In verses 1-3 Paul has used singular forms corresponding to “I” and “me.” In verses 4 and 5 he uses the plural forms we and our. Verse 6 speaks explicitly of “Barnabas and I” (singular), followed, of course, by a plural verb. Despite Good News Bible, the we forms in verses 4 and 5 are best understood in the same way as referring to Barnabas and Paul himself. An exclusive pronoun we should therefore be used here.

If we understand this verse in the light of what Paul said in chapter 8, particularly 8.13, it will mean “Do we not have the right to eat and drink whatever we like?” (so generally New International Version, Revised English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, but New Jerusalem Bible footnote differs). But if verse 4 is understood in the light of the following verses, it is more likely to mean “Do we not have the right to eat and drink free of charge?” Many translations such as Revised Standard Version leave this question open and general. Those that make a choice agree with Good News Bible. Moffatt, for example, says “Have we no right to eat and drink at the expense of the churches?” Bible en français courant says “Do I not have the right to receive food and drink for my work?”

The phrases right to or “right to be given” (Good News Bible) may be rephrased as “right to receive.”

In certain languages food and drink may be translated more generally as “food.”

It seems that the translator is justified in making explicit the expression “for my work” (Good News Bible). It may be rendered as “for the work that I have done.” In some languages this rhetorical question may be rendered as a statement: “We have the right to receive food and drink for our work.”

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 .