1 Corinthians 9:5

Have we no right to lead about. wife that is. believer, even as the rest of the apostles, and the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?

'lead about. wife that is. believer' -Which infers: (1) The apostles had the right to marry. (2) Paul didn't even consider than an apostle would marry an unbelieving woman. (3) That such families of apostles and evangelists had the right to be supported also.

Point to Note:

To avoid the clear teaching of this passage, some have argued that what Paul is saying... is that the apostles had the right to have. Christian woman (not. wife) accompany them in their travels and minister to their needs, i.e. cook for them, do their laundry, etc.. And yet the clear meaning is "a sister as. wife." (Fee p. 403) For to translate the phrase, "a sister who is. woman", is silly. What other kind of "sister" is there? This interpretation makes nonsense out of the passage.

'even as the rest of the apostles' -'this passage creates. fair presumption that at least the majority of the apostles were married.' (McGarvey p. 89)

'and the brethren of the Lord' -'and the brothers of the Lord.' (NASV) Since Paul is arguing, and has already mentioned one prominent group of individuals, it seems that this phrase must refer to another, i.e. the actual physical brothers of Jesus. (Mark 6:3; Matthew 13:55)

'This passage makes clear that even though they had questions during his earthly ministry (Mark 3:31; John 7:3), they eventually came to believe in Jesus and were among his earliest followers after the Resurrection (Acts 1:14).' (Fee pp. 403-404)

This text also implies that the brothers of the Lord preached, traveled, had families and were supported by churches.

'The only reason that anyone doubted whether Jesus had brothers was in the interest of the doctrine of the perpetual virginity of Mary.' (Willis p. 284)

'and Cephas?' -i.e. Peter (1 Corinthians 1:12) In the gospels we find that he had. mother-in-law (Mark 1:30; Matthew 8:14).

'It is rather disconcerting to the papacy that Peter, who is regarded as the first pope, is represented as. married man in the Scriptures.' (Lenski p. 356)

'Why is he (Peter) singled out by name? Perhaps because of his prominence and because of the use of his name in the divisions in Corinth (1 Corinthians 1:12)' (Robertson p. 143)