1 CORINTHIANS 9:11 — KING JAMES VERSION 0
“If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?”
If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap material benefits from you? — The transition from scripture to his own apostolic work: Paul has sown spiritually (ta pneumatika espeiramen); the Corinthians are harvest. The rhetorical question presumes that material support (sarká) is the minimal return for spiritual labor. The asymmetry—giving spirit, receiving material—is no violation but simple reciprocity.
Church Fathers on 1 Corinthians 9:11
“If we sowed unto you spiritual things, is it a great matter if we shall reap your carnal things?” Lo, he adds also a fourth argument for the duty of yielding support. For since he had said, “What soldier ever serves at his own charges?” and, “who plants a vineyard?” and, “who feeds a flock?” and introduced the ox that treads the grain; he points out likewise another most reasonable cause on account of which they might justly receive; viz. having bestowed much greater gifts,…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS
Publish a reflection on this verse
No reflections on this verse yet. Be the first to write one!