Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

1 Corinthians 9:12

εἰ ἄλλοι … μετέχουσιν. Fourth argument. You have admitted the cogency of these arguments in the case of those who have less claim upon you than we have, to whom (ch. 1 Corinthians 4:15) you owe your Christian life itself.

τῆς ὑμῶν ἐξουσίας. Genitive of relation; this right in regard to (or power over) you. Cf. ch. 1 Corinthians 7:4.

ἀλλ' οὐκ ἐχρησάμεθα τῇ ἐξουσίᾳ ταύτῃ. But we did not use this right. See note on ἐσπείραμεν. St Paul is now about to enter upon the argument from which he was diverted by the thought which flashed across his mind in 1 Corinthians 9:1. But another argument occurs to him, which he states in the next verse.

στέγομεν. This word is connected with the Latin tego, and signifies to keep in or out by means of a covering. Cf. νῆες οὐδὲν στέγουσαι Thuc. II. 94, of leaky ships. Hence it comes to signify to endure. Cf. ch. 1 Corinthians 13:7; 1 Thessalonians 3:5.

ἐγκοπὴν δῶμεν. The expression ‘give a hindrance’ is peculiar. It is probably a Hebraism, the Hebrew use of the word signifying to give being wider than that of the equivalent word in Greek.

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Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

1 Corinthians 9:12

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