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.
• New International Version (NIV)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!
• 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 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

8You are already full! You are already rich! You have reigned as kings without us—and indeed I could wish you did reign, that we also might reign with you! 9For I think that God has displayed us, the apostles, last, as men condemned to death; for we have been made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men. 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! 11To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless. 12And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure;

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 Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,
• 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 was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling.
• 1 Corinthians 3:18Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise.
• 2 Kings 9:11Then Jehu came out to the servants of his master, and one said to him, “Is all well? Why did this madman come to you?” And he said to them, “You know the man and his babble.”
• Hosea 9:7The days of punishment have come; The days of recompense have come. Israel knows! The prophet is a fool, The spiritual man is insane, Because of the greatness of your iniquity and great enmity.
• Acts 17:18Then certain Epicurean and Stoic philosophers encountered him. And some said, “What does this babbler want to say?” Others said, “He seems to be a proclaimer of foreign gods,” because he preached to them Jesus and the resurrection.
• Acts 26:24Now as he thus made his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, you are beside yourself! Much learning is driving you mad!”
• Matthew 5:11“Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.
• Matthew 10:22And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.
• Matthew 24:9“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake.
• Luke 6:22Blessed are you when men hate you, And when they exclude you, And revile you, and cast out your name as evil, For the Son of Man’s sake.
• Acts 9:16For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.”
• 1 Peter 4:14If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.
• 1 Corinthians 4:8You are already full! You are already rich! You have reigned as kings without us—and indeed I could wish you did reign, that we also might reign with you!
• 1 Corinthians 10:14Therefore, my beloved, 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
• Account
• Corinthians, First Epistle to the
• Fool
• Instructor
• Offscouring
• Rod
• Shame
• Steward
• Honorable

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