1 Corinthians 9:7

puts the question under three figures virtual arguments from nature drawn from the camp, the vineyard, the flock. These figures had been similarly used by our Lord: (1) in Luke 11:21 f., 1 Corinthians 14:31; (2) in Matthew 20:1 ff; Matthew 21:28 ff.; (3) in Luke 12:32; John 10, and John 21:15 ff. Cf. in Paul for (1) 1 Corinthians 14:8; Ephesians 6:10 ff., 1 Thessalonians 5:8; (2) 1 Corinthians 3:6 ff.; (3) Acts 20:28; Ephesians 4:11. On ὀψωνίοις, see Gm [1298] : it denotes primarily “rations” served out in lieu of pay; then military “stipends” of any kind; then “wages” generally; see parls. ἰδίοις ὀψων., not “at his proper pay,” but “at his private (as distinguished from public) charges”: cf. 1 Corinthians 11:21; Galatians 2:2. The use of ποτὲ to widen negative, interr [1299] (virtually negative), and hypothetical propositions, common in cl [1300] Greek, is infrequent in N.T. In the third question, a partitive ἐκ with gen [1301] replaces the acc [1302], the image suggesting a share: “the shepherd is still remunerated in the East by a share of the milk” (Mr [1303]); or is P. thinking of the solid food (ἐσθίει) which comes “ out of the milk”? For the cognate acc [1304], f1ποιμαίνει ποίμνην, cf. 1 Peter 5:2, also John 10:16.

[1298] Grimm-Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon of the N.T.

[1299] nterr. interrogative.

[1300] classical.

[1301] genitive case.

[1302] accusative case.

[1303] Meyer's Critical and Exegetical Commentary (Eng. Trans.).

[1304] accusative case.