Tree of Life Version
1 Corinthians 4:15
15For though you may have ten thousand guardians in Messiah, yet you do not have many fathers. For in Messiah Yeshua, I became your father through the Good News.
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
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. For though you may have ten thousand guardians in Messiah, yet you do not have many fathers. For in Messiah Yeshua, I became your father through the Good News. 16I urge you therefore—be imitators of me. 17For this reason I have sent you Timothy, my dearly loved and faithful child in the Lord. He will remind you of my ways in Messiah, just as I teach everywhere in every community.
Read all of 1 Corinthians 41 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
Words taken from the KJV.
- 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 put up with sound instruction, but they will pile up for themselves teachers in keeping with their own desires, to have their ears tickled.
- 1 Corinthians 3:6I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.
- 1 Corinthians 9:1Am I not free? Am I not an emissary? Have I not seen Yeshua our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord?
- Acts 18:4And he was debating every Shabbat in the synagogue, trying to persuade both Jewish and Greek people.
- Romans 15:20In this way I make it my aim to proclaim the Good News not where Messiah was already named, lest I build on another person’s foundation,
- 2 Corinthians 3:1Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some do, letters of recommendation to you or from you?
- Galatians 4:19My dear children! Again I suffer labor pains until Messiah is formed in you.
- Philemon 1:10I beg you for my child Onesimus—for whom I became a spiritual father while in chains.
- James 1:18By His will, He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all He created.
- 1 Peter 1:23You have been born again—not from perishable seed but imperishable—through the living and enduring word of God.
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
In the dictionaries
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
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