1 Corinthians 4:7-11 ASV

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 4:7

For who maketh thee to differ from another ,.... This question, and the following, are put to the members of this church, who were glorying in, and boasting of the ministers under whom they were converted, and by whom they were baptized, to the neglect and contempt of others; when the apostle would have them consider, and whatever difference was made between them and others, was made, not by man, but God; that whatever good and benefit they had enjoyed under their respective ministers, were... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 4:8

Now ye are full ,.... That is, in their own opinion: these words, and some following expressions, are an ironical concession. They were not full of God, and divine things; nor of Christ, and of grace out of his fulness; nor of the Holy Ghost, and of faith, as Stephen and Barnabas are said to be; nor of joy and peace in believing; nor of goodness and spiritual knowledge; but they were full of themselves, and were pulled up in their fleshly minds with an opinion of their abilities, learning,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 4:9

For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last ,.... Meaning either in time, in respect to the prophets and patriarchs under the former dispensation; and to the apostles, who were sent forth by Christ when on earth; when he, and Barnabas, and others, had received their mission since his ascension; or in state and condition, who though they were set in the first place in the church, yet were the least in the esteem of men; and were treated as the most mean, vile, and abject of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 4:10

We are fools for Christ's sake ,.... They were so in the esteem of men, for their close attach merit to a crucified Christ; and for preaching the doctrine of salvation by him; and for enduring so much reproach, affliction, and persecution, for his sake and the Gospel's: but ye are wise in Christ . This is ironically said; for his meaning is not that they were truly wise in Christ, in the knowledge and faith of him, in preaching his Gospel, or professing his name; but they were so in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 4:11

Even unto this present hour ,.... What is about to be related was not what befell the apostles now and then, and a great while ago; but what for a considerable time, and unto the present time, was more or less the common constant series and course of life they were inured to: we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked ; wanted the common necessaries of life, food to eat, and raiment to put on, and gold and silver to purchase any with; which might be, when, as it was sometimes their case,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 4:7

For who maketh thee to differ - It is likely that the apostle is here addressing himself to some one of those puffed up teachers, who was glorying in his gifts, and in the knowledge he had of the Gospel, etc. As if he had said: If thou hast all that knowledge which thou professest to have, didst thou not receive it from myself or some other of my fellow helpers who first preached the Gospel at Corinth? God never spoke to thee to make thee an apostle. Hast thou a particle of light that thou... 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

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 4:7

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 4:8

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 4:9

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 4:10

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 4:11

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 4:7

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

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

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