John Calvin Commentary 1 Corinthians 9:10

"or saith he it assuredly for our sake? Yea, for our sake it was written: because he that ploweth ought to plow in hope, and he that thresheth, [to thresh] in hope of partaking." — 1 Corinthians 9:10 (ASV)

Because he that plows should plow in hope. There are two different readings of this passage, even in the Greek manuscripts, but the one that is more commonly accepted is: He that threshes, in hope of participating in his hope. At the same time, the reading that does not repeat the term hope twice in the second clause appears simpler and more natural.

Therefore, if I were free to choose, I would prefer to read it this way: He that plows should plow in hope, and he that threshes in hope of participating. However, since most of the Greek manuscripts agree on the former reading, and since the meaning remains the same, I have not ventured to change it.

Now he explains the preceding command. Therefore, he says that it is an unjust thing for the farmer to expend his efforts for nothing in plowing and threshing; rather, the goal of his labor is the hope of receiving the fruits.

Since this is so, we may infer that this also applies to oxen, but Paul’s intention was to extend it further and apply it principally to men.

Now, the farmer is said to be a partaker of his hope when he enjoys the produce he has obtained when harvesting, which he hoped for when plowing.