John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 4. Have we not power to eat and to drink ?] Having proved his apostleship, he proceeds to establish his right to a maintenance as a Gospel minister; which he expresses by various phrases, and confirms by divers arguments: by a “power to eat and drink”, he does not mean the common power and right of mankind to perform such actions, which everyone has, provided he acts temperately, and to the glory of God; nor a liberty of eating and drinking things indifferent, or which were prohibited under the ceremonial law; but a comfortable livelihood at the public charge, or at the expense of the persons to whom he ministered; and he seems to have in view the words of Christ, ( Luke 10:7,8).
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-14 - It is not new for a minister to meet with unkind returns for good-wil to a people, and diligent and successful services among them. To the cavils of some, the apostle answers, so as to set forth himself as a example of self-denial, for the good of others. He had a right to marr as well as other apostles, and to claim what was needful for his wife and his children if he had any, from the churches, without labourin with his own hands to get it. Those who seek to do our souls good should have food provided for them. But he renounced his right, rathe than hinder his success by claiming it. It is the people's duty to maintain their minister. He may wave his right, as Paul did; but thos transgress a precept of Christ, who deny or withhold due support.
Greek Textus Receptus
μη 3361 PRT-N ουκ 3756 PRT-N εχομεν 2192 5719 V-PAI-1P εξουσιαν 1849 N-ASF φαγειν 5315 5629 V-2AAN και 2532 CONJ πιειν 4095 5629 V-2AAN
Vincent's NT Word Studies
4. Eat - drink. At the expense of the churches. Compare Luke x. 7.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
9:4 {Have we no right?} (me ouk ecomen exousian;). Literary plural here though singular in #1-3. The me in this double negative expects the answer "No" while ouk goes with the verb ecomen. "Do we fail to have the right?" Cf. #Ro 10:18f. (Robertson, _Grammar_, p. 1173).
