1 Corinthians 9:5
New International Version
Don’t we have the right to take a believing wife along with us, as do the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas?

New Living Translation
Don’t we have the right to bring a believing wife with us as the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers do, and as Peter does?

English Standard Version
Do we not have the right to take along a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas?

Berean Standard Bible
Have we no right to take along a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas?

Berean Literal Bible
Have we no authority to take about a believer as a wife, as also the other apostles, and the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas?

King James Bible
Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?

New King James Version
Do we have no right to take along a believing wife, as do also the other apostles, the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas?

New American Standard Bible
Do we not have a right to take along a believing wife, even as the rest of the apostles and the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas?

NASB 1995
Do we not have a right to take along a believing wife, even as the rest of the apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas?

NASB 1977
Do we not have a right to take along a believing wife, even as the rest of the apostles, and the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas?

Legacy Standard Bible
Do we not have authority to take along a believing wife, even as the rest of the apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas?

Amplified Bible
Have we not the right to take along with us a believing wife, as do the rest of the apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas (Peter)?

Christian Standard Bible
Don’t we have the right to be accompanied by a believing wife like the other apostles, the Lord’s brothers, and Cephas?

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Don’t we have the right to be accompanied by a Christian wife like the other apostles, the Lord’s brothers, and Cephas?

American Standard Version
Have we no right to lead about a wife that is a believer, even as the rest of the apostles, and the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?

Contemporary English Version
We each have the right to marry one of the Lord's followers and to take her along with us, just as the other apostles and the Lord's brothers and Peter do.

English Revised Version
Have we no right to lead about a wife that is a believer, even as the rest of the apostles, and the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Don't we have the right to take our wives along with us like the other apostles, the Lord's brothers, and Cephas do?

Good News Translation
Don't I have the right to follow the example of the other apostles and the Lord's brothers and Peter, by taking a Christian wife with me on my trips?

International Standard Version
We have the right to take a believing wife with us like the other apostles, the Lord's brothers, and Cephas, don't we?

Majority Standard Bible
Have we no right to take along a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the Lord?s brothers and Cephas?

NET Bible
Do we not have the right to the company of a believing wife, like the other apostles and the Lord's brothers and Cephas?

New Heart English Bible
Have we no right to take along a wife who is a believer, even as the rest of the apostles, and the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas?

Webster's Bible Translation
Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?

Weymouth New Testament
Have we not a right to take with us on our journeys a Christian sister as our wife, as the rest of the Apostles do--and the Lord's brothers and Peter?

World English Bible
Have we no right to take along a wife who is a believer, even as the rest of the apostles, and the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas?
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Do we not have authority to lead about a sister—a wife—as also the other apostles, and the brothers of the LORD, and Cephas?

Berean Literal Bible
Have we no authority to take about a believer as a wife, as also the other apostles, and the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas?

Young's Literal Translation
have we not authority a sister -- a wife -- to lead about, as also the other apostles, and the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?

Smith's Literal Translation
Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife; as also the rest of the sent, and the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Have we not power to carry about a woman, a sister, as well as the rest of the apostles, and the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?

Catholic Public Domain Version
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?

New American Bible
Do we not have the right to take along a Christian wife, as do the rest of the apostles, and the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas?

New Revised Standard Version
Do we not have the right to be accompanied by a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas?
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And have we not the right to travel with a Christian wife, just as the rest of the apostles, and as the brothers of our LORD, and as Cephas?

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And why is it illegal for us to travel with a sister-wife as other Apostles and as the brothers of our Lord and as Kaypha?
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
Have we not the right to lead about a sister wife, as the other apostles, and the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas?

Godbey New Testament
Have we not a right to lead about a sister as a wife, as the other apostles also, and the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas?

Haweis New Testament
Have we not power to carry about with us a sister wife, as do also the other apostles, even the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?

Mace New Testament
have not we the liberty to take a christian woman with us in our travels, as well as the rest of the apostles, as the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas did?

Weymouth New Testament
Have we not a right to take with us on our journeys a Christian sister as our wife, as the rest of the Apostles do--and the Lord's brothers and Peter?

Worrell New Testament
Have we no right to lead about a sister as our wife, even as the rest of the apostles, and the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas?

