New English Translation
1 Corinthians 4:15
15For though you may have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, because I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
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 people lie about us, we answer in a friendly manner. We are the world’s dirt and scum, even now. 14I am not writing these things to shame you, but to correct you as my dear children. For though you may have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, because I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. 16I encourage you, then, be imitators of me. 17For this reason, I have sent Timothy to you, who is my dear and faithful son in the Lord. He will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach them everywhere in every church.
Read all of 1 Corinthians 41 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 there will be a time when people will not tolerate sound teaching. Instead, following their own desires, they will accumulate teachers for themselves, because they have an insatiable curiosity to hear new things.
- 1 Corinthians 3:6I planted, Apollos watered, but God caused it to grow.
- 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 addressed both Jews and Greeks in the synagogue every Sabbath, attempting to persuade them.
- Romans 15:20And in this way I desire to preach where Christ has not been named, so as not to build on another person’s foundation,
- 2 Corinthians 3:1Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? We don’t need letters of recommendation to you or from you as some other people do, do we?
- Galatians 4:19My children – I am again undergoing birth pains until Christ is formed in you!
- Philemon 1:10I am appealing to you concerning my child, whose spiritual father I have become during my imprisonment, that is, Onesimus,
- James 1:18By his sovereign plan he gave us birth through the message of truth, that we would be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.
- 1 Peter 1:23You have been born anew, not from perishable but from imperishable seed, 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
In the dictionaries
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
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