1 Corinthians 4:15

1 Corinthians 4:15 in other versions

• King James Version (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.
• New International Version (NIV)Even if you had ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel.
• English Standard Version (ESV)For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
• New King James Version (NKJV)For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.

Context of 1 Corinthians 4:15

13when we are slandered, we respond graciously. Even now, we are like the scum of the earth, like everyone’s garbage. 14I’m not writing this to shame you, but to warn you as my dear children. For you may have countless instructors in Christ, but you don’t have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. 16Therefore I urge you to imitate me. 17This is why I have sent Timothy to you. He is my dearly loved and faithful child in the Lord. He will remind you about my ways in Christ Jesus, just as I teach everywhere in every church.

1 Corinthians 4:15 word by word

ἐὰν γὰρ μυρίους παιδαγωγοὺς ἔχητε ἐν Χριστῷ ἀλλ᾽ οὐ πολλοὺς πατέρας· ἐν γὰρ Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ διὰ τοῦ εὐαγγελίου ἐγὼ ὑμᾶς ἐγέννησα.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Forγάρgar · forG1063
• thoughἐάνean · ifG1437
• ye haveἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
• ten thousandμύριοιmurioi · myriadG3463
• instructorsπαιδαγωγόςpaidagōgos · guardianG3807
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• ChristΧριστόςChristos · ChristG5547
• yetἀλλάalla · butG235
• notοὐou · noG3756
• manyπολύςpolus polos · muchG4183
• fathersπατήρpatēr · fatherG3962
• JesusἸησοῦςIēsous · JesusG2424
• Iἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• have begottenγεννάωgennaō · to begetG1080
• youσύsu · youG4771
• throughδιάdia · through/because ofG1223
• the gospelὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• the gospelεὐαγγέλιονeuaggelion · gospelG2098

Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 4:15

• 2 Timothy 4:3For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, will multiply teachers for themselves because they have an itch to hear what they want to hear.
• 1 Corinthians 3:6I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.
• 1 Corinthians 9:1Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord?
• Acts 18:4He reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath and tried to persuade both Jews and Greeks.
• Romans 15:20My aim is to preach the gospel where Christ has not been named, so that I will not build on someone else’s foundation,
• 2 Corinthians 3:1Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, like some, letters of recommendation to you or from you?
• Galatians 4:19My children, I am again suffering labor pains for you until Christ is formed in you.
• Philemon 1:10appeal to you for my son, Onesimus. I became his father while I was in chains.
• James 1:18By his own choice, he gave us birth by the word of truth so that we would be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
• 1 Peter 1:23because you have been born again — not of perishable seed but of imperishable — through the living and enduring word of God.

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 4:15

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 15For though ye have ten thousand instructers - , Myriads of leaders, that is, an indefinite multitude; for so the word is often used. The , from which we have our word pedagogue, which we improperly apply to a school master, was among the Greeks, the person or servant who attended a child, had the general care of him, and who led him to school for the purpose of being instructed by the , or teacher. It seems there were many at Corinth who offered their…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 15For though ye have ten thousand instructors - Though you may have or though you should have. It matters not how many you have, yet it is still true that I only sustain the relation to you of spiritual father, and whatever respect it is proper for you to have toward them, yet there is a special right which I have to admonish you, and a special deference which is due to me, from my early labors among you, and from the fact that you are my spiritual…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. 14-16As their spiritual father who first shared the good news about Jesus, Paul shows his true concern for their well-being (see 1 Thessalonians 2:11–12). As his beloved children, they should listen to him and follow his example and teachings (see 1 Corinthians 11:1; Galatians 4:12; Philippians 3:17; 4:9; 1 Thessalonians 1:6; 2 Thessalonians 3:7–9).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1515. ten thousand--implying that the Corinthians had more of them than was desirable. instructors--tutors who had the care of rearing, but had not the rights, or peculiar affection, of the father, who alone had begotten them spiritually. in Christ--Paul admits that these "instructors" were not mere legalists, but evangelical teachers. He uses, however, a stronger phrase of himself in begetting them spiritually, "In Christ Jesus," implying both the…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Corinthians 4:15

• Love
• Minister, Christian
• Zeal, Religious

In the dictionaries

• Christ
• Jesus
• Christ, Messiah
• Jesus, Jesus Christ, Christ Jesus
• Christ, Jesus
• Account
• Corinthians, First Epistle to the
• Instructor
• Offscouring
• Rod

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