1 Corinthians 4:12

1 Corinthians 4:12 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:
• New International Version (NIV)We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it;
• English Standard Version (ESV)and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure;
• New King James Version (NKJV)And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure;

Context of 1 Corinthians 4:12

10We 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. We toil, working with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless. When we are persecuted, we endure. 13When we are slandered, we speak kindly. We have become the scum of the earth, the dregs of all things—even to this moment. 14I do not write these things to make you ashamed, but to warn you as my dearly loved children.

1 Corinthians 4:12 word by word

καὶ κοπιῶμεν ἐργαζόμενοι ταῖς ἰδίαις χερσίν· λοιδορούμενοι εὐλογοῦμεν, διωκόμενοι ἀνεχόμεθα,Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Andκαίkai · andG2532
• labourκοπιάωkopiaō · to laborG2872
• workingἐργάζομαιergazomai · to workG2038
• with our ownἴδιοςidios · one's own/privateG2398
• handsχείρcheir · handG5495
• being reviledλοιδορέωloidoreō · to revileG3058
• we blessεὐλογέωeulogeō · to praise/blessG2127
• being persecutedδιώκωdiōkō · to pursueG1377
• we suffer itἀνέχωanechomai · to endureG430

Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 4:12

• 1 Corinthians 9:6Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to not work?
• Acts 18:3and because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them and began working, for by trade they were tent-makers.
• Acts 20:34You yourselves know that these hands of mine have provided for my own needs as well as for those with me.
• 1 Thessalonians 2:9For you recall, brothers and sisters, our labor and hardship—working night and day, so as not to burden any of you while we proclaimed to you the Good News of God.
• 2 Thessalonians 3:8And we did not eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but worked night and day with labor and hardship, so as not to burden any of you.
• 1 Timothy 4:10(for to this end we work hard and strive): “We have set our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially those who trust.”
• Matthew 5:44But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
• Luke 6:28bless those who curse you, pray for the ones who mistreat you.
• Luke 23:34But Yeshua was saying, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” Then they cast lots, dividing up His clothing.
• Acts 7:60Then he fell on his knees and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!” After he said this, he died.
• Romans 12:14Bless those who persecute you—bless and do not curse.
• 1 Peter 2:23When He was abused, He did not return the abuse. While suffering, He made no threats. Instead, He kept entrusting Himself to the One who judges righteously.
• 1 Peter 3:9Do not repay evil for evil or insult for insult, but give a blessing instead—it is for this reason you were called, so that you might inherit a blessing.
• Jude 1:9But when Michael the archangel, disputing with the devil, was arguing about the body of Moses, he did not dare to render a judgment against him for slander, but said, “May the Lord rebuke you!”
• 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.
• 1 Peter 3:14But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. Do not be afraid or worry about their threats.

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 4:12

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 12Working with our own hands - They were obliged to labor in order to supply themselves with the necessaries of life while preaching the Gospel to others. This, no doubt, was the case in every place were no Church had been as yet formed: afterwards, the people of God supplied their ministers, according to their power, with food and raiment. Being reviled, we bless, etc. - What a most amiable picture does this exhibit of the power of the grace of Christ! Man…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 12And labour … - This Paul often did. See the note at Acts 18:3; compare Acts 20:34; 1 Thessalonians 2:9. 2 Thessalonians 3:8. Being reviled - That they were often reviled or reproached, their history everywhere shows. See the Acts of the Apostles. They were reviled or ridiculed as Jews by the Gentiles; and jeered by all as “Nazarenes,” and as deluded followers of Jesus; as the victims of a foolish superstition and enthusiasm. We bless - We return good for…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. 12We work hard with our own hands: To avoid accusations of taking money, Paul chose to support himself (1 Corinthians 9:3–18; Acts 18:3; 20:33–35). When we are vilified, we bless: Paul's response followed the teachings of Jesus (Matthew 5:44–45; compare Romans 12:14, 17–21).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1212. working with our own hands--namely, "even unto this present hour" (1Co 4:11). This is not stated in the narrative of Paul's proceedings at Ephesus, from which city he wrote this Epistle (though it is expressly stated of him at Corinth, compare Ac 18:3, 19). But in his address to the Ephesian elders at Miletus (Ac 20:34), he says, "Ye yourselves know that these hands have ministered unto my necessities," &c. The undesignedness of the coincidence thus…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Corinthians 4:12

• Forgiveness
• Minister, Christian
• Paul
• Persecution
• Self-Denial
• Suffering
• Zeal, Religious

In the dictionaries

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

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