1 Corinthians 4:17

1 Corinthians 4:17 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church.
• New International Version (NIV)For this reason I have sent to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church.
• English Standard Version (ESV)That is why I sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach them everywhere in every church.
• New King James Version (NKJV)For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church.

Context of 1 Corinthians 4:17

15For even if you were to have ten thousand teachers [to guide you] in Christ, yet you would not have many fathers [who led you to Christ and assumed responsibility for you], for I became your father in Christ Jesus through the good news [of salvation]. 16So I urge you, be imitators of me [just as a child imitates his father]. For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, and he will remind you of my way of life in Christ [my conduct and my precepts for godly living], just as I teach everywhere in every church. 18Now some of you have become arrogant and pretentious, as though I were not coming to see you. 19But I will come to you soon, if the Lord is willing, and I will find out not just the talk of these arrogant people, but [evaluate] their [spiritual] power [whether they live up to their own claims].

1 Corinthians 4:17 word by word

διὰ τοῦτο ἔπεμψα ὑμῖν Τιμόθεον, ὅς ἐστίν μου τέκνον ἀγαπητὸν καὶ πιστὸν ἐν κυρίῳ, ὃς ὑμᾶς ἀναμνήσει τὰς ὁδούς μου τὰς ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ, καθὼς πανταχοῦ ἐν πάσῃ ἐκκλησίᾳ διδάσκω.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Forδιάdia · through/because ofG1223
• this causeοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• have I sentπέμπωpempō · to sendG3992
• unto youσύsu · youG4771
• TimotheusΤιμόθεοςTimotheos · TimothyG5095
• whoὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• myἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• belovedἀγαπητόςagapētos · belovedG27
• sonτέκνονteknon · childG5043
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• faithfulπιστόςpistos · faithfulG4103
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• the Lordκύριοςkurios · lord: GodG2962
• shall bringἀναμιμνήσκωanamimnēskō · to remindG363
• waysὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• waysὁδόςhodos · roadG3598
• ChristΧριστόςChristos · ChristG5547
• asκαθώςkathōs · as/just asG2531
• I teachδιδάσκωdidaskō · to teachG1321
• every whereπανταχοῦpantachou · everywhereG3837
• everyπᾶςpas · allG3956
• churchἐκκλησίαekklēsia · assemblyG1577

Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 4:17

• 1 Corinthians 16:10If Timothy comes, see to it that [you put him at ease, so that] he has nothing to fear in regard to you, for he is [devotedly] doing the Lord’s work, just as I am.
• Acts 19:21Now after these events, Paul determined in the Spirit that he would travel through Macedonia and Achaia (most of the Greek mainland), and go to Jerusalem, saying, “After I have been there, I must also see Rome [and preach the good news of salvation].”
• Philippians 2:19But I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I may also be encouraged by learning news about you.
• 1 Thessalonians 3:2and so we sent Timothy, our brother and God’s servant in [spreading] the good news of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you [exhorting, comforting, and establishing you] in regard to your faith,
• 1 Corinthians 4:15For even if you were to have ten thousand teachers [to guide you] in Christ, yet you would not have many fathers [who led you to Christ and assumed responsibility for you], for I became your father in Christ Jesus through the good news [of salvation].
• 1 Timothy 1:2to Timothy, my true son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace [inner calm and spiritual well-being] from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
• 2 Timothy 1:2to Timothy, my beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace [inner calm and spiritual well-being] from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
• 1 Corinthians 4:2In this case, moreover, it is required [as essential and demanded] of stewards that one be found faithful and trustworthy.
• 1 Corinthians 7:25Now concerning the virgins [of marriageable age] I have no command of the Lord, but I give my opinion as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy.
• Numbers 12:7But it is not so with My servant Moses; He is entrusted and faithful in all My house.
• Proverbs 13:17A wicked messenger falls into hardship, But a faithful ambassador brings healing.
• Matthew 24:45“Who then is the faithful and wise servant whom his master has put in charge of his household to give the others [in the house] their food and supplies at the proper time?
• Matthew 25:21His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful and trustworthy over a little, I will put you in charge of many things; share in the joy of your master.’
• Ephesians 6:21Now, so that you may know how I am and what I am doing, Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, will tell you everything.
• Colossians 1:7You learned it from [our representative] Epaphras, our beloved fellow bond-servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf
• Colossians 4:9and with him is Onesimus, our faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will let you know everything about the situation here [in Rome].

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 4:17

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17For this cause - That you imitate me, and know in what this consists. I sent unto you Timotheus - The same person to whom he wrote the two epistles that are still extant under his name, and whom he calls here his beloved son, one of his most intimate disciples; and whom he had been the means of bringing to God through Christ. My ways which be in Christ - This person will also inform you of the manner in which I regulate all the Churches; and show to you…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 17For this cause - In order to remind you of my doctrines and my manner of life. Since I am hindered from coming myself, I have sent a fellow laborer as my messenger, well acquainted with my views and feelings, that he might do what I would do if I were present. Have I sent unto you Timotheus - Timothy, the companion and fellow laborer of Paul. This was probably when Paul was at Ephesus. He sent Timothy and Erastus into Macedonia, probably with instruction…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 14-21Verses 14-21 In reproving for sin, we should distinguish between sinners and their sins. Reproofs that kindly and affectionately warn, are likely to reform. Though the apostle spoke with authority as a parent, he would rather beseech them in love. And as ministers are to set an example, others must follow them, as far as they follow Christ in faith and practice. Christians may mistake and differ in their views, but Christ and Christian truth are the same…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 17Timothy, Paul's spiritual child and close associate, was with Paul when he first preached the good news about Jesus in Corinth (see 2 Corinthians 1:19). Paul sent him to clearly explain what it means to follow Christ Jesus.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1717. For this came--that ye may the better "be followers of me" (1Co 4:16), through his admonitions. sent ... Timotheus--(1Co 16:10; Ac 19:21, 22). "Paul purposed ... when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem. So he sent into Macedonia Timotheus and Erastus." Here it is not expressly said that he sent Timothy into Achaia (of which Corinth was the capital), but it is implied, for he sent him with Erastus before him. As he therefore…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Corinthians 4:17

• Timothy
• Zeal, Religious

In the dictionaries

• Christ
• Christ, Messiah
• In the Lord
• Account
• Corinthians, First Epistle to the
• Faithful
• Instructor
• Offscouring
• Rod
• Shame

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings