application of 1Co 9:10 , and that in such a way as to make the readers feel , Chrysostom; an argument a majori ad minus .
] does not include Barnabas, who cannot be proved ever to have joined company again with Paul after the separation recorded in Act 15:39 , and who certainly had no share in founding the church at Corinth. The apostle means himself along with his companions of that period, when by casting forth the seed of the gospel he founded the church to which his readers belonged ( ), Act 18:5 ; 2Co 1:19 .
] An emphatic juxtaposition, the emphasis of which is further heightened by the which follows.
] spiritual things , Christian knowledge, faith, love, etc., inasmuch as these are the blessings which, proceeding from the Holy Spirit (Gal 5:22 ), become the portion of believers through the sower’s work of preaching the gospel (Mat 13:3 ff.). Contrasted with these are , the things which have nothing to do with the Holy Spirit, but belong to the lower sphere of man’s life, to his sensuous, corporeal nature, such as food, clothing, money, etc. Comp as regards the antithesis, Rom 15:27 .
] res magni momenti , Xen. Cyrop. vii. 5. 52, Anab. vii. 7. 27. It means here, from the connection: something disproportionate . Comp 2Co 11:15 .
] see the critical remarks. The subjunctive after “respectum comprehendit experientiae” (Hermann, de partic . , p. 97); see regarding this idiom on Luk 9:13 , and Hermann, a [1437] Viger. p. 831; it occurs in Homer and the lyric poets, and, although no certain instance of it can be given from the Attic prose writers, is frequent again in later Greek.
[1437] d refers to the note of the commentator or editor named on the particular passage.
Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary
11 If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?
Ver. 11. Is it a great thing, &c. ] Do not we give you gold for brass? Cast we not pearls before you? Alexander the Great gave Aristotle for his book de Natura Animalium, 800 talents, which is 800,000 crowns at least. Theodorus Gaza translated that book into Latin, and dedicated it to Pope Sixtus. The Pope asked him how much the rich outside of the book stood him in; Gaza answered, forty crowns. Those forty crowns he commanded to be repaid him, and so sent him away without any reward for so precious a piece of work. Interrogavit asinus papa quanti ornatus constaret? (John Manl. loc. com.) How well might the poor old Grecian sit and sing,
” Heu male nune artes miseras haec saecula tractant,
Spes nulla ulterior.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
11 .] The (both times strongly emphatic : we need sorely some means of marking in our English Bibles, for ordinary readers, which words have the emphasis ) is categoric, but in fact applies to Paul alone. The secondary emphasis is on . It is one of those elaborately antithetical sentences which the great Apostle wields so powerfully in argument. The , being identical, stand out in so much the stronger relief against the triple antithesis, , , , and , , .
If we read the subjunctive, for the usage after , see Winer, edn. 6, 41. b. 2, end; ch. 1Co 14:5 ; 1Th 5:10 ; Khner, 818 A. 1. The usage is common in Homer, Od. . 204, al. fr., doubtful in Her od. 2:13; 8:49, 118 , and hardly ever found in Attic writers. See Soph. d. Tyr. 198, , and d. Col. 1442, .
. and . (see Rom 15:27 ) need no explanation. The first are so called as belonging to the spirit of man (De W. and Meyer, as coming from the Spirit of God ; but it is better to keep the antithesis exact and perspicuous), the second as serving for the nourishment of the flesh.
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
1Co 9:11-12 a appeal to the sense of justice in the Cor [1311] ; (Thp [1312] ): cf. Gal 6:6 . ; “Is it a great thing if ?” = “Is it a great thing to ask ( or look for) that ?” cf. 2Co 11:15 ; the construction is akin to that of (see Gm [1313] , s.v . , i., 4) a kind of litotes, suggesting where one might have vigorously asserted. The repeated collocation , , brings out the personal nature of this claim: “ We sowed for you the things of the Spirit; should not we reap from you the (needed) carnal things?” ( cf 1Co 2:12 , 1Co 12:1-13 , Rom 8:2 ; Rom 8:5 f., Gal 5:22 , etc.) include all the distinctive boons of the Christian faith; “the carnal things” embrace, besides food and drink (1Co 9:4 ), all suitable bodily “goods” (Gal 6:6 ). The question of 1Co 9:12 a assumes that other Christian teachers received maintenance from the Cor [1314] Church; the claim of Paul and his fellow-missioners was paramount ( cf. 1Co 4:15 ; also 2Co 10:12-18 ; 2Co 11:12 ff., 2Co 11:20 , where this comparison comes up in a new form). is surely gen [1315] of object , as in Mat 10:1 (= , Luk 9:1 ), Joh 17:2 , “the claim upon you”. Ev [1316] and Ed [1317] read the pron [1318] as subjective gen [1319] the latter basing the phrase on 1Co 3:22 f. sc . “if others share in your domain ,” instead of “in dominion over you ”; this rendering is sound in grammar, and has a basis in 1Co 4:7-12 , but lies outside the scope of in this context. The expression “others participate” suggests a right belonging to these “others” in a lesser degree ( cf. in 10): the should be first honoured, then the (1Co 4:15 ).
[1311] Corinth, Corinthian or Corinthians.
[1312] Theophylact, Greek Commentator.
[1313] Grimm-Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the N.T.
[1314]
[1315] genitive case.
[1316] T. S. Evans in Speaker’s Commentary .
[1317] T. C. Edwards’ Commentary on the First Ep. to the Corinthians . 2
[1318] ron. pronoun.
[1319] genitive case.
1Co 9:12 b . “But we did not use this right” i.e. , P. and his comrades in the Cor [1320] mission (2Co 1:19 ). : “Nay, we put up with everything ( omnia sustinemus , Vg [1321] ), lest we should cause any (kind of) hindrance to the good news about Christ”. (see parls.), syn [1322] in later Gr [1323] with , , “marks the patient and enduring spirit with which the Ap. puts up with all the consequences naturally resulting from” his policy of abstinence (El.). What this involved we have partly seen in 1Co 4:2 ff.; cf. 2Co 11:27 , Act 20:34 . The he sought to obviate (military term of later Gr [1324] , from , to cut into, break up , a road, so to hinder a march) lay ( a ) in the reproach of venality, as old as Socrates and the Sophists, attaching to the acceptance of remuneration by a wandering teacher, which his enemies desired to fasten on Paul (1Th 2:3 ff., 2Co 11:7 ff; 2Co 12:13 ff.); and ( b ) in the fact that P. would have shackled his movements by taking wages from particular Churches (1Co 9:19 ), so giving them a lien upon his ministrations. For the Hebraistic phrase (= ), cf. 1Co 14:7 , 2Th 1:8 . is always obj . gen [1325] after ; see Rom 1:2 f., also . , 1Co 1:6 above.
[1320] Corinth, Corinthian or Corinthians.
[1321] Latin Vulgate Translation.
[1322] synonym, synonymous.
[1323] Greek, or Grotius’ Annotationes in N.T.
[1324] [1325]
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
spiritual things = the spiritual (things). Greek. pneumatikos. See 1Co 12:1.
carnal. Greek. sarkikos. See Rom 7:14.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
11.] The (both times strongly emphatic:-we need sorely some means of marking in our English Bibles, for ordinary readers, which words have the emphasis) is categoric, but in fact applies to Paul alone. The secondary emphasis is on . It is one of those elaborately antithetical sentences which the great Apostle wields so powerfully in argument. The -, being identical, stand out in so much the stronger relief against the triple antithesis, , , ,-and , , .
If we read the subjunctive, for the usage after , see Winer, edn. 6, 41. b. 2, end; ch. 1Co 14:5; 1Th 5:10; Khner, 818 A. 1. The usage is common in Homer, Od. . 204, al. fr.,-doubtful in Herod. 2:13; 8:49, 118,-and hardly ever found in Attic writers. See Soph. d. Tyr. 198, , and d. Col. 1442, .
. and . (see Rom 15:27) need no explanation. The first are so called as belonging to the spirit of man (De W. and Meyer, as coming from the Spirit of God; but it is better to keep the antithesis exact and perspicuous), the second as serving for the nourishment of the flesh.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
1Co 9:11. , unto you) he does not say yours, as afterwards.-, a great thing) Comp. 2Co 11:15; 2Co 11:14, where it is explained as the same as a marvel.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
1Co 9:11
1Co 9:11
If we sowed unto you spiritual things, is it a great matter if we shall reap your carnal things?-If Paul and Barnabas had preached to them, fed their souls with spiritual food, it was not unreasonable that they should minister to their fleshly necessities.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
carnel
i.e. things for the body.
