The Meaning of 1 Corinthians 4:10 Explained

1 Corinthians 4:10

KJV: We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised.

YLT: we are fools because of Christ, and ye wise in Christ; we are ailing, and ye strong; ye glorious, and we dishonoured;

Darby: We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye prudent in Christ: we weak, but ye strong: ye glorious, but we in dishonour.

ASV: We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye have glory, but we have dishonor.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

We  [are] fools  for  Christ's  sake,  but  ye  [are] wise  in  Christ;  we  [are] weak,  but  ye  [are] strong;  ye  [are] honourable,  but  we  [are] despised. 

What does 1 Corinthians 4:10 Mean?

Verse Meaning

These contrasts between the apostles and the Corinthians clarify the differences in their conditions. Natural men thought the apostles were fools, but they were willing to suffer this judgment for Christ"s sake. The Corinthians and others, on the other hand, regarded themselves as prudent in their behavior as Christians. To the naturally wise the apostles looked weak, but the Corinthians appeared strong. They looked distinguished while the apostles seemed to be dishonorable.

Context Summary

1 Corinthians 4:1-13 - Stewards Responsible To Their Lord
At the most the ministers or teachers of God's Gospel are but stewards of the hidden things of God, according to Matthew 13:51-52. They ought not to attract attention to themselves or to the way they purvey their Master's goods. Their prime object is to be faithful to their trust; to make much of the Master and as little as possible of themselves. Paul was not aware that he had violated his Master's confidence, but he could not be content till he had heard the Master's verdict on his life-work. Notice the four courts of appeal-my own judgment, your judgment, man's judgment, and Christ's. The Master will reverse many human judgments, but all will bear witness to the absolute justice of His verdict.
In vivid words the Apostle shows how great was the difference between the ease and self-satisfaction of the Corinthian church and the sorry plight to which he and his fellow-workers were often reduced. Many regarded them as the captives in a conqueror's triumphal procession, who behind the triumphal car were being-marched to death. But it mattered little to them so long as Christ was adored, loved, glorified, and His Kingdom advanced. [source]

Chapter Summary: 1 Corinthians 4

1  In what account the apostles ought to be regarded
7  We have nothing which we have not received
9  The apostles spectacles to the world, angels, and men;
13  the filth and offscouring of the world;
15  yet our fathers in Christ;
16  whom we ought to follow

Greek Commentary for 1 Corinthians 4:10

We - you [ημεισυμεις]
Triple contrast in keenest ironical emphasis. “The three antitheses refer respectively to teaching, demeanour, and worldly position” (Robertson and Plummer). The apostles were fools for Christ‘s sake (2 Corinthians 4:11; Philemon 3:7). They made “union with Christ the basis of worldly wisdom” (Vincent). There is change of order (chiasm) in the third ironical contrast. They are over strong in pretension. Ενδοχος — Endoxos illustrious, is one of the 103 words found only in Luke and Paul in the N.T. Notion of display and splendour. [source]
For Christ's sake - in Christ [δια Χριστόν - ἐν Χριστῷ]
We apostles are fools in the world's eyes on account of ( διὰ ) Christ, because we know and preach nothing but Christ: You are wise in Christ, as Christians, making your Christianity a means to your worldly greatness - union with Christ the basis of worldly wisdom. “Wise men are ye in your connection with Christ! Sagacious, enlightened Christians!” (Meyer). [source]
Honorable [ἔνδοξοι]
With a suggestion of display and splendor. Right honorable are ye! [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 1 Corinthians 4:10

