1 Corinthians 4:14

1 Corinthians 4:14 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you.
• New International Version (NIV)I am writing this not to shame you but to warn you as my dear children.
• English Standard Version (ESV)I do not write these things to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children.
• New King James Version (NKJV)I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I warn you.

Context of 1 Corinthians 4:14

12We work wearily with our own hands to earn our living. We bless those who curse us. We are patient with those who abuse us. 13We appeal gently when evil things are said about us. Yet we are treated like the world’s garbage, like everybody’s trash—right up to the present moment. I am not writing these things to shame you, but to warn you as my beloved children. 15For even if you had ten thousand others to teach you about Christ, you have only one spiritual father. For I became your father in Christ Jesus when I preached the Good News to you. 16So I urge you to imitate me.

1 Corinthians 4:14 word by word

οὐκ ἐντρέπων ὑμᾶς γράφω ταῦτα, ἀλλ᾽ ὡς τέκνα μου ἀγαπητὰ νουθετῶν.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• I writeγράφωgraphō · to writeG1125
• notοὐou · noG3756
• these thingsοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• to shameἐντρέπωentrepō · to cause shameG1788
• youσύsu · youG4771
• butἀλλάalla · butG235
• asὡςhōs · as/whenG5613
• myἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• belovedἀγαπητόςagapētos · belovedG27
• sonsτέκνονteknon · childG5043
• I warnνουθετέωnoutheteō · to admonishG3560

Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 4:14

• 1 Corinthians 9:15Yet I have never used any of these rights. And I am not writing this to suggest that I want to start now. In fact, I would rather die than lose my right to boast about preaching without charge.
• 2 Corinthians 7:3I’m not saying this to condemn you. I said before that you are in our hearts, and we live or die together with you.
• 2 Corinthians 12:19Perhaps you think we’re saying these things just to defend ourselves. No, we tell you this as Christ’s servants, and with God as our witness. Everything we do, dear friends, is to strengthen you.
• 1 Corinthians 4:15For even if you had ten thousand others to teach you about Christ, you have only one spiritual father. For I became your father in Christ Jesus when I preached the Good News to you.
• 2 Corinthians 6:11Oh, dear Corinthian friends! We have spoken honestly with you, and our hearts are open to you.
• 2 Corinthians 11:11Why? Because I don’t love you? God knows that I do.
• 2 Corinthians 12:14Now I am coming to you for the third time, and I will not be a burden to you. I don’t want what you have—I want you. After all, children don’t provide for their parents. Rather, parents provide for their children.
• 1 Thessalonians 2:11And you know that we treated each of you as a father treats his own children.
• Ezekiel 3:21But if you warn righteous people not to sin and they listen to you and do not sin, they will live, and you will have saved yourself, too.”
• Acts 20:31Watch out! Remember the three years I was with you—my constant watch and care over you night and day, and my many tears for you.
• Colossians 1:28So we tell others about Christ, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all the wisdom God has given us. We want to present them to God, perfect in their relationship to Christ.
• 1 Thessalonians 5:14Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are lazy. Encourage those who are timid. Take tender care of those who are weak. Be patient with everyone.

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 4:14

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 14I write not these things to shame you - It is not by way of finding fault with you for not providing me with the necessaries of life that I write thus; but I do it to warn you to act differently for the time to come; and be not so ready to be drawn aside by every pretender to apostleship, to the neglect of those to whom, under God, you owe your salvation.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 14To shame you - It is not my design to put you to shame by showing you how little you suffer in comparison with us. This is not our design, though it may have this effect. I have no wish to make you ashamed, to appear to triumph over you or merely to taunt you. My design is higher and nobler than this. But as my beloved sons - As my dear children. I speak as a father to his children, and I say these things for your good. No father would desire to make his…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. 1414. warn--rather, "admonish" as a father uses "admonition" to "beloved sons," not provoking them to wrath (Ep 6:4). The Corinthians might well be "ashamed" at the disparity of state between the father, Paul, and his spiritual children themselves.Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Corinthians 4:14

• Love
• Zeal, Religious

In the dictionaries

• Account
• Corinthians, First Epistle to the
• Instructor
• Offscouring
• Rod
• Shame
• Steward
• Corinthians, First Epistle to the
• Paul, the Apostle
• beloved

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