Paul's Power to Lead a Sister or Wife 1 Corinthians 9:5

The apostle Paul's “answer to them that do examine” him “is this, have we not power to eat and to drink?”, and in chapter nine and verse five of First Corinthians, Paul shared concerning “power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other disciples” where we read:

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?

The verse begins, “Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, ...” Paul began with the words, “Have we not” which means “Doesn't Paul and his companions hold, own or possess the” “power” or “ability for choice, liberty, leave and permission of doing as one pleases” “to lead about” or “to take around, compass or go about” “a sister” which means “a woman connected by the tie of the Christian religion”, “a wife” or “a woman who is married to them” “as well as” which means “like or even as” “other apostles” which refers to “the remaining or rest of the delegates, messengers and ones sent forth with orders specifically applied to the twelve apostles of Christ”? Paul questioned the church members concerning whether he had the “same ability as other apostles” to have a “sister” or “wife” in the Christian faith.

The verse goes on to say, “...and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?”. Paul continued with the words, “and as the brethren” which means “fellow believers who are united to another by the bond of affection” “of the Lord” which refers to “he to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master and the title given to God the Messiah”, “and Cephas” or “stone which is another name for the apostle Peter”. Paul referred to “the other brothers in Christ” and “Peter” who had wives too.

When we think through these words from Paul, we continue to see his appeal to the church members in Corinth concerning his “apostleship” and his “liberality” within the faith. Paul could “lead about a sister”, and he could have a “wife” just like the “other apostles, their fellow brothers in Christ” and even “the apostle Peter” himself. Though Paul did not exercise his “liberty” to have these, he used this example to demonstrated the validity of his “apostleship” with authority over them. Jesus Christ gives various gifts to different people in the church through His Holy Spirit, and He decides who should have them. We must keep in mind that just because a person is “free in Christ” to do something, it does not necessarily mean that he or she has to do it. Let all we do or not do be to the glory of God and His Son Jesus Christ.

Next time Paul continues to ask the Corinthians, “Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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