The Meaning of 1 Corinthians 4:14 Explained

1 Corinthians 4:14

KJV: I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you.

YLT: Not as putting you to shame do I write these things, but as my beloved children I do admonish,

Darby: Not as chiding do I write these things to you, but as my beloved children I admonish you.

ASV: I write not these things to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

I write  not  these things  to shame  you,  but  as  my  beloved  sons  I warn  [you]. 

What does 1 Corinthians 4:14 Mean?

Study Notes

sons
(Greek - τέκνον , child, "born one)."

Context Summary

1 Corinthians 4:14-21 - Teaching Converts Christ's Ways
The relationship between the Apostle and his converts was very tender. They were his children. They might have instructors and tutors, but they could have but one father; and as father he might have to use the rod. Love can be stern and punitive. Spare the rod and spoil the child. It is not pure but selfish love that forbears to speak and act strongly when eternal interests are at stake. This is an aspect of God's love which is likely to be overlooked. If we escape chastisement, we are bastards and not sons. "What son is he whom the father chasteneth not?" Hebrews 12:5-11.
The beloved Timothy was sent to bring the recreant church back to its old love and faith. He was well fitted to represent the Apostle till Paul could tear himself from his thronging duties at Ephesus. Notice that God's kingdom comes in power, not in word, 1 Corinthians 4:21. Is not this the reason why it comes so slowly? We treat it as though it would come through our much speaking, through eloquent and honeyed speech. But it is not so. It comes in the power of the Holy Spirit, and in that supremacy of the Divine Spirit over all other spirit forces. God send us more of this great dynamic! [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 4:14

To shame you [εντρεπων]
Literally, shaming you (present active participle of εντρεπω — entrepō), old verb to turn one on himself either middle or with reflexive pronoun and active, but the reflexive εαυτοις — heautois is not expressed here. See note on 2 Thessalonians 3:14. The harsh tone has suddenly changed. [source]
To shame [ἐντρέπων]
Lit., as shaming. See on Matthew 21:37. The verb means to turn about, hence to turn one upon himself; put him to shame. Compare 2 Thessalonians 3:14; Titus 2:8. Also, in the middle voice, in the sense of reverence; to turn one's self toward another. See Mark 12:6; Luke 18:2. The kindred noun ἐντροπή occurs twice: 1 Corinthians 6:5; 1 Corinthians 15:34. Compare Sophocles: “Think you he will have any regard ( ἐντροπὴν ) for the blind man” (“Oedipus at Colonos,” 299). [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 1 Corinthians 4:14

1 Corinthians 6:5 To your shame [πρὸς ἐντροπὴν ὑμῖν]
Lit., I speak to you with a view to shame; i.e., to move you to shame, as Rev. See on 1 Corinthians 4:14. [source]
1 Corinthians 6:5 I say this to move you to shame [προς εντροπην υμιν λεγω]
Old word εντροπη — entropē from εντρεπω — entrepō to turn in (1 Corinthians 4:14 which see). In N.T. only here and 1 Corinthians 15:34. [source]
1 Thessalonians 5:12 Admonish [νουθετοῦντας]
Only in Acts and Paul. See on Acts 20:31, and comp. 1 Thessalonians 5:14; Romans 15:14; 1 Corinthians 4:14; Colossians 1:28. [source]
2 Thessalonians 3:14 Be ashamed [ἐντραπῇ]
See on Matthew 21:37, and see on 1 Corinthians 4:14. [source]
Titus 2:8 That cannot be condemned [ακαταγνωστον]
Only N.T. example (verbal, α — a privative and καταγνωστος — katagnōstos) and in 4 Maccabees 4:47. Deissmann (Bible Studies, p. 200) quotes it from an inscription and the adverb from a papyrus. He that is of the contrary part (ο εχ εναντιας — ho ex enantias). “The one on the opposite side” (your opponent). Cf. Titus 2:9; 1 Timothy 5:14. May be ashamed Final clause with ινα — hina and second aorist passive subjunctive of εντρεπω — entrepō to turn, in middle and passive to turn one on himself and so be ashamed (to blush) as in 2 Thessalonians 3:14; 1 Corinthians 4:14. This sense in the papyri. Evil (παυλον — phaulon). Old word, easy (easy morals), worthless; bad, as in 2 Corinthians 5:10. [source]
Titus 2:8 May be ashamed [ινα εντραπηι]
Final clause with ινα — hina and second aorist passive subjunctive of εντρεπω — entrepō to turn, in middle and passive to turn one on himself and so be ashamed (to blush) as in 2 Thessalonians 3:14; 1 Corinthians 4:14. This sense in the papyri. Evil (παυλον — phaulon). Old word, easy (easy morals), worthless; bad, as in 2 Corinthians 5:10. [source]
Titus 2:8 May be ashamed [ἐντραπῇ]
Only here in Pastorals. In Paul, 1 Corinthians 4:14, note; 2 Thessalonians 3:14, note, and see on Matthew 21:37. [source]

What do the individual words in 1 Corinthians 4:14 mean?

Not shaming you do I write these things but as children my beloved admonishing [you]
Οὐκ ἐντρέπων ὑμᾶς γράφω ταῦτα ἀλλ’ ὡς τέκνα μου ἀγαπητὰ νουθετῶν

ἐντρέπων  shaming 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: ἐντρέπω  
Sense: to shame one.
γράφω  do  I  write 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 1st Person Singular
Root: γράφω 
Sense: to write, with reference to the form of the letters.
ταῦτα  these  things 
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root: οὗτος  
Sense: this.
τέκνα  children 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root: τέκνον  
Sense: offspring, children.
μου  my 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 1st Person Singular
Root: ἐγώ  
Sense: I, me, my.
ἀγαπητὰ  beloved 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root: ἀγαπητός  
Sense: beloved, esteemed, dear, favourite, worthy of love.
νουθετῶν  admonishing  [you] 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: νουθετέω  
Sense: to admonish, warn, exhort.