1 Corinthians 9:5

Or I only and Barnabas,.... Who were for a great while companions and fellow travellers; are we alone? are we exempted from those rights and privileges, common to others?

have not we power to…

Have we not power? - Have we not a right? The objection here seems to have been, that Paul and Barnabas were unmarried, or at least that they traveled without wives. The objectors urged that others…

Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife - The word εξουσιαν is to be understood here, as above in Co1 9:4, as implying authority or right; and authority, not merely derived from their office,…

Having asserted his apostolical authority, he proceeds to claim the rights belonging to his office, especially that of being maintained by it.

I. These he states, Co1 9:3-6. "My answer to those that…

Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife The ordinary interpretation of this passage is (1) that St Paul here asserts his right, if he pleased, to take with him a wife who was a member of the…