The first word of this verse, Or, suggests that the verse offers an alternative to verses 4 and 5. This supports the view that these two verses are also concerned with the support of the apostles and their families by the churches.

Is it only Barnabas and I is literally “only [singular] I and Barnabas.” But Paul’s grammar is not always strictly correct (see comments on 7.34). It is possible to translate the first part of this verse as “or are Barnabas and I the only apostles who….”

The phrase working for a living may be expressed also as “have to earn money by working.”

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 .