1 Corinthians 4:10

1 Corinthians 4:10 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)We are fools for Christ’s sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised.
• English Standard Version (ESV)We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute.
• New King James Version (NKJV)We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are dishonored!
• New Living Translation (NLT)Our dedication to Christ makes us look like fools, but you claim to be so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are so powerful! You are honored, but we are ridiculed.

Context of 1 Corinthians 4:10

8Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! You have begun to reign—and that without us! How I wish that you really had begun to reign so that we also might reign with you! 9For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display at the end of the procession, like those condemned to die in the arena. We have been made a spectacle to the whole universe, to angels as well as to human beings. We are fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, we are dishonored! 11To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless. 12We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it;

1 Corinthians 4:10 word by word

ἡμεῖς μωροὶ διὰ Χριστὸν ὑμεῖς δὲ φρόνιμοι ἐν Χριστῷ· ἡμεῖς ἀσθενεῖς ὑμεῖς δὲ ἰσχυροί· ὑμεῖς ἔνδοξοι ἡμεῖς δὲ ἄτιμοι.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Weἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• foolsμωρόςmōros · foolishG3474
• forδιάdia · through/because ofG1223
• Christ’s sakeΧριστόςChristos · ChristG5547
• butδέde · thenG1161
• yeσύsu · youG4771
• wiseφρόνιμοςphronimos · thoughtfulG5429
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• weakἀσθενήςasthenēs · weakG772
• strongἰσχυρόςischuros · strongG2478
• honourableἔνδοξοςendoxos · honoredG1741
• despisedἄτιμοςatimos · dishonoredG820

Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 4:10

• 1 Corinthians 1:1Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes,
• 1 Corinthians 1:18For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
• 1 Corinthians 2:3I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling.
• 1 Corinthians 3:18Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise by the standards of this age, you should become “fools” so that you may become wise.
• 2 Kings 9:11When Jehu went out to his fellow officers, one of them asked him, “Is everything all right? Why did this maniac come to you?” “You know the man and the sort of things he says,” Jehu replied.
• Hosea 9:7The days of punishment are coming, the days of reckoning are at hand. Let Israel know this. Because your sins are so many and your hostility so great, the prophet is considered a fool, the inspired person a maniac.
• Acts 17:18A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to debate with him. Some of them asked, “What is this babbler trying to say?” Others remarked, “He seems to be advocating foreign gods.” They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection.
• Acts 26:24At this point Festus interrupted Paul’s defense. “You are out of your mind, Paul!” he shouted. “Your great learning is driving you insane.”
• Matthew 5:11“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.
• Matthew 10:22You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.
• Matthew 24:9“Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me.
• Luke 6:22Blessed are you when people hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man.
• Acts 9:16I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”
• 1 Peter 4:14If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.
• 1 Corinthians 4:8Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! You have begun to reign—and that without us! How I wish that you really had begun to reign so that we also might reign with you!
• 1 Corinthians 10:14Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry.

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 4:10

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 10We are fools for Christ's sake - Here he still carries on the allusion to the public spectacles among the Romans, where they were accustomed to hiss, hoot, mock, and variously insult the poor victims. To this Philo alludes, in his embassy to Caius, speaking of the treatment which the Jews received at Rome: ̔ ͅ , , · "For, as if exhibited upon a theater, we are hissed, most outrageously hooted, and insulted beyond all bounds." Thus, says the apostle, we…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 10We are fools - This is evidently ironical. “We are doubtless foolish people, but ye are wise in Christ. We, Paul, Apollos, and Barnabas, have no claims to the character of wise men - we are to be regarded as fools, unworthy of confidence, and unfit to instruct; but you are full of wisdom.” For Christ‘s sake - ̀ ̀ dia ChristonOn account of Christ; or in reference to his cause, or in regard to the doctrines of the Christian religion. But ye are wise in…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 7-13Verses 7-13 We have no reason to be proud; all we have, or are, or do, that is good, is owing to the free and rich grace of God. A sinner snatched from destruction by sovereign grace alone, must be very absurd and inconsistent, if proud of the free gifts of God. St. Paul sets forth his own circumstances, ver. 9 Allusion is made to the cruel spectacles in the Roman games; where men were forced to cut one another to pieces, to divert the people; and where…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 8-13Paul points out the difference between himself and the Corinthians. Their attitudes show worldly wisdom, while his shows God's wisdom. The Corinthians were proud and thought they had achieved everything, but they still had much to learn (see Revelation 3:17–18; compare with Philippians 3:12–14). If they had truly achieved everything, they would share in Paul's suffering (1 Corinthians 4:11–13). Unlike the Corinthians, who were proud of their achievements…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1010. Irony. How much your lot (supposing it real) is to be envied, and ours to be pitied. fools--(1Co 1:21; 3:18; compare Ac 17:18; 26:24). for Christ's sake ... in Christ--Our connection with Christ only entails on us the lowest ignominy, "ON ACCOUNT OF," or, "FOR THE SAKE OF" Him, as "fools"; yours gives you full fellowship IN Him as "wise" (that is, supposing you really are all you seem, 1Co 3:18). we ... weak ... ye ... strong--(1Co 2:3; 2Co 13:9). we…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Corinthians 4:10

• Minister, Christian
• Persecution
• Pride
• Zeal, Religious

In the dictionaries

• Christ
• Christ, Messiah
• Account
• Corinthians, First Epistle to the
• Fool
• Instructor
• Offscouring
• Rod
• Shame
• Steward

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