1 Corinthians 4:7 BSB

1 Corinthians 4:7

For who makes you so superior? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?

BSB

Parallel translations (2) ▾

ASV

For who maketh thee to differ? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? but if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory as if thou hadst not received it?

KJV

For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?

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Commentary

3 voices

Charles Spurgeon

1834–1892

The New Park Street Pulpit, Sermon No. 262: “Distinguishing Grace” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition) (1859)

OR, AS IT IS in the Greek: “For who distinguisheth thee?” “Who giveth thee distinguishing and discriminating mercy?” “Who maketh thee to differ from another?” Pride is the inherent sin of man, and yet it is of all sins the most foolish. A thousand arguments might be used to show its absurdity; but none of these would be sufficient to quench its vitality. Alive it is in the heart, and there it will be, till we die to this world and rise again without spot or blemish.

The record, by era

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

It is foolish in us therefore, and injurious to him, to boast of it; those who receive all should be proud of nothing, Ps. cxv. Beggars and dependents may glory in their supports; but to glory in themselves is to be proud at once of meanness, impotence, and want. Note, Due attention to our obligations to divine grace would cure us of arrogance and self-conceit.

The Nineteenth Century1 voice

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

Translate, "Who distinguisheth thee (above another)?" Not thyself, but God. glory, as if thou hadst not received it--as if it was to thyself, not to God, thou owest the receiving of it.

Voices on this verse

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Original language & word study

19 tagged words

Original	Transliteration	Meaning	Word study
τίς	tis	Who	G5101 →
γάρ	gar	for	G1063 →
σε	se	you	G4771 →
διακρίνει;	diakrinei	makes different?	G1252 →
τί	ti	What	G5101 →
δὲ	de	now	G1161 →
ἔχεις	echeis	have you	G2192 →
ὃ	ho	which	G3739 →
οὐκ	ouk	not	G3756 →
ἔλαβες;	elabes	you did receive?	G2983 →
εἰ	ei	If	G1487 →
δὲ	de	now	G1161 →
καὶ	kai	even	G2532 →
ἔλαβες,	elabes	you did receive [it],	G2983 →
τί	ti	why	G5101 →
καυχᾶσαι	kauchasai	boast you	G2744 →
ὡς	hōs	as	G5613 →
μὴ	mē	not	G3361 →
λαβών;	labōn	having received [it]?	G2983 →

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
James 1:17
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, with whom there is no change or shifting shadow.
leads to
- John 3:27
  John replied, “A man can receive only what is given him from heaven.
- Matthew 7:11
  So if you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!
- Hebrews 13:8
  Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
- John 8:12
  Once again, Jesus spoke to the people and said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life.”
- Numbers 23:19
  God is not a man, that He should lie, or a son of man, that He should change His mind. Does He speak and not act? Does He promise and not fulfill?
Through
1 Peter 4:10
As good stewards of the manifold grace of God, each of you should use whatever gift he has received to serve one another.
leads to
- 1 Corinthians 12:4–11
  There are different gifts, but the same Spirit.
  Reached by 2 independent paths from here.
- Romans 12:6–8
  We have different gifts according to the grace given us. If one’s gift is prophecy, let him use it in proportion to his faith;
Through
Romans 12:6
We have different gifts according to the grace given us. If one’s gift is prophecy, let him use it in proportion to his faith;
leads to
- 1 Peter 4:10–11
  As good stewards of the manifold grace of God, each of you should use whatever gift he has received to serve one another.
  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