SEV Biblia, Chapter 9:11
Si nosotros os sembramos lo espiritual, ¿es gran cosa si segremos de vosotros lo material?
Clarke's Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 9:11
Verse 11. If we have sown unto you spiritual things] If we have been the means of bringing you into a state of salvation by the Divine doctrines which we have preached unto you, is it too much for us to expect a temporal support then we give ourselves up entirely to this work? Every man who preaches the Gospel has a right to his own support and that of his family while thus employed.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 11. If we have sown unto you spiritual things , etc.] The preachers of the Gospel are compared to sowers of seed; the seed they sow is the word of God, which is like to seed, for its smallness and despicableness in the eyes of carnal men; and yet as the seed is the choicest which is laid by for sowing, the Gospel is most choice and excellent to true believers; like seed, it has a generative virtue through divine influence; and whereas unless sown into the earth, it brings forth no fruit, so neither does the word, unless it has a place in the heart, where, as seed in the ground, its operation is secret, its increase gradual, and its fruitfulness different. The ground they sow upon is, very various; some of their hearers are like the wayside, careless, ignorant, and on whom no impression is made; others are like the stony ground, who though for a while they express some affection and liking, yet not having the root of grace in them, whenever persecution arises, forsake the hearing of it; others are like the thorny ground, which are at first very promising, and greatly reformed, but inwardly full of the cares and lusts of the world, which choke the word, and make it unfruitful; and others are like the good ground, who are made good by the grace of God, understand the word, receive it, hold it fast, and in whom it is fruitful: sowing requires skill and art, and so preaching the Gospel does, and that more than human; and is constantly in its returning season to be attended to, notwithstanding the winds and clouds, and so the ministry of the word, notwithstanding all reproaches, persecutions, and afflictions; and as the same sort of seed, without mixture, and in plenty, is to be cast into the earth, so the same pure and unmixed Gospel of Christ is to be preached, and that without keeping back any thing that is profitable: and once more, as the sower, when he has cast his seed into the earth, waits long and with patience for its springing up and increase, so do the faithful dispensers of the Gospel: and what they sow or minister is of a spiritual nature; it comes from the Spirit of God, he is the dictator of it; he by his gifts qualifies men to preach it, and by his power makes it effectual to the souls of men; and through it conveys himself to them, as a spirit of regeneration and sanctification: the matter of the Gospel is spiritual; it contains spiritual doctrines, such as justification, pardon of sin, adoption, regeneration, etc. and are what concern the souls and spirits of men, and their spiritual and eternal welfare: is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things ? meaning temporal ones, what concern the flesh, the body, the outward man, and the support thereof. The argument is from the greater to the less, and much the same with that in ( Romans 15:27). The difference between carnal and spiritual things is very great; the one has a vastly superior excellency to the other; and therefore if for carnal things men receive spiritual ones, they can be no losers thereby, but must be gainers; nor should it be thought any hardship or burden upon them, or any great and wonderful thing done by them, to support and maintain such who are so useful to their souls, and the spiritual welfare of them.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-14 - It is not new for a minister to meet with unkind returns for good-wil to a people, and diligent and successful services among them. To the cavils of some, the apostle answers, so as to set forth himself as a example of self-denial, for the good of others. He had a right to marr as well as other apostles, and to claim what was needful for his wife and his children if he had any, from the churches, without labourin with his own hands to get it. Those who seek to do our souls good should have food provided for them. But he renounced his right, rathe than hinder his success by claiming it. It is the people's duty to maintain their minister. He may wave his right, as Paul did; but thos transgress a precept of Christ, who deny or withhold due support.
Greek Textus Receptus
ει 1487 COND ημεις 2249 P-1NP υμιν 5213 P-2DP τα 3588 T-APN πνευματικα 4152 A-APN εσπειραμεν 4687 5656 V-AAI-1P μεγα 3173 A-NSN ει 1487 COND ημεις 2249 P-1NP υμων 5216 P-2GP τα 3588 T-APN σαρκικα 4559 A-APN θερισομεν 2325 5692 V-FAI-1P
Robertson's NT Word Studies
9:11 {Is it a great matter?} (mega;). The copula estin has to be supplied. Note two conditions of first class with ei, both assumed to be true. On pneumatika and sarkika see on 2:14; 3:3. this point comes out sharply also in #Ga 6:6.
