A literal translation of this verse would be “If others share [as at the end of verse 10] this right [as in verses 4 and 5] over you, do we not more?” The meaning may be that other people, perhaps other evangelists, claim to share with Paul the right to be supported by the church. However, the verb for share more commonly has as its object something more concrete than a “right” (Good News Bible). More probably, Paul means that other evangelists claim the right to a share in the Corinthian Christians’ possessions. This meaning would fit the context excellently, as Phillips shows: “and if there are others with the right to have these (material) things from you, have not we an even greater right?”

Verse 12a concludes the defense that Paul announced in verse 3. Verses 4-12a have been Paul’s way of saying “I have the right as an apostle to have the churches support me.” The theme of the second part of Paul’s defense is announced in verse 12b.

We: see 1 Cor. 9.4 for a discussion on the use of plural pronouns in this chapter.

We have not made use of this right may be rendered as “But we haven’t tried to gain material benefits from you as is our right,” or “We have the right to expect material benefits from you, but we haven’t used this right.” Concerning Paul’s right, see comments on 8.9; 9.4.

Anything (Greek “all things”) is explained by 4.10-13.

The phrase rather than put is too complicated for some languages. This may be rendered as “so that we might not put….”

The word translated obstacle is not used elsewhere in the Greek Bible, but a related verb is used with the same sense in Rom 15.22; Gal 5.7; and 1 Thes 2.18. Paul may have preached the gospel without charge in order that no one should misunderstand his motives when he collected money on behalf of Christians in Judea (see 1 Cor 16.1-4).

The gospel of Christ means “the Good News about Christ” (Good News Bible) rather than “the Good News told by Christ.”

The phrase put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ may be translated as “do anything that will prevent the Good News about Christ from being preached” or “do anything that will prevent people from preaching the Good News about Christ.”

Quoted with permission from Ellingworth, Paul and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians, 2nd edition. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1985/1994. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .