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 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!

Context of 1 Corinthians 4:10

8Already you are full! Already you have become rich! Without us you have become kings! Indeed, I wish you were kings, so we also might be kings with you! 9For it seems to me that God has put us, the emissaries, on display last of all—like men sentenced to death. For we have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to people. We are fools for Messiah’s sake, but you are wise in Messiah! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, but we are dishonored! 11To this very hour we are both hungry and thirsty, dressed in rags and mistreated and homeless. 12We toil, working with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless. When we are 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 as an emissary of Messiah Yeshua by 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 and in fear and in much trembling.
• 1 Corinthians 3:18Let no one deceive himself. If anyone thinks he is wise in this age, let him become a fool so he may become wise.
• 2 Kings 9:11Then Jehu came out to the officers of his master, and one asked him, “Is everything all right? Why did this crazy fellow come to you?” He said to them, “You know the man and his babbling.”
• Hosea 9:7The days of punishment have come; the days of retribution have come. Let Israel know! The prophet is a fool; the man of the spirit is mad! For great is your iniquity and great the hostility.
• Acts 17:18Also some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers were conversing with him. Some were saying, “What’s this babbler trying to say?” while others, “He seems to be a proclaimer of foreign deities”—because he was proclaiming the Good News of Yeshua and the resurrection.
• Acts 26:24As Paul was thus making his defense, Festus says with a loud voice, “You’re crazy, Paul! Your great learning is driving you insane!”
• Matthew 5:11“Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, on account of Me.
• Matthew 10:22And you will be hated by all because of My name, but the one who endures to the end shall be saved.
• Matthew 24:9“Then they will hand you over to persecution and will kill you. You will be hated by all the nations because of My name.
• Luke 6:22Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you, and revile you, and spurn your name as evil on account of the Son of Man.
• Acts 9:16For I will show him how much he must suffer for My name’s sake.”
• 1 Peter 4:14If you are insulted for the name of Messiah, you are fortunate, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.
• 1 Corinthians 4:8Already you are full! Already you have become rich! Without us you have become kings! Indeed, I wish you were kings, so we also might be kings with you!
• 1 Corinthians 10:14Therefore, my dearly loved ones, 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