Acts 20:18 From the first day that [απο πρωτης ημερας απ ης]
“From first day from which.” He had first “set foot” Literally, “How I came (from Asia and so was) with you.” Cf. 1 Thessalonians 1:5; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-10 where Paul likewise dares to refer boldly to his life while with them “all the time” (τον παντα χρονον — ton panta chronon). Accusative of duration of time. So far as we know, Paul stuck to Ephesus the whole period. He had devoted himself consecratedly to the task in Ephesus. Each pastor is bishop of his field and has a golden opportunity to work it for Christ. One of the saddest things about the present situation is the restlessness of preachers to go elsewhere instead of devoting themselves wholly to the task where they are. 19. Serving the Lord It was Paul‘s glory to be the δουλος — doulos (bond-slave) as in Romans 1:1; Philemon 1:1. Paul alone, save Jesus in Matthew 6:24; Luke 16:13, uses δουλευω — douleuō six times for serving God (Page). With all lowliness of mind (μετα πασης ταπεινοπροσυνης — meta pasēs tapeinophrosunēs). Lightfoot notes that heathen writers use this word for a grovelling, abject state of mind, but Paul follows Christ in using it for humility, humble-mindedness that should mark every Christian and in particular the preacher. With tears Construed with μετα — meta Paul was a man of the deepest emotion along with his high intellectuality. He mentions his tears again in Acts 20:31, tears of sorrow and of anxiety. He refers to his tears in writing the sharp letter to the church in Corinth (2 Corinthians 2:4) and in denouncing the sensual apostates in Philemon 3:18. Adolphe Monod has a wonderful sermon on the tears of Paul. Consider also the tears of Jesus. Trials which befell me (πειρασμων των συμβαντων μοι — peirasmōn tōn sumbantōn moi). Construed also with μετα — meta Second aorist active participle of συνβαινω — sunbain to walk with, to go with, to come together, to happen, to befall. Very common in this sense in the old Greek (cf. Acts 3:10). By the plots of the Jews Like the plot (επιβουλη — epiboulē) against him in Corinth (Acts 20:3) as well as the earlier trial before Gallio and the attacks in Thessalonica. In Acts 19:9 Luke shows the hostile attitude of the Jews in Ephesus that drove Paul out of the synagogue to the school of Tyrannus. He does not describe in detail these “plots” which may easily be imagined from Paul‘s own letters and may be even referred to in 1 Corinthians 4:10; 1 Corinthians 15:30.; 1 Corinthians 16:9; 2 Corinthians 1:4-10; 2 Corinthians 7:5; 2 Corinthians 11:23. In fact, one has only to dwell on the allusions in 2 Corinthians 11 to picture what Paul‘s life was in Ephesus during these three years. Luke gives in Acts 19 the outbreak of Demetrius, but Paul had already fought with “wild-beasts” there. [source]
Acts 20:18 Serving the Lord [δουλευων τωι κυριωι]
It was Paul‘s glory to be the δουλος — doulos (bond-slave) as in Romans 1:1; Philemon 1:1. Paul alone, save Jesus in Matthew 6:24; Luke 16:13, uses δουλευω — douleuō six times for serving God (Page). With all lowliness of mind (μετα πασης ταπεινοπροσυνης — meta pasēs tapeinophrosunēs). Lightfoot notes that heathen writers use this word for a grovelling, abject state of mind, but Paul follows Christ in using it for humility, humble-mindedness that should mark every Christian and in particular the preacher. With tears Construed with μετα — meta Paul was a man of the deepest emotion along with his high intellectuality. He mentions his tears again in Acts 20:31, tears of sorrow and of anxiety. He refers to his tears in writing the sharp letter to the church in Corinth (2 Corinthians 2:4) and in denouncing the sensual apostates in Philemon 3:18. Adolphe Monod has a wonderful sermon on the tears of Paul. Consider also the tears of Jesus. Trials which befell me (πειρασμων των συμβαντων μοι — peirasmōn tōn sumbantōn moi). Construed also with μετα — meta Second aorist active participle of συνβαινω — sunbain to walk with, to go with, to come together, to happen, to befall. Very common in this sense in the old Greek (cf. Acts 3:10). By the plots of the Jews Like the plot (επιβουλη — epiboulē) against him in Corinth (Acts 20:3) as well as the earlier trial before Gallio and the attacks in Thessalonica. In Acts 19:9 Luke shows the hostile attitude of the Jews in Ephesus that drove Paul out of the synagogue to the school of Tyrannus. He does not describe in detail these “plots” which may easily be imagined from Paul‘s own letters and may be even referred to in 1 Corinthians 4:10; 1 Corinthians 15:30.; 1 Corinthians 16:9; 2 Corinthians 1:4-10; 2 Corinthians 7:5; 2 Corinthians 11:23. In fact, one has only to dwell on the allusions in 2 Corinthians 11 to picture what Paul‘s life was in Ephesus during these three years. Luke gives in Acts 19 the outbreak of Demetrius, but Paul had already fought with “wild-beasts” there. [source]
Acts 20:18 With tears [δακρυων]
