1 Corinthians 9:7
Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?
Cross-reference
In 1 Corinthians 9:18, Paul explains he forgoes the support rights illustrated in 9:7 to offer the gospel without charge.
In 1 Corinthians 9:4, Paul directly asserts the right to eat and drink, grounding the soldier/vineyard/flock analogies in 9:7.
1 Corinthians 3:6-8 develops the planting metaphor — the planter and waterer share one purpose, echoing the vineyard laborer's right to benefit here.
2 Timothy 2:4 says no soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits — expanding the soldier analogy to dedication, similar to serving at one's own expense.
Deuteronomy 20:6 gives the OT principle that a planter should enjoy the vineyard's fruit — the same logic undergirding Paul's argument here.
2 Timothy 2:3 calls Timothy to 'share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus' — directly echoing the soldier metaphor from here.
Acts 20:28 charges elders to shepherd the church — the same pastoral imagery illustrating ministers' work here.
Numbers 5:9 states that sacred offerings presented to the priest become his—directly supports Paul's argument that those who serve receive material support.
In 2 Timothy 2:6, the same farming analogy appears: a hard-working farmer deserves first share of crops, reinforcing 9:7.
In 1 Thessalonians 2:9, Paul describes working night and day to avoid being a burden, practicing the self-support principle from 9:7.
Leviticus 7:9 gives a law that grain offerings belong to the priest—an OT example of ministers receiving support from their service.
John 21:15-17 records Jesus commissioning Peter to feed His sheep — the same shepherd imagery Paul uses for ministry support.
Jeremiah 23:2 condemns shepherds who scatter the flock — contrasting with the faithful shepherding that deserves support here.
Proverbs 27:27 illustrates the same principle: a shepherd benefits from his flock's milk, supporting Paul's argument for worker's provision.
Proverbs 27:18 states that one who tends a fig tree eats its fruit — reinforcing the principle of benefiting from one's labor.
Deuteronomy 18:8 ensures Levites receive equal portions—a law about servants of God being provided for, echoing Paul's point.
In 2 Timothy 4:7, Paul uses the same soldier metaphor for faithful endurance — connecting the soldier imagery here to ministry perseverance.
1 Peter 5:2 exhorts elders to shepherd God's flock willingly — reinforcing the shepherd metaphor for ministry.