Fuente: Scofield Reference Bible Notes
sown: Mal 3:8, Mal 3:9, Mat 10:10, Rom 15:27, Gal 6:6
a great: 2Ki 5:13, 2Co 11:15
Reciprocal: Lev 23:20 – holy to Deu 26:11 – the Levite 2Ki 4:42 – bread 2Ki 5:26 – Is it a time 1Co 2:13 – spiritual things 2Co 6:4 – in all Phi 4:14 – ye did
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1Co 9:11. Paul is still discussing his right to financial support, not that he is asking for it. Carnal things is another term for the temporal necessities of life. The Corinthians had received spiritual things (the Gospel) from Paul, and it was right if they were asked to contribute to his necessities were he to ask for it.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
A third argument for the ministers’ maintenance is here taken from common justice: they sow spiritual things. That is, they dispense the word and sacraments, and endeavour to make men spiritual and holy here, and happy hereafter; and therefore they ought to reap some of their people’s carnal things, things for the support of their lives, and subsistence for themselves and their families: so that the ministers of God are not indebted both to God and them; they give their people things of a much greater value, and more excellent use, for things of a much lesser value, and more inferior use; for their carnal things they give them spiritual things.
Fuente: Expository Notes with Practical Observations on the New Testament
Physical Rewards for Spiritual Service
Spiritual blessings are beyond value, so paying the laborer who brought such was a good exchange. Other cases of spiritual debt being repaid with material goods could have been listed by the apostle ( Rom 15:25-31 ; Php 4:15-17 ; Act 11:27-30 ). Paul reminded the Corinthians that they had supported others. Certainly he and Barnabas deserved the same. Paul had not asked for wages so he could not be accused of seeking personal gain ( 1Co 9:11-12 ).
As the apostle went on to note, those working in the temple sacrificing ate of those sacrifices ( Num 18:8-13 ; Deu 18:1 ). Also, the Lord established a principle that would require pay for spiritual labor ( Mat 10:10 ; Luk 10:7 ). Paul did not exercise his right to receive pay. Neither did he write to start doing so. Paul would rather have died than receive earthly reward since he received great spiritual joy from sacrifice for the gospel’s sake. By not receiving pay, he was able to reach many more people with the gospel, which gave him joy ( 1Co 9:13-15 ).
Fuente: Gary Hampton Commentary on Selected Books
1Co 9:11-12. If we have sown unto you spiritual things By our incessant diligence in preaching to you the gospel of the blessed God; is it a great thing More than we have a right to expect; if we shall reap your carnal things Namely, as much as is needful for our sustenance? Do you give us things of greater value than those you receive from us? If others Whether true or false apostles or ministers; be partakers of this power over you Have a right to be maintained by you; are not we rather Entitled to it, having first preached the gospel among you, and brought you to the knowledge of the truth, and having laboured much more among you? Nevertheless we have not used this power Though founded in such evident and various principles of equity; but suffer all things Every kind of hardship, particularly the fatigues of labour, and the want of needful or convenient support, 1Co 4:11-12; lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ By giving an occasion of cavil or reproach to those who are watchful for opportunities to misrepresent and censure our conduct. By preaching the gospel free of expense, the apostle rendered it the more acceptable to the Gentiles, and drew them the more readily to hear him. There was another reason also for his demanding no reward for preaching, namely, that in future ages mankind might be sensible that in preaching the gospel, he was not animated by any worldly motive, but merely by a full persuasion of its truth. Foreseeing, therefore, that his disinterestedness would, in all ages, be a strong proof of the truth of the gospel, the apostle gloried in preaching it to all men, without fee or reward. Macknight.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Vv. 11. If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we should reap your carnal things? When the vine-dresser and the shepherd partake of the fruit of their labour, when the ox eats the corn while treading it out, the part thus allowed to the worker is taken from the very produce of his labour, and consequently his part is of the same nature as that produce. It is not so with the wages of the preacher. What he receives is greatly inferior in value to what he has given. It follows that his right to be supported is still more indisputable than would appear if we held to the preceding examples.
The plural: we have sown, can refer only to the three founders of the Church of Corinth, Paul, Silas, and Timothy (2Co 1:19).
The dative , for you, is the dative of favour; they are the soil which has benefited by the seed scattered with so much labour. To this dative corresponds the genitive , of you, on your part, which indicates the origin of the wages. It seems to us that we must read with the Alex. the subjunctive , rather than the indicative . The Greco-Lats. have substituted the latter for the former because of the , if, which did not seem to be in keeping with the subjunctive mood. But it is precisely the opposite which is true, for the harvest in question exists only in thought, according to Paul, and he does not in the least ask that it should be realized.
