A common misinterpretation of 1 Corinthians 9:6 is viewing it as a mandate that all pastors or missionaries must always work secular jobs and never accept church support, ignoring Paul's clear affirmation of his legitimate right to such provision which he simply chooses not to exercise; another error is seeing the verse as Paul complaining bitterly about other apostles receiving pay, whereas it is a rhetorical device highlighting equality of rights and his willing sacrifice to advance the gospel without financial hindrance.
I Corinthians 9:6
King James Version (1769)
6 Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working?
In 1 Corinthians 9:6, Paul uses a rhetorical question to affirm that he and Barnabas possess the same apostolic right as other leaders to refrain from secular work and receive material support from the churches they serve, yet they voluntarily choose to labor with their hands to avoid burdening the Corinthians and to remove any obstacle to the gospel's free proclamation, exemplifying self-denial for the ministry's sake.