Construed with μετα — meta Paul was a man of the deepest emotion along with his high intellectuality. He mentions his tears again in Acts 20:31, tears of sorrow and of anxiety. He refers to his tears in writing the sharp letter to the church in Corinth (2 Corinthians 2:4) and in denouncing the sensual apostates in Philemon 3:18. Adolphe Monod has a wonderful sermon on the tears of Paul. Consider also the tears of Jesus. Trials which befell me (πειρασμων των συμβαντων μοι — peirasmōn tōn sumbantōn moi). Construed also with μετα — meta Second aorist active participle of συνβαινω — sunbain to walk with, to go with, to come together, to happen, to befall. Very common in this sense in the old Greek (cf. Acts 3:10). By the plots of the Jews Like the plot (επιβουλη — epiboulē) against him in Corinth (Acts 20:3) as well as the earlier trial before Gallio and the attacks in Thessalonica. In Acts 19:9 Luke shows the hostile attitude of the Jews in Ephesus that drove Paul out of the synagogue to the school of Tyrannus. He does not describe in detail these “plots” which may easily be imagined from Paul‘s own letters and may be even referred to in 1 Corinthians 4:10; 1 Corinthians 15:30.; 1 Corinthians 16:9; 2 Corinthians 1:4-10; 2 Corinthians 7:5; 2 Corinthians 11:23. In fact, one has only to dwell on the allusions in 2 Corinthians 11 to picture what Paul‘s life was in Ephesus during these three years. Luke gives in Acts 19 the outbreak of Demetrius, but Paul had already fought with “wild-beasts” there. [source]
Acts 20:18 By the plots of the Jews [εν ταις επιβουλαις των Ιουδαιων]
Like the plot (επιβουλη — epiboulē) against him in Corinth (Acts 20:3) as well as the earlier trial before Gallio and the attacks in Thessalonica. In Acts 19:9 Luke shows the hostile attitude of the Jews in Ephesus that drove Paul out of the synagogue to the school of Tyrannus. He does not describe in detail these “plots” which may easily be imagined from Paul‘s own letters and may be even referred to in 1 Corinthians 4:10; 1 Corinthians 15:30.; 1 Corinthians 16:9; 2 Corinthians 1:4-10; 2 Corinthians 7:5; 2 Corinthians 11:23. In fact, one has only to dwell on the allusions in 2 Corinthians 11 to picture what Paul‘s life was in Ephesus during these three years. Luke gives in Acts 19 the outbreak of Demetrius, but Paul had already fought with “wild-beasts” there. [source]
1 Thessalonians 1:2 We give thanks [εὐχαριστοῦμεν]
According to Paul's habit, a thanksgiving follows the salutation, commonly with the verb ἐυχαριστεῖν as here; but in 2nd Corinthians and Ephesians, εὐλογητὸς ὁ θεός blessedbe God. The thanksgiving is omitted only in Galatians. The verb εὐχαριστεῖν occurs only in later Greek, and there but rarely. In lxx only in Apocr. See Judith 8:25; 2 Maccabees 1:11; 10:7; 3 Maccabees 7:16. In the N.T. Epistles, PoOriginally to do a good turn; hence, to return a favor. The meaning to give thanks is late. The kindred noun εὐχαριστία givingof thanks, is found often in Paul. As a designation of the Lord's Supper (Eucharist ) it is not found in the N.T. Perhaps the earliest instance of its use in that sense is in Ignatius. See Philad. iv.; Smyrn. iv., viii.; Eph. viii., Comp. Just. Mart. Apol. i., 64,65. In we give thanks, it is not easy to decide whether Paul uses we as plural, or in the sense of I. Romans 3:9seems to be a clear case of the latter usage. In 1 Thessalonians 3:1, 1 Thessalonians 3:2, ηὐδοκήσαμεν wethought it good, and ἐπέμψαμεν wesent, can, apparently, refer only to Paul; and similarly, in 1 Thessalonians 3:6, πρὸς ἡμᾶς untous, can hardly include Silvanus who came with Timothy (comp. 1 Thessalonians 3:5). But it is significant that, in the Epistles which are written in Paul's name alone (Romans, Galatians, Ephesians), only I is used, unless we except Galatians 1:8, which is doubtful. Paul and Timothy appear jointly as correspondents in Philippians, but the first person predominates throughout the letter. The same is true of 1st Corinthians, where Paul and Sosthenes are associated in the address, but the singular pronoun is used almost throughout. (See 1 Corinthians 4:10-13; 1 Corinthians 9:4, 1 Corinthians 9:5, 1 Corinthians 9:25, 1 Corinthians 9:26). In Colossians Paul and Timothy appear in the address. The plural prevails to Colossians 1:23, and alternates with the singular throughout the remainder. The alternations in 2nd Corinthians are very bewildering. -DIVIDER-
-DIVIDER-
On the whole, I think that occasional instances of the epistolary plural must be granted. It is not, however, Paul's habitual usage. We is often employed as in ordinary correspondence or argument, where the writer or speaker associates himself with his readers or hearers. Abundant illustrations of this may be seen in Romans href="/desk/?q=ro+1:9&sr=1">Romans 1:9; Ephesians 1:16; Philemon 1:4. Always in connection with prayer. In the sense of remember it appears in lxx, Job 14:13. In Psalm 111:4, to make a memorial. See further, on without ceasing, 1 Thessalonians 1:3. [source]