To this first fortiori the apostle adds a second.
Fuente: Godet Commentary (Luke, John, Romans and 1 Corinthians)
If we sowed unto you spiritual things, is it a great matter if we shall reap your carnal things? [What was earthly support in comparison with the riches of the gospel? If Paul had demanded his full carnal recompense, it would have been a meager compensation for blessings and benefits which can never be weighed in dollars and cents. Fourth argument: The concessions which you have made in supporting others having inferior claims debar you from thus denying apostolic claims.]
Fuente: McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries (New Testament)
11. If we have shown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things? This is clear on temporal support.
Fuente: William Godbey’s Commentary on the New Testament
Verse 11
Reap your carnal things; receive from you the necessary supplies for our temporal wants.
Fuente: Abbott’s Illustrated New Testament
1Co 9:11-12 a. Two more arguments in support of Paul’s claim to maintenance.
We: Paul and others such as Timothy and Silvanus, (2Co 1:1; Act 18:5,) his fellow-workers at Corinth.
Spiritual, fleshly: same thought in Rom 15:27.
A great thing: 2Co 11:15. The word preached by Paul at Corinth was a seed (Luk 8:11) from which his hearers had reaped a spiritual harvest. Was it then a great recompense if he received from them things needful for the body, which were a far less valuable product of their bodily labor?
Sow, reap: keeping up the metaphor of 1Co 9:10, and specially appropriate for results corresponding to the organic laws of bodily and spiritual life. Cp. 2Co 9:6; Gal 5:22; Gal 6:7 ff.
If others etc.: another argument, similar to, but more pointed than, 1Co 9:6. Others are already exercising the right (or, authority) over you, the right to maintenance, 1Co 9:4; 1Co 9:6,) which I claim. This question reminds us irresistibly of the hostile and false teachers of 2Co 11:12; with which passage it is an important coincidence. But, to whomever Paul refers, his claim was infinitely superior to theirs.
1Co 9:12 b. A forerunner of 16: cp. 1Co 9:15; 1Co 9:18. Paul has proved his apostleship, and therefore his right to the maintenance enjoyed by other apostles for themselves and their wives. This claim he has supported by an appeal to the common practice of men, to a remarkable passage in the Mosaic Law, to the greater value of the spiritual good his readers have received as compared with any material gifts from them to him, and to the fact that they concede to others what he claims for himself. All this is but a background designed to throw into bold relief his own refusal to use his claim. This refusal he now begins to expound.
This right: as in 1Co 9:12 a.
All things: cp. 2Co 11:7 ff; 2Th 3:9; Act 20:34. These words raise the case in point into a universal principle with Paul. He makes it his constant practice to submit to every kind of hardship rather than in any way hinder the Gospel. The progress (2Th 3:1) of the Gospel depends very much upon the impression made upon the hearers by the character of the preacher. Now, if Paul had been maintained by his converts, he might have seemed to be merely making a living by his teaching as others did. Whereas his refusal to be paid for teaching claimed attention for the gospel as something new and disinterested. Cp. 2Co 11:7-12. Therefore, had Paul used his right to maintenance, the Word he preached would have lost this moral advantage and would so far have been hindered.
We: cp. 1Co 9:6. He does not wish us to think that he is alone in this forbearance.
The Gospel of Christ: full emphatic title. He is careful not to hinder the spread of the good news about the long-expected Anointed One. This verse warns us that the life-giving Gospel may be hindered, even by an Apostle, claiming his rights. Therefore, our right to anything is in itself no sufficient reason for claiming it. We are bound by our loyalty to Christ to consider whether we shall most advance His kingdom by claiming or waiving our right.
Fuente: Beet’s Commentary on Selected Books of the New Testament
9:11 {7} If we have sown unto you spiritual things, [is it] a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?
(7) An assumption of the arguments with an amplification, for neither in so doing do we require a reward appropriate for our work.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
Third, the basic principle of community reciprocity supports Paul’s point. Spiritual things are intrinsically more important than physical things. The former will last forever whereas the latter are only temporary. How much more then should those who benefit from spiritual ministry support physically those who minister to them (cf. Gal 6:6). "Is it too much" reveals that Paul was contending with the Corinthians, not just exhorting them.