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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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 4:14

I write not these things to shame you ,.... Though they had a great deal of reason to be ashamed of the vain opinion they had of themselves, and that they suffered the faithful ministers of Christ to want the necessaries of life, when they abounded so much with the good things of it; and though the apostle's view in giving this narrative was to bring them under a sense of their faults, and to a conviction of them, and so to shame for them, in order to their future reformation and amendment;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 4:15

For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ ,.... Or "schoolmasters"; by whom he means the false teachers, whom, for argument sake, he admits to be instructors in Christ, or ministers of his, as in 2 Corinthians 11:23 and who were many, and of whose number the Corinthians boasted; though they were not so numerous as here supposed; for the expression is hyperbolical: perhaps some reference may be had to the multitude of schoolmasters, tutors, and governors, and who also were... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 4:16

Wherefore, I beseech you ,.... Though he might have used the power and authority of a father, yet he chose rather to entreat and beseech them; saying, be ye followers of me ; for who should children follow, but their parents? The Vulgate Latin, adds, "as I am of Christ"; so Chrysostom in his time read it; and Beza says he found it so written in one Greek exemplar; and so it is in one of Stephens's; it seems to have crept in from 1 Corinthians 11:1 . However, though it might not be now... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 4:17

For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus ,.... This is an instance of his care of them, concern for them and respect unto them; that he not only writes unto them, giving his best advice and counsel, promising to come unto them; but in the mean while sends Timothy to them, whose character is here given as one dear to him, and in all things trusty and faithful: who is my beloved son ; so, in his epistles to him, he often styles him his son, his own son in the faith, his dearly beloved... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 4:18

Now some are puffed up ,.... Some with their gifts, learning, and eloquence, and with the high station they were in, in the church; believing they should continue therein undisturbed, thinking them selves safe and secure through the absence of the apostle, and which they flattered themselves would always be the case: as though I would not come to you ; and others that were for Apollos and Cephas against Paul, were puffed up against their fellow members on the same account; hoping they... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 4:19

But I will come to you shortly ,.... This he said as threatening them, but not by way of prophecy; for it is not certain that he ever did come to them after this; but by way of promise, as it was then the real intention, inclination, and resolution of his mind, though with this condition, if the Lord will ; which is rightly put, and what the apostle had a continual regard unto, in all things he was concerned; see Romans 1:10 and though it is not absolutely necessary that this should be... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 4:20

For the kingdom of God ,.... By "the kingdom of God" is not meant the kingdom of heaven, or the ultimate glory and happiness of the saints; though that is a kingdom prepared by God, which he gives to his children, calls them to by his grace, and will give them an abundant entrance into, when time shall be no more with them; and though that is not attained to "in", or "by word", by mere talk and profession; not everyone that says Lord, Lord, shall enter into it; or that professes the name of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 4:8

Now ye - Corinthians are full of secular wisdom; now ye are rich, both in wealth and spiritual gifts; ( 1 Corinthians 14:26 ;): ye have reigned as kings, flourishing in the enjoyment of these things, in all tranquillity and honor; without any want of us: and I would to God ye did reign, in deed, and not in conceit only, that we also, poor, persecuted, and despised apostles, might reign with you. - Whitby. Though this paraphrase appears natural, yet I am of opinion that the apostle here... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 4:9

God hath set forth us the apostles last - This whole passage is well explained by Dr. Whitby. "Here the apostle seems to allude to the Roman spectacles, της των θηριομαχων, και μονομαχιας ανδροφονου , that of the Bestiarii and the gladiators, where in the morning men were brought upon the theatres to fight with wild beasts, and to them was allowed armor to defend themselves and smite the beasts that assailed them; but in the meridian or noon-day spectacles the gladiators were brought forth... read more

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