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1 Corinthians 4:15

in 1 Corinthians 4

Even if you have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

For though ye have ten thousand tutors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I begat you through the gospel.

KJV

For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.

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This verse in 1 Corinthians 4

Commentary

3 notes on this verse

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

He uses, however, a stronger phrase of himself in begetting them spiritually, "In Christ Jesus," implying both the Saviour's office and person. As Paul was the means of spiritually regenerating them, and yet "baptized none of them save Crispus, Gaius, and the household of Stephanas," regeneration cannot be inseparably in and by baptism (1Co 1:14-17).

This site's exposition

I write not these things to shame you

on 1 Corinthians 4:14-15

Paul softens the irony's edge, insisting he writes to warn as a father, not to shame, and draws the distinction that will govern the rest of the chapter, instructors, paidagogoi, being many while fathers are few. A paidagogos was a household guide who walked a boy to school without begetting him, and Paul's claim rests on the gospel itself, for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel, a spiritual fatherhood no later teacher can duplicate. The bench reads this as the ground for the appeal that follows, be ye followers of me, since a father's example carries a weight a hired instructor's does not.

The record, by era

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

Whatever other teachers they had, he was their spiritual father. He first brought them off from pagan idolatry to the faith of the gospel and the worship of the true and living God. He was the instrument of their new birth, and therefore claimed the relation of a father to them, and felt the bowels of a father towards them.

The words behind it

21 Greek words

Every Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

18 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

Philemon 1:10I appeal to you for my child Onesimus, whose father I became while I was in chains.8 worksGalatians 1:6I am amazed how quickly you are deserting the One who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—7 works1 Corinthians 3:10By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one must be careful how he builds.6 worksGalatians 4:19My children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you,6 worksMatthew 23:9And do not call anyone on earth your father, for you have one Father, who is in heaven.5 works1 Corinthians 4:14I am not writing this to shame you, but to warn you as my beloved children.4 works
The other 12 cross-references, with their words ▾
1 Corinthians 4:17That is why I have sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which is exactly what I teach everywhere in every church.4 worksHebrews 2:13And again: “I will put My trust in Him.” And once again: “Here am I, and the children God has given Me.”4 works1 Corinthians 9:23I do all this for the sake of the gospel, so that I may share in its blessings.3 works1 Peter 1:23For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.3 works1 Corinthians 9:14In the same way, the Lord has prescribed that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.3 works2 Corinthians 10:14We are not overstepping our bounds, as if we had not come to you. Indeed, we were the first to reach you with the gospel of Christ.3 works2 Corinthians 3:1Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, like some people, letters of recommendation to you or from you?3 works1 Corinthians 9:18What then is my reward? That in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not use up my rights in preaching it.2 worksRomans 15:20In this way I have aspired to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else’s foundation.2 worksJames 1:18He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we would be a kind of firstfruits of His creation.2 works1 Corinthians 9:12If others have this right to your support, shouldn’t we have it all the more? But we did not exercise this right. Instead, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ.2 worksActs 18:4–11Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks alike.2 works

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    Galatians 4:19

    My children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you,

    it leads to

    • Ephesians 4:13

      until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God, as we mature to the full measure of the stature of Christ.

    • Romans 13:14

      Instead, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the desires of the flesh.

    • Romans 8:29

      For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers.

    • Ephesians 4:24

      and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

  • Through

    1 Peter 1:23

    For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.

    it leads to

    • 1 Peter 1:3

      Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

    • Hebrews 4:12

      For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

  • Through

    1 Corinthians 3:10

    By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one must be careful how he builds.

    it leads to

    • 1 Corinthians 3:11

      For no one can lay a foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.

  • Through

    1 Corinthians 9:14

    In the same way, the Lord has prescribed that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.

    it leads to

    • Matthew 10:10

      Take no bag for the road, or second tunic, or sandals, or staff; for the worker is worthy of his provisions.

About 1 Corinthians

The Crucifixion — 'Christ crucified' (1 Cor 2:2) — Gustave Doré (engraving, public domain)
The Crucifixion — 'Christ crucified' (1 Cor 2:2) — Gustave Doré (engraving, public domain)
1 Corinthians: the study guide →Read 1 Corinthians 4 →

This page draws on Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the First Epistle to the Corinthians; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.

Read on in 1 Corinthians 4 →