Click
here to show/hide instructions.
Instructions on how to use the page:
The commentary for the selected verse is is displayed below.
All commentary was produced against the King James, so the same verse from that translation may appear as well. Hovering your mouse over a commentary's scripture reference attempts to show those verses.
Use the browser's back button to return to the previous page.
Or you can also select a feature from the Just Verses menu appearing at the top of the page.
Selected Verse: 1 Corinthians 4:10 - Strong Concordance
Verse |
Translation |
Text |
1Co 4:10 |
Strong Concordance |
We [2249] are fools [3474] for [1223] Christ's [5547] sake [1223], but [1161] ye [5210] are wise [5429] in [1722] Christ [5547]; we [2249] are weak [772], but [1161] ye [5210] are strong [2478]; ye [5210] are honourable [1741], but [1161] we [2249] are despised [820]. |
|
King James |
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. |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
Irony. How much your lot (supposing it real) is to be envied, and ours to be pitied.
fools-- (Co1 1:21; Co1 3:18; compare Act 17:18; Act 26:24).
for Christ's sake . . . in Christ--Our connection with Christ only entails on us the lowest ignominy, "ON ACCOUNT OF," or, "FOR THE SAKE OF" Him, as "fools"; yours gives you full fellowship IN Him as "wise" (that is, supposing you really are all you seem, Co1 3:18).
we . . . weak . . . ye . . . strong-- (Co1 2:3; Co2 13:9).
we . . . despised-- (Co2 10:10) because of our "weakness," and our not using worldly philosophy and rhetoric, on account of which ye Corinthians and your teachers are (seemingly) so "honorable." Contrast with "despised" the "ye (Galatians) despised not my temptation . . . in my flesh" (Gal 4:14). |
Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
We are fools - This is evidently ironical. "We are doubtless foolish people, but ye are wise in Christ. We, Paul, Apollos, and Barnabas, have no claims to the character of wise men - we are to be regarded as fools, unworthy of confidence, and unfit to instruct; but you are full of wisdom."
For Christ's sake - διὰ Χριστὸν dia Christon. On account of Christ; or in reference to his cause, or in regard to the doctrines of the Christian religion.
But ye are wise in Christ - The phrase "in Christ," does not differ in signification materially from the one above; "for Christ's sake." This is wholly ironical, and is exceedingly pungent. "You, Corinthians, boast of your wisdom and prudence. You are to be esteemed very wise. You are unwilling to submit to be esteemed fools. You are proud of your attainments. We, in the meantime, who are apostles, and who have founded your church, are to be regarded as fools, and as unworthy of public confidence and esteem." The whole design of this irony is to show the folly of their boasted wisdom. That they only should be wise and prudent, and the apostles fools, was in the highest degree absurd; and this absurdity the apostle puts in a strong light by his irony.
We are weak - We are timid and feeble, but you are daring, bold and fearless. This is irony. The very reverse was probably true. Paul was bold, daring, fearless in declaring the truth, whatever opposition it might encounter; and probably many of them were timid and time-serving, and endeavoring to avoid persecution, and to accommodate themselves to the prejudices and opinions of those who were wise in their own sight; the prejudices and opinions of the world.
Ye are honourable - Deserving of honor and obtaining it. Still ironical. You are to be esteemed as worthy of praise.
We are despised - ἄτιμοι atimoi. Not only actually contemned, but worthy to be so. This was irony also. And the design was to show them how foolish was their self-confidence and self-flattery, and their attempt to exalt themselves. |
Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886] |
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).
Honorable (ἔνδοξοι)
With a suggestion of display and splendor. Right honorable are ye! |
Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
We are fools, in the account of the world, for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ - Though ye are Christians, ye think yourselves wise; and ye have found means to make the world think you so too. We are weak - In presence, in infirmities, in sufferings. But ye are strong - In just opposite circumstances. |
Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
We are fools for Christ's sake - Here he still carries on the allusion to the public spectacles among the Romans, where they were accustomed to hiss, hoot, mock, and variously insult the poor victims. To this Philo alludes, in his embassy to Caius, speaking of the treatment which the Jews received at Rome: ὡσπερ γαρ εν θεατρῳ κλωσμοσυριττοντων, καταμωκωμενων, αμετραχλευαζοντων· "For, as if exhibited upon a theater, we are hissed, most outrageously hooted, and insulted beyond all bounds." Thus, says the apostle, we are fools on Christ's account; we walk in a conformity to his will, and we bear his cross: and did we walk according to the course of this world, or according to the man-pleasing conduct of some among you, we should have no such cross to bear.
Ye are wise in Christ - Surely all these expressions are meant ironically; the apostles were neither fools, nor weak, nor contemptible; nor were the Corinthians, morally speaking, wise, and strong, and honorable. Change the persons, and then the epithets will perfectly apply. |
14 And [2532] my [3450] temptation [3986] which was in [1722] my [3450] flesh [4561] ye despised [1848] not [3756], nor [3761] rejected [1609]; but [235] received [1209] me [3165] as [5613] an angel [32] of God [2316], even as [5613] Christ [5547] Jesus [2424].
10 For [3754] his letters [1992] [3303], say they [5346], are weighty [926] and [2532] powerful [2478]; but [1161] his bodily [4983] presence [3952] is weak [772], and [2532] his speech [3056] contemptible [1848].
9 For [1063] we [2249] are glad [5463], when [3752] we are weak [770], and [1161] ye [5210] are [5600] strong [1415]: and [1161] this [5124] also [2532] we wish [2172], even your [5216] perfection [2676].
3 And [2532] I [1473] was [1096] with [4314] you [5209] in [1722] weakness [769], and [2532] in [1722] fear [5401], and [2532] in [1722] much [4183] trembling [5156].
18 Let [1818] no man [3367] deceive [1818] himself [1438]. If any man [1536] among [1722] you [5213] seemeth [1380] to be [1511] wise [4680] in [1722] this [5129] world [165], let him become [1096] a fool [3474], that [2443] he may be [1096] wise [4680].
24 And [1161] as he [846] thus [5023] spake for himself [626], Festus [5347] said [5346] with a loud [3173] voice [5456], Paul [3972], thou art beside thyself [3105]; much [4183] learning [1121] doth make [4062] thee [4571] mad [1519] [3130].
18 Then [1161] certain [5100] philosophers [5386] of the Epicureans [1946], and [2532] of the Stoicks [4770], encountered [4820] him [846]. And [2532] some [5100] said [3004], What [5101] will [302] [2309] this [3778] babbler [4691] say [3004]? [1161] other some, He seemeth [1380] to be [1511] a setter forth [2604] of strange [3581] gods [1140]: because [3754] he preached [2097] unto them [846] Jesus [2424], and [2532] the resurrection [386].
18 Let [1818] no man [3367] deceive [1818] himself [1438]. If any man [1536] among [1722] you [5213] seemeth [1380] to be [1511] wise [4680] in [1722] this [5129] world [165], let him become [1096] a fool [3474], that [2443] he may be [1096] wise [4680].
21 For [1063] after [1894] that in [1722] the wisdom [4678] of God [2316] the world [2889] by [1223] wisdom [4678] knew [1097] not [3756] God [2316], it pleased [2106] God [2316] by [1223] the foolishness [3472] of preaching [2782] to save [4982] them that believe [4100].