Worsley New Testament
we not power to lead about with us a sister a wife as well as other apostles, and the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Rights of an Apostle
4Have we no right to food and to drink? 5Have we no right to take along a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas? 6Or are Barnabas and I the only apostles who must work for a living?…

Cross References
Matthew 8:14
When Jesus arrived at Peter’s house, He saw Peter’s mother-in-law sick in bed with a fever.

Mark 1:30
Simon’s mother-in-law was sick in bed with a fever, and they promptly told Jesus about her.

Luke 4:38
After Jesus had left the synagogue, He went to the home of Simon, whose mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever. So they appealed to Jesus on her behalf,

Matthew 19:29
And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for the sake of My name will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life.

Mark 10:29-30
“Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for My sake and for the gospel / will fail to receive a hundredfold in the present age—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and fields, along with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life.

Luke 18:29-30
“Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God / will fail to receive many times more in this age—and in the age to come, eternal life.”

Acts 1:14
With one accord they all continued in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.

Acts 18:3
and he stayed and worked with them because they were tentmakers by trade, just as he was.

1 Corinthians 7:7-9
I wish that all men were as I am. But each man has his own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that. / Now to the unmarried and widows I say this: It is good for them to remain unmarried, as I am. / But if they cannot control themselves, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

1 Corinthians 7:32-35
I want you to be free from concern. The unmarried man is concerned about the work of the Lord, how he can please the Lord. / But the married man is concerned about the affairs of this world, how he can please his wife, / and his interests are divided. The unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the work of the Lord, how she can be holy in both body and spirit. But the married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world, how she can please her husband. ...

1 Timothy 3:2
An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,

1 Timothy 3:12
A deacon must be the husband of but one wife, a good manager of his children and of his own household.

Titus 1:6
An elder must be blameless, the husband of but one wife, having children who are believers and who are not open to accusation of indiscretion or insubordination.

Hebrews 13:4
Marriage should be honored by all and the marriage bed kept undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers.

Genesis 2:18
The LORD God also said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make for him a suitable helper.”


Treasury of Scripture

Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas?

to lead.

1 Timothy 3:2
A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

1 Timothy 4:3
Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.

Titus 1:6
If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.

a sister.

1 Corinthians 7:15,39
But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace…

Song of Solomon 4:9,10,12
Thou hast ravished my heart, my sister, my spouse; thou hast ravished my heart with one of thine eyes, with one chain of thy neck…

Song of Solomon 5:1,2
I am come into my garden, my sister, my spouse: I have gathered my myrrh with my spice; I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey; I have drunk my wine with my milk: eat, O friends; drink, yea, drink abundantly, O beloved…

wife.

Matthew 12:46-50
While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him…

Matthew 13:55
Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?

Mark 6:3
Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.

Cephas.

1 Corinthians 1:12
Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.

Matthew 8:14
And when Jesus was come into Peter's house, he saw his wife's mother laid, and sick of a fever.

Mark 1:30
But Simon's wife's mother lay sick of a fever, and anon they tell him of her.

Jump to Previous
Accompanied Apostles Authority Believer Believing Cephas Christian Journeys Lead Peter Power Rest Right Round Sister Wife
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Accompanied Apostles Authority Believer Believing Cephas Christian Journeys Lead Peter Power Rest Right Round Sister Wife
1 Corinthians 9
1. He shows his liberty;
7. and that the minister ought to receive a living by the Gospel;
15. yet that himself has of his own accord abstained,
18. to be neither chargeable unto them,
22. nor offensive unto any, in matters indifferent.
24. Our life is like unto a race.














