1 Corinthians 4:10 BSB

1 Corinthians 4:10

We are fools for Christ, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are honored, but we are dishonored.

BSB

Parallel translations (2) ▾

ASV

We are fools for Christ’s sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye have glory, but we have dishonor.

KJV

We are fools for Christ’s sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised.

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Commentary

3 voices

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible (1832)

We are fools for Christ’s sake - Here he still carries on the allusion to the public spectacles among the Romans, where they were accustomed to hiss, hoot, mock, and variously insult the poor victims.

The record, by era

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

We can pass for fools in the world, and be despised as such, so that the wisdom of God and the honour of the gospel may by this means be secured and displayed." Note, Faithful ministers can bear being despised, so that the wisdom of God and the power of his grace be thereby displayed. " But you are wise in Christ.

The Nineteenth Century1 voice

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

3:18; compare Ac 17:18; 26:24). for Christ's sake . . . in Christ--Our connection with Christ only entails on us the lowest ignominy, "ON ACCOUNT OF," or, "FOR THE SAKE OF" Him, as "fools"; yours gives you full fellowship IN Him as "wise" (that is, supposing you really are all you seem, 1Co 3:18). we . . . weak . . . ye . . . strong-- (1Co 2:3;

Voices on this verse

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Original language & word study

19 tagged words

Original	Transliteration	Meaning	Word study
ἡμεῖς	hēmeis	We ourselves	G3165 →
μωροὶ	mōroi	[are] fools	G3474 →
διὰ	dia	on account of	G1223 →
Χριστὸν	Christon	Christ	G5547 →
ὑμεῖς	humeis	you yourselves	G4771 →
δὲ	de	however	G1161 →
φρόνιμοι	phronimoi	wise	G5429 →
ἐν	en	in	G1722 →
Χριστῷ·	Christō	Christ;	G5547 →
ἡμεῖς	hēmeis	we ourselves	G3165 →
ἀσθενεῖς	astheneis	weak	G772 →
ὑμεῖς	humeis	you yourselves	G4771 →
δὲ	de	however	G1161 →
ἰσχυροί·	ischuroi	strong;	G2478 →
ὑμεῖς	humeis	You yourselves	G4771 →
ἔνδοξοι	endoxoi	honored	G1741 →
ἡμεῖς	hēmeis	we ourselves	G3165 →
δὲ	de	however	G1161 →
ἄτιμοι.	atimoi	without honor.	G820 →

Rare words are the text's own signal of a deliberate thread: the fewer the occurrences, the more the places it appears belong together.

The walk

The walk8

Where the connections lead

Follow this verse’s cross-references two steps out. Each card is a verse this one points to, and beneath it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several different paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it. Every stop shows its own words, and every stop is a page.

Through
1 Corinthians 3:18
Let no one deceive himself. If any of you thinks he is wise in this age, he should become a fool, so that he may become wise.
leads to
- Proverbs 3:5
  Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding;
- 1 Corinthians 1:18–21
  For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
- Isaiah 5:21
  Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight.
- Galatians 6:3
  If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
- 1 Corinthians 8:1–2
  Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.
Through
Acts 26:24
At this stage of Paul’s defense, Festus exclaimed in a loud voice, “You are insane, Paul! Your great learning is driving you to madness!”
leads to
- 1 Corinthians 2:13–14
  And this is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom, but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.
Through
1 Corinthians 2:3
I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling.
leads to
- 2 Corinthians 13:4
  For He was indeed crucified in weakness, yet He lives by God’s power. And though we are weak in Him, yet by God’s power we will live with Him to serve you.
Through
2 Corinthians 13:9
In fact, we rejoice when we are weak but you are strong, and our prayer is for your perfection.
leads to
- 2 Corinthians 12:5–10
  I will boast about such a man, but I will not boast about myself, except in my weaknesses.
  Reached by 2 independent paths from here.

About 1 Corinthians

The Crucifixion — 'Christ crucified' (1 Cor 2:2) — Gustave Doré (engraving, public domain)

1 Corinthians: the study guide →Read chapter 4 →The featured study →

Continue: 1 Corinthians 4 →

01Commentary

The record, by era

Voices on this verse

02Original language & word study

03The walk

Where the connections lead

04Related verses

06About 1 Corinthians

The record, by era

Where the connections lead

Commentary

Original language & word study

The walk

Related verses

About 1 Corinthians