“Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?”
The full verse · 1 Corinthians 9:5 · KJV
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Asked by
Paul: the apostle who founded the church at Corinth, defending his apostleship to those who examined him (1 Corinthians 9:2-3)
Asked to
Corinthians: the church at Corinth, converted through Paul's preaching (1 Corinthians 9:1-2), among whom some examined his claim to be an apostle (1 Corinthians 9:3)
The Scene
Continuing his "answer to them that do examine me," Paul has asked whether he and Barnabas have "power to eat and to drink" (1 Corinthians 9:3-4).
Why It Was Asked
The purpose behind the questionPaul presses a second right: to marry and bring a wife along in his travels, as other apostles did. Matthew Henry explains that Paul "had a right to take a wife when he pleased, and to lead her about with him." Paul names examples the Corinthians knew well: the other apostles, the Lord's brothers, and Cephas. If they had this right, so did Paul and Barnabas. He asks so that no one can say his single life and his travels without support came from lacking a right; they came from his own choice.
The Response
What Scripture recordsThe answer is clearly yes, since other apostles already lived this way. But Paul goes on to say that he has set the right aside: "Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ" (1 Corinthians 9:12). Earlier in the letter he had said, "I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God" (1 Corinthians 7:7).
Historical Context
The world behind the words"Power" here is exousia, a right or privilege. "Sister" (adelphe) is read two ways. Barnes says the simple meaning seems to be a wife who is also a Christian sister, the sense behind the ESV's "a believing wife." Gill calls the phrase "a sister, a wife" "an Hebraism," the Jewish custom of calling a wife a sister, and says it does not refer to religion here. Cephas is Peter; Jesus told Simon, "thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone" (John 1:42). Barnes points to Matthew 8:14, which mentions Peter's wife's mother, as proof "that Peter had been married," and Gill names "the brethren of the Lord" as "James, Joses, Judas, and Simon," whom he takes to be near kinsmen of Christ; Barnes takes them as His brothers (citing Matthew 13:55).
The Bigger Picture
Where this fits in God's storyPaul's question shows that marriage and ministry belong together comfortably in God's work. Leading apostles traveled with their wives, and Paul treats this as their right, not a weakness.
At the same time, Paul's own single life was a free choice made for the gospel's sake (1 Corinthians 9:12). He does not hold up his path as the only faithful one, because "every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that" (1 Corinthians 7:7). Each believer serves God with the gift God has given.
Look Closer
Who is "a sister, a wife" in Paul's question?
Carry the question into prayer and conversation.
Father, You give each of us our own gift; how can I honor the path You have given me without measuring it against someone else's?
A prayer to carry into the day.
- Why do you think Paul pointed openly to the apostles' marriages instead of presenting his own single life as the better way?
- Tell about a married couple or a single person whose way of serving God encouraged you.
For you, a small group, a friend, or the dinner table.
Marriage and serving God are not rivals. Some of the first apostles traveled and served with their wives. If you are married, your marriage can be part of your service to God. If you are single, that too can be a gift you offer for the gospel, as Paul did.
This doesn't mean one path is holier than the other. Paul gave up his right "lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ" (1 Corinthians 9:12), and he says that whoever marries "hath not sinned" (1 Corinthians 7:28) and that "every man hath his proper gift of God" (1 Corinthians 7:7). Don't measure your calling by someone else's.
Built from the biblical text and checked against trusted commentaries and lexicons. References & Sources
Keep questioning
“Have we not power to eat and to drink?”
“Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working?”
“Am I not an apostle? Am I not free? Have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? Are not ye my work in the Lord?”
“Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? Who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? Or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?”