1st Corinthians Chapter 9 verse 11 Holy Bible
If we sowed unto you spiritual things, is it a great matter if we shall reap your carnal things?
read chapter 9 in ASV
If we have been planting the things of the Spirit for you, does it seem a great thing for you to give us a part in your things of this world?
read chapter 9 in BBE
If we have sown to you spiritual things, [is it a] great [thing] if *we* shall reap your carnal things?
read chapter 9 in DARBY
If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?
read chapter 9 in KJV
read chapter 9 in WBT
If we sowed to you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we reap your fleshly things?
read chapter 9 in WEB
If we to you the spiritual things did sow -- great `is it' if we your fleshly things do reap?
read chapter 9 in YLT
Pulpit Commentary
Pulpit CommentaryVerse 11. - If we. The we is in both clauses emphatic, to show that the argument applied directly to St. Paul's own case. Is it a great thing. An argument a fortiori. If ordinary labour is not undertaken gratuitously, is the spiritual labourer to be left to starve? St. Paul always recognized the rights of preachers and ministers, and stated them with emphasis (Galatians 6:6; Romans 15:27), although from higher motives he waived all personal claim to profit by the result of his arguments.
Ellicott's Commentary
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(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 sarcasm--Such 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?
