1 Corinthians 4:12-13 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Corinthians 4:7-13

Here the apostle improves the foregoing hint to a caution against pride and self-conceit, and sets forth the temptations the Corinthians had to despise him, from the difference of their circumstances. I. He cautions them against pride and self-conceit by this consideration, that all the distinction made among them was owing to God: Who maketh thee to differ? And what hast thou that thou didst not receive? 1 Cor. 4:7. Here the apostle turns his discourse to the ministers who set themselves at... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 Corinthians 4:6-13

4:6-13 Brothers, I have transferred these things by way of illustration to myself and to Apollos, so that through us you may learn to observe the principle of not going beyond that which is written, so that none of you may speak boastfully of one teacher and disparagingly of the other. Who sees anything special in you? What do you possess that you did not receive? And, if you did receive it, why are you boasting as if you had acquired it yourself? No doubt you are already fed to the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 4:12

And labour, working with our own hands ,.... As the apostle did at Corinth, Acts 18:3 and elsewhere; partly to minister to his own necessities, and those of others; and partly that he might not be burdensome to the churches; and also to set an example of diligence and industry to others; though he had a right and power to claim a maintenance of those to whom he ministered. Being reviled, we bless ; as Christ commanded, Matthew 5:44 and the apostle himself directed and exhorted to, ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 4:13

Being defamed, we entreat ,.... Being blasphemed, as the word signifies, being evil spoken of, our good name taken away, and characters hurt; we entreat or pray to God for them, that he would convince them of their evil, give them repentance unto life, and remission of their sins, according to Christ's direction, Matthew 5:44 and in imitation of his example, Luke 23:34 or we entreat them; so the Syriac version reads it, בעינן מנהון , "we beseech them": not to blaspheme and speak evil... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 4:12

Working 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 is naturally a proud creature,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 4:13

Being defamed - Βλασφημουμενοι , Being blasphemed. I have already remarked that βλασφημειν signifies to speak injuriously, and may have reference either to God or to man. God is blasphemed when his attributes, doctrines, providence, or grace, are treated contemptuously, or any thing said of him that is contrary to his holiness, justice, goodness, or truth. Man is blasphemed when any thing injurious is spoken of his person, character, conduct, etc. Blaspheming against men is any thing by... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 4:12

Verse 12 12.When he says that while persecuted he suffers it, and that he prays for his revilers, he intimates that he is not merely afflicted and abased by God, by means of the cross, but is also endowed with a disposition to abase himself willingly. In this, perhaps, he gives a stroke to the false apostles, who were so effeminate and tender, that they could not bear to be touched even with your little finger. In speaking of their laboring he adds — with our own hands, to express more fully... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 4:13

Verse 13 13.As the execrations of the world. He makes use of two terms, the former of which denotes a man who, by public execrations, is devoted, with the view to the cleansing of a city, (244) for such persons, on the ground of their cleansing the rest of the people, by receiving in themselves whatever there is in the city of crimes, and heinous offense, are called by the Greeks sometimes καθαρμοι, but more frequently καθάρματα. (245) Paul, in adding the preposition περὶ (around) seems to have... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 4:6-13

Contrast between the inflated self sufficiency of the Corinthians and the earthly humiliation of the apostles. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 4:6-13

Against self conceit. Party spirit leads to the undue exaltation of men. The head of a faction becomes a hero in the eyes of those that belong to it. Two evil consequences follow—pride, self sufficiency, conceit, on the one hand; undue depreciation of others and boasting against them, on the other hand. Against this hateful spirit the apostle has already presented a variety of arguments; and while speaking chiefly of himself and Apollos, he has in reality been teaching us how to regard all... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Corinthians 4:7-13

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 Corinthians 4:6-13

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 4:12

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 4:13

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 4:12

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 4:13

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 4:12

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 4:13

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 4:6-13

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 4:6-13

Group of Brands