1 Corinthians 4:14
in 1 Corinthians 4I am not writing this to shame you, but to warn you as my beloved children.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
I write not these things to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children.
KJV
I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you.
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This verse in 1 Corinthians 4
Commentary
10 notes on this verseI write not these things to shame you - It is not by way of finding fault with you for not providing me with the necessaries of life that I write thus; but I do it to warn you to act differently for the time to come; and be not so ready to be drawn aside by every pretender to apostleship, to the neglect of those to whom, under God, you owe your salvation.
This site's exposition
I am not writing this to shame you
on 1 Corinthians 4:14-15
Paul sets out the distinction that governs the rest of the chapter: ten thousand guardians, paidagogoi, but not many fathers. A paidagogos walked a boy to school without begetting him, and Paul became their father through the gospel.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
Paul is acting here like a good physician who alleviates the pain caused by his operation to remove the disease, so that the sick person will let himself be cured.
Then since he saw that the blow could not well be borne, he speedily heals it; saying, "I write not these things to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children." "For not as abashing you," saith he, "do I speak these things." The very thing which by his words he had done, this he says he had not done: rather he allows that he had done it, not however with an evil and spiteful mind. Why, this mode of soothing is the very best, if we should say what we have to say and add the apology from our motive. For not to speak was impossible, since they would have remained uncorrected: on the other hand, after he had spoken, to leave the wound untended, were hard. Wherefore along with his severity he apologizes: for this so far from destroying the effect of the knife, rather makes it sink deeper in, while it moderates the full pain of the wound. Since when a man is told that not in reproach but in love are these things said, he the more readily receives correction. However, even here also is great severity, and a strong appeal to their sense of shame, in that he said not, "As a master" nor yet "as an apostle," nor yet "as having you for my disciples; (which had well suited his claims on them;) but, "as my beloved children admonish you. And not simply, children; but, "longed after." "Forgive me," saith he. "If anything disagreeable has been said, it all proceeds of love." And he said not, "I rebuke" but "I admonish." Now, who would not bear with a father in grief, and in the act of giving good advice? Wherefore he did not say this before, but after he had given the blow. "What then?" some might say; "Do not other teachers spare us?" "I say not so, but, they carry not their forbearance so far." This however he spake not out at once, but by their professions and titles gave indication of it; "Tutor" and "Father" being the terms which he employs.
The Medieval Church2 voices
After censuring the Corinthians for rashly judging the apostles and presumptuously despising them, the Apostle now applies himself to correcting them. First, by oral advice; secondly, by examples (v. 16); thirdly, with the rod of correction (v. 18). In regard to the first he does …
I do not write this to shame you, he says, and not with an evil and hateful intention do I say this; but "as beloved children" (I admonish you), and not simply children, but "beloved." Forgive me, then, if I have said anything offensive, for …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
To expose to open shame is but the way to render shameless. He shows them upon what foundation he claimed paternal relation to them, and called them his sons. They might have other pedagogues or instructors, but he was their father; for in Christ Jesus he had begotten them by the gospel,
3 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I warn you - It is with admirable prudence and sweetness the apostle adds this, to prevent any unkind construction of his words.
I write not these things to shame you,....
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
To shame you - It is not my design to put you to shame by showing you how little you suffer in comparison with us. This is not our design, though it may have this effect. I have no wish to make you ashamed, to appear to triumph over you or merely to taunt you. My design is higher and nobler than this. But as my beloved sons - As my dear children. I speak as a father to his children, and I say these things for your good. No father would desire to make his children ashamed. In his counsels, entreaties, and admonitions, he would have a higher object than that. I warn you - I do not say these things in a harsh manner, with a severe spirit of rebuke; but in order to admonish you, to suggest counsel, to instil wisdom into the mind. I say these things not to make, you blush, but with the hope that they may be the means of your reformation, and of a more holy life. No man, no minister, ought to reprove another merely to overwhelm him with shame, but the object should always be to make a brother better; and the admonition should be so administered as to have this end, not sourly or morosely, but in a kind, tender, and affectionate manner.
The words behind it
11 Greek wordsEvery 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.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| οὐκ | ouk | Not | G3756 → | 1664 times |
| ἐντρέπων | entrepon | shaming | G1788 → | |
| ὑμᾶς | humas | you | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| γράφω | grapho | do I write | G1125 → | 189 times |
| ταῦτα, | tauta | these things, | G3778 → | 1381 times |
| ἀλλ᾽ | all᾽ | but | G235 → | 635 times |
| ὡς | hos | as | G5613 → | 500 times |
| τέκνα | tekna | children | G5043 → | 99 times |
| μου | mou | of mine | G3165 → | 1936 times |
| ἀγαπητὰ | agapeta | beloved | G27 → | 61 times |
| νουθετῶν. | noutheton | admonishing [you]. | G3560 → |
οὐκNot
oukG3756 →1664 times
ἐντρέπωνshaming
entreponG1788 →
ὑμᾶςyou
humasG4771 →2973 times
γράφωdo I write
graphoG1125 →189 times
ταῦτα,these things,
tautaG3778 →1381 times
ἀλλ᾽but
all᾽G235 →635 times
ὡςas
hosG5613 →500 times
τέκναchildren
teknaG5043 →99 times
μουof mine
mouG3165 →1936 times
ἀγαπητὰbeloved
agapetaG27 →61 times
νουθετῶν.admonishing [you].
nouthetonG3560 →
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach 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
3 John 1:4I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.
it leads to
- Galatians 4:19
My children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you,
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 1 Timothy 1:2
To Timothy, my true child in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
- Proverbs 23:24
The father of a righteous man will greatly rejoice, and he who fathers a wise son will delight in him.
- 2 Timothy 1:2
To Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
- 2 Kings 20:3
“Please, O LORD, remember how I have walked before You faithfully and with wholehearted devotion; I have done what was good in Your sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly.
- Galatians 4:19
Through
1 Thessalonians 2:11For you know that we treated each of you as a father treats his own children—
it leads to
- 1 Corinthians 4:14–15
I am not writing this to shame you, but to warn you as my beloved children.
- 1 Corinthians 4:14–15
Through
1 Corinthians 9:15But I have not used any of these rights. And I am not writing this to suggest that something be done for me. Indeed, I would rather die than let anyone nullify my boast.
it leads to
- 1 Thessalonians 2:9
Surely you recall, brothers, our labor and toil. We worked night and day so that we would not be a burden to anyone while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:9
Through
2 Corinthians 12:19Have you been thinking all along that we were making a defense to you? We speak before God in Christ, and all of this, beloved, is to build you up.
it leads to
- Romans 9:1
I speak the truth in Christ; I am not lying, as confirmed by my conscience in the Holy Spirit.
- Romans 9:1
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About 1 Corinthians
This page draws on 10 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the First Epistle to the Corinthians; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Ambrosiaster, COMMENTARY ON PAUL'S EPISTLES; John Chrysostom, Homily on 1 Corinthians 13; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 1 Corinthians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on 1 Corinthians.