1 Corinthians 9:4 cpdv — Do we not have the authority to eat and to drink?

Catholic Public Domain Version

"Do we not have the authority to eat and to drink? "

— 1 Corinthians 9:4, Catholic Public Domain Version

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1 Corinthians 9:4 in Other Translations

7 versions All translations

1 Corinthians 9 — Context

1

Am I not free? Am I not an Apostle? Have I not seen Christ Jesus our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord?

2

And if I am not an Apostle to others, yet still I am to you. For you are the seal of my Apostleship in the Lord.

3

My defense with those who question me is this:

4

Do we not have the authority to eat and to drink?

5

Do we not have the authority to travel around with a woman who is a sister, just as do the other Apostles, and the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas?

6

Or is it only myself and Barnabas who do not have the authority to act in this way?

7

Who has ever served as a soldier and paid his own stipend? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat from its produce? Who pastures a flock and does not drink from the milk of the flock?

1 Corinthians 9:4 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does 1 Corinthians 9:4 say?
1 Corinthians 9:4 in the Catholic Public Domain Version reads: “Do we not have the authority to eat and to drink? ”
Where is 1 Corinthians 9:4 in the Bible?
1 Corinthians 9:4 is found in the New Testament, in the book of 1 Corinthians, chapter 9, verse 4.
Who wrote 1 Corinthians?
1 Corinthians is traditionally attributed to Paul the Apostle. It was written c. AD 55.
What is the book of 1 Corinthians about?
Paul writes to a gifted but fractured church wrestling with divisions, sexual sin, lawsuits, marriage questions, food offered to idols, and disorder in worship. Through every issue he points back to the cross, the Spirit, and the resurrection — and gives us the church's greatest chapter on love.
What are the major themes of 1 Corinthians?
1 Corinthians explores themes including Unity, Cross, Spiritual Gifts, Love, Resurrection. These themes shape the meaning and context of 1 Corinthians 9:4.
What translation should I read 1 Corinthians 9:4 in?
1 Corinthians 9:4 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize 1 Corinthians 9:4?
1 Corinthians 9:4 reads (CPDV): “Do we not have the authority to eat and to drink? ” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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