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

13Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day. 14I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you. 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. 16Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me. 17For this cause have I sent unto you Timothy, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every Assembly.

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

• 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 they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
• 1 Corinthians 3:6I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
• 1 Corinthians 9:1Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord?
• Acts 18:4And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.
• Romans 15:20Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man’s foundation:
• 2 Corinthians 3:1Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you?
• Galatians 4:19My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,
• Philemon 1:10I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds:
• James 1:18Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
• 1 Peter 1:23Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

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