2 Timothy 2:23 Foolish [μωρὰς]
In Pastorals only here and Titus 3:9. Μωρός means dull, sluggish, stupid: applied to the taste, flat, insipid: comp. μωρανθῇ havelost his savor, Matthew 5:13. In Pastorals never substantively, a fool, but so in 1 Corinthians 3:18; 1 Corinthians 4:10. Comp. ἄφρων , 1 Corinthians 15:36. [source]

What do the individual words in 1 Corinthians 4:10 mean?

We [are] fools on account of Christ you however wise in Christ weak strong honored without honor
Ἡμεῖς μωροὶ διὰ Χριστόν ὑμεῖς δὲ φρόνιμοι ἐν Χριστῷ ἀσθενεῖς ἰσχυροί ἔνδοξοι ἄτιμοι

μωροὶ  [are]  fools 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: μωρός  
Sense: foolish.
διὰ  on  account  of 
Parse: Preposition
Root: διά  
Sense: through.
Χριστόν  Christ 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: Χριστός  
Sense: Christ was the Messiah, the Son of God.
δὲ  however 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: δέ  
Sense: but, moreover, and, etc.
φρόνιμοι  wise 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: φρόνιμος  
Sense: intelligent, wise.
Χριστῷ  Christ 
Parse: Noun, Dative Masculine Singular
Root: Χριστός  
Sense: Christ was the Messiah, the Son of God.
ἀσθενεῖς  weak 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: ἀσθενής  
Sense: weak, infirm, feeble.
ἰσχυροί  strong 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: ἰσχυρός  
Sense: strong, mighty.
ἔνδοξοι  honored 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: ἔνδοξος  
Sense: held in good or in great esteem, of high repute.
ἄτιμοι  without  honor 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: ἄτιμος  
Sense: without honour, unhonoured, dishonoured.