Do we not have the right
The phrase "Do we not have the right" underscores the apostle Paul's assertion of his apostolic authority and the entitlements that come with it. The Greek word for "right" here is "exousia," which conveys a sense of authority, privilege, or freedom. Paul is emphasizing that, as an apostle, he possesses certain liberties, including the right to marry and be accompanied by a wife in his ministry. This reflects the broader biblical principle that those who labor for the gospel have the right to receive support and live according to their needs and desires, as long as they align with God's will.

to take along a believing wife
The phrase "to take along a believing wife" highlights the importance of shared faith in marriage, especially in ministry contexts. The Greek term for "believing" is "pistos," meaning faithful or trustworthy, indicating that the wife is a fellow believer in Christ. This underscores the biblical ideal of being "equally yoked" in marriage, as seen in 2 Corinthians 6:14. The presence of a believing wife would provide companionship, support, and partnership in ministry, reflecting the complementary roles within a Christian marriage.

as do the other apostles
Here, Paul references "the other apostles" to illustrate that his request is not extraordinary but rather a common practice among the apostles. This historical context suggests that many of the apostles were married and traveled with their wives, who likely played supportive roles in their ministries. It also implies a sense of community and shared experience among the early church leaders, reinforcing the legitimacy of Paul's claim to similar rights.

and the Lord’s brothers
The mention of "the Lord’s brothers" refers to Jesus' siblings, who, according to the Gospels, became prominent figures in the early church. This phrase indicates that they, too, were married and traveled with their wives. Historically, this points to the familial and relational dynamics within the early Christian community, where family members often participated in ministry together. It also highlights the transformation of Jesus' brothers from skeptics to leaders in the church, as seen in Acts 1:14 and Galatians 1:19.

and Cephas
"Cephas" is the Aramaic name for Peter, one of Jesus' closest disciples and a leading figure in the early church. By including Cephas, Paul emphasizes that even Peter, who is often seen as the foremost apostle, exercised this right. This reference serves to strengthen Paul's argument by aligning his practice with that of a highly respected apostolic leader. It also reflects the unity and consistency among the apostles regarding their personal lives and ministry practices.

(5) To lead about a sister, a wife--i.e., to take with us on our journeys a Christian woman as a wife. Roman divines have interpreted this as referring to "the custom of Christian matrons attending as sisters upon the Apostles." But as the Apostle illustrates his meaning by a reference to Peter, who we know had a wife, such an interpretation is inadmissible. St. Paul, in this verse, carries his statement of apostolic right to support one step further. Not only had he a right to be supported himself, but the support of the married Apostles and their wives by the Church implied the same right on the part of all. A practice which grew out of a misapprehension of the real meaning of this passage, led to grave scandal, and was finally condemned by the first Council of Nicaea (A.D. 325).

The brethren of the Lord, and Cephas.--These are mentioned specially, not as distinct from the Apostles (for Cephas, of course, was one), but as examples which would have great weight with the particular Jewish faction to whom this argument was adduced. James was Bishop of Jerusalem (Acts 15:13; Acts 21:18). The other brethren of our Lord were Joses, Simon, and Judas (Matthew 13:55). They were not of the twelve Apostles, even after their conversion being mentioned as distinct from the Twelve (Acts 1:14), although James subsequently occupied an apostolic position (Galatians 2:9). Various and ingenious suggestions have been made as to who these "brethren of the Lord" were; amongst others, that they were cousins, or that they were children of Joseph by a former marriage. These views grew out of a desire to establish the perpetual virginity of Mary. The natural conclusion from a study of the mention of their names in the Gospels, without preconceived prejudice, would be that Joseph and Mary lived together after the miraculous birth of Christ, and that these were their children. This, too, is supported by the use of the word "first-born" in reference to our Lord (Matthew 1:25; Luke 2:7), and the word "till" (Matthew 1:25), and "before they came together" (Matthew 1:18), and the repeated mention of them as brethren in connection with His mother Mary. (See Note on Matthew 12:46.) . . .

