Albert Barnes Commentary 1 Corinthians 9:6

"Or I only and Barnabas, have we not a right to forbear working?" — 1 Corinthians 9:6 (ASV)

Or I only and Barnabas. Paul and Barnabas had worked together as tent-makers at Corinth (Acts 18:3). From this fact, it had been inferred that they knew they had no claim to support.

Power to forbear working? This means power to abstain from manual work and to receive support as others do. The question implies a strong affirmation that they had such power.

The sense is, "Why should I and Barnabas be regarded as having no right to support? Have we been less faithful than others? Have we done less? Have we given fewer signs that we are sent by the Lord, or that God approves us in our work? Have we been less successful? Why, then, should we be singled out—and why should it be supposed that we are obliged to work for our support? Is there no other conceivable reason why we should support ourselves than a consciousness that we have no right to support from the people with whom we work?"

It is evident from 1 Corinthians 9:12 that Barnabas, as well as Paul, relinquished his right to support and worked to maintain himself. And it is clear from the whole passage that there was some peculiar "spleen" (Doddridge) against these two ministers of the gospel. What it was, we do not know.

It might have arisen from the enmity and opposition of Judaizing teachers, who were offended at their zeal and success among the Gentiles. These teachers could find no other cause of complaint against them than that Paul and Barnabas chose to support themselves, and not live in idleness or tax the church for their support. That must have been a bad cause which was sustained by such an argument.