1 Corinthians 4:15

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 4:15

Spiritual paternity. "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." The subject of these words is spiritual paternity, and three remarks are suggested. I. THAT ONE MAN MAY BECOME THE SPIRITUAL FATHER OF ANOTHER . What is it to become the spiritual father of another? 1. Something more than to become the father of one's ideas. There are men in society gifted with... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 4:15

Children, tutors, and fathers. Our religion makes use of all the many and various relationships that obtain among men to set forth and to assist us in understanding spiritual realities. I. GENERALLY SPEAKING , CHRISTIANS MAY BE DESCRIBED AS CHILDREN . 1. Like the Corinthians, most members of the Church of Christ need constant and watchful care. Providence has appointed that children should be born more dependent than the offspring of the inferior animals upon... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Corinthians 4:15

For 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 children.Instructers - Greek: pedagogues; or... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Corinthians 4:14-16

1 Corinthians 4:14-16. I write not these things to shame you Publicly to disgrace you, and stain your credit with other churches; but as my beloved sons I warn you Show you in a mild and tender way what is wrong in your conduct, and put you in mind of your duty. It is with admirable prudence and sweetness the apostle adds this, to prevent any unkind construction of his words. For though you have ten thousand instructers To advance you in the knowledge of Christ; yet have ye not many... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 4:1-21

Attitudes towards God’s servants (4:1-21)What the Corinthians think about the servants of God is not important. God is the one who gives his servants their work and they are responsible to him, not to anyone else (4:1-2). Paul is not concerned about the Corinthians’ assessment of him. Even Paul himself cannot properly assess how true his service has been. He may not know of any failure in his service, but that does not mean he is faultless. The only judgment that matters is the one that will... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 1 Corinthians 4:15

thought = if. App-118 . b have = should have. instructers . Greek. paidagogos. Only here and Galatians 1:3 , Galatians 1:24 , Gal 1:25 . Christ Jesus . App-98 . have begotten = begat. Greek. gennao. Compare Philemon 1:10 . gospel . App-140 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 4:15

For though ye have ten thousand tutors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I begat you through the gospel.Ten thousand tutors ... An element of humor is in this, for certainly that many tutors is too many; and if the word is rendered "guides," as by some, it would still be far too many. Just how many guides could one follow, anyway? As McGarvey said, "The large number rebukes their itch for teachers."[33] The meaning both of "tutor" and of "guide" derives from the Greek... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - 1 Corinthians 4:15

15. 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 Saviour's office and person. As Paul was the means... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 Corinthians 4:10-21

A. Divisions in the church 1:10-4:21The first major problem that Paul addressed was the divisions that were fragmenting this church.". . . this opening issue is the most crucial in the letter, not because their ’quarrels’ were the most significant error in the church, but because the nature of this particular strife had as its root cause their false theology, which had exchanged the theology of the cross for a false triumphalism that went beyond, or excluded, the cross." [Note: Idem, The First... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 Corinthians 4:14-15

It was not Paul’s purpose in writing the immediately preceding verses to humiliate the Corinthians. Other congregations would read this epistle. However, he did want to admonish them strongly as their father in the faith. They had many "tutors" or "guardians" (Gr. paidagogoi) who sought to bring them along in their growth in grace, but he was their only spiritual father."The paidagogos was the personal attendant who accompanied the boy, took him to school and home again, heard him recite his... read more

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