Verse 5. - To lead about a sister, a wife. There can be no doubt that this represents the true reading, and that the meaning is, "We have power to lead about, that is, to travel in company with, some Christian sister to whom we are married, and who is supported at the expense of the Church." This plain meaning, however, involving the assertion that the apostles and desposyni ("the Lord's brethren") were married men, was so distasteful to the morbid asceticism which held celibacy in a sort of Manichaean reverence, that the scribes of the fourth, fifth, and later centuries freely tampered with the text, in the happily fruitless attempt to get rid of this meaning. They endeavoured, by putting the word in the plural or by omitting "wife," to suggest that the women whom the apostles travelled with were "deaconesses." Augustine, Tertullian, Ambrose, and others explain the verse of "ministering women" (Luke 8:2, 3). The false interpretation avenged itself on the bias which led to it. Valla adopts the wilful invention that the apostles, though married, travelled with their wives only as sisters. Such subterfuges have eaten away the heart of honest exegesis from many passages of Scripture, and originated the taunt that it is a "nose of wax," which readers can twist as they like. It was the cause of such shameful abuses and misrepresentations that at last the practice of travelling about with unmarried women, who went under the name of "sisters," "beloved," "companions," was distinctly forbidden by the third canon of the first Council of Nice. Simon Magus might unblushingly carry about with him a Tyrian woman named Helena; but apostles and true Christians would never have been guilty of any conduct which could give a handle to base suspicions. They travelled only with their wives. A sister. A Christian woman (1 Corinthians 7:15; Romans 16:1; James 2:15, etc.). A wife; i.e. as a wife. Other apostles. This is a positive mistranslation for "the rest of the apostles." It might be too much to infer positively from this that every one of the apostles and desposyni were married; but there is independent evidence and tradition to show that at any rate most of them were. The brethren of the Lord. They are clearly and undeniably distinguished from the apostles. According to the Helvidian theory (to which the plain language of the Gospels seems to point), they were sons of Joseph and Mary. This is the view of St. Clement of Alexandria in ancient times, and writers so different from each other as De Wette, Neander, Osiander, Meyer, Ewald, and Alford, in modern. The theory of Jerome, that they were cousins of Jesus, being sons of Alphseus and Mary, a sister of the Virgin, is on every ground absolutely untenable, and it was half dropped even by St. Jerome himself, when it had served his controversial purpose. The theory of Epiphanius, that they were sons of Joseph by a previous marriage, is possible, but incapable of proof. It comes from a tainted source - the apocryphal Gospels (see my 'Early Days of Christianity,' 2). Cephas. St. Paul also uses the Aramaic name in Galatians 2:9. Peter's wife is mentioned in Matthew 8:14 and in the tradition of her martyrdom (Clem. Alex., 'Strom.,' 7. § 63).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
Have we
ἔχομεν (echomen)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural
Strong's 2192: To have, hold, possess. Including an alternate form scheo skheh'-o; a primary verb; to hold.

no
μὴ (mē)
Adverb
Strong's 3361: Not, lest. A primary particle of qualified negation; not, lest; also (whereas ou expects an affirmative one) whether.

right
ἐξουσίαν (exousian)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1849: From exesti; privilege, i.e. force, capacity, competency, freedom, or mastery, delegated influence.

to take along
περιάγειν (periagein)
Verb - Present Infinitive Active
Strong's 4013: To lead or carry about (or around), go about, traverse. From peri and ago; to take around; reflexively, to walk around.

a believing
ἀδελφὴν (adelphēn)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 79: A sister, a woman (fellow-)member of a church, a Christian woman. Fem of adephos; a sister.

wife,
γυναῖκα (gynaika)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1135: A woman, wife, my lady. Probably from the base of ginomai; a woman; specially, a wife.

as
ὡς (hōs)
Adverb
Strong's 5613: Probably adverb of comparative from hos; which how, i.e. In that manner.

[do]
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

the
οἱ (hoi)
Article - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

other
λοιποὶ (loipoi)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3062: Left, left behind, the remainder, the rest, the others. Masculine plural of a derivative of leipo; remaining ones.

apostles
ἀπόστολοι (apostoloi)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 652: From apostello; a delegate; specially, an ambassador of the Gospel; officially a commissioner of Christ.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

the
οἱ (hoi)
Article - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

Lord’s
Κυρίου (Kyriou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 2962: Lord, master, sir; the Lord. From kuros; supreme in authority, i.e. controller; by implication, Master.

brothers
ἀδελφοὶ (adelphoi)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 80: A brother, member of the same religious community, especially a fellow-Christian. A brother near or remote.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

Cephas?
Κηφᾶς (Kēphas)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2786: Of Chaldee origin; the Rock; Cephas, a surname of Peter.


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NT Letters: 1 Corinthians 9:5 Have we no right to take along (1 Cor. 1C iC 1Cor i cor icor)
1 Corinthians 9:4
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