1 Corinthians 15:10 kjv
But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
1 Corinthians 15:10 nkjv
But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
1 Corinthians 15:10 niv
But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them?yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.
1 Corinthians 15:10 esv
But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.
1 Corinthians 15:10 nlt
But whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out his special favor on me ? and not without results. For I have worked harder than any of the other apostles; yet it was not I but God who was working through me by his grace.
1 Corinthians 15 10 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Cor 15:10 | By the grace of God I am what I am | Paul's reliance on God's grace |
| Phil 4:13 | I can do all things through him who strengthens me | Strength from Christ |
| Eph 2:8-9 | For by grace you have been saved through faith. | Salvation by grace |
| Gal 1:15-16 | But when he who had set me apart before I was born... to reveal his Son in me | God's foreknowledge & calling |
| Acts 9:15 | But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine | Paul as chosen instrument |
| Rom 11:5-6 | So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace. | Remnant chosen by grace |
| Rom 12:3 | For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you... | Grace given for ministry |
| 2 Cor 3:5-6 | Not that we are sufficient in ourselves... but our sufficiency is from God | Sufficiency from God |
| 2 Cor 12:9 | My grace is sufficient for you | God's grace is sufficient |
| 2 Cor 12:11 | I have made myself a fool… you forced me | Paul defending his apostleship |
| Gal 2:6-9 | But from those who were considered influential... they acknowledged the grace given to me | Apostles recognizing Paul's ministry |
| John 15:5 | I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, bears much fruit | Fruitfulness through union with Christ |
| Eph 3:7-8 | To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given... | Grace given to the least saint |
| Rom 1:1 | Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God | Paul called to be an apostle |
| 1 Tim 1:12-13 | I am grateful to him who empowered me, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he counted me faithful, appointing me to a ministry, though I was formerly a blasphemer, persecutor, and violent opponent | Paul's transformation and ministry |
| Titus 2:11 | For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people | Grace bringing salvation |
| Heb 12:15 | See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God | Not to miss God's grace |
| Col 1:28-29 | Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For to this I also labor, striving according to his working which he is mightily working with me | Paul's labor empowered by Christ |
| Ps 51:7 | Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow | Cleansing through God's action |
| Isa 6:5 | Then I said, “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips… my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!” | Paul's self-awareness of sin |
1 Corinthians 15 verses
1 Corinthians 15 10 Meaning
By the grace of God, I am what I am. This emphasizes divine enablement and the unmerited favor of God as the source of all of Paul's apostolic abilities and accomplishments, particularly his ministry concerning the Gospel of Christ. It is not a boast but a confession of dependence on God.
1 Corinthians 15 10 Context
This verse appears in 1 Corinthians chapter 15, a powerful defense and exposition of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The chapter addresses various questions and challenges concerning the resurrection faced by the Corinthian church. Paul specifically emphasizes the certainty and implications of the resurrection for believers' faith, ministry, and hope. Verse 10 follows Paul's recounting of his own encounter with the resurrected Christ on the road to Damascus and his subsequent call to apostleship. This personal testimony serves to authenticate his message and ministry, demonstrating that his authority and work were directly commissioned by God.
1 Corinthians 15 10 Word Analysis
GREEK WORD ANALYSIS:
- Chariti (χάριτι - chariti): Grace. This is the dative case of
charis(χάρις). It denotes unmerited favor, divine assistance, or gift. It signifies God's spontaneous kindness and generosity towards humanity, especially in the saving work of Christ. - Theou (Θεοῦ - Theou): God. This is the genitive case of
Theos(Θεός). It indicates possession or origin, signifying "God's grace." - Eimi (εἰμί - eimi): I am. A fundamental verb of being, indicating existence or identity.
- Hō (ὅ - hō): What/That which. A relative pronoun introducing a subordinate clause that defines what Paul is.
- Eimi (εἰμί - eimi): I am. Again, emphasizing existence and identity in relation to the prior statement.
- Chariti (χάριτι - chariti): Grace. This is the dative case of
WORD-GROUP ANALYSIS:
- "By the grace of God" (τῇ χάριτι τοῦ Θεοῦ - tēi chariti tou Theou): This phrase clearly establishes the origin of Paul's state and capabilities. It's not inherent ability or self-made status, but divine provision. The grace of God is presented as the foundational element that made him the person and apostle he is.
- "I am what I am" (ἐγώ εἰμι ὃ εἰμι - egō eimi ho eimi): This construction,
ego eimi ho eimi, is a strong assertion of his present existence and identity, directly attributed to God's grace. It functions as a concise summary of his transformation and current ministry, highlighting that everything he is flows from God's sovereign action and favor.
1 Corinthians 15 10 Bonus Section
This statement by Paul is not an excuse for complacency but a declaration of empowerment. Knowing that his abilities are gifts of grace, he consequently dedicates himself to his ministry with even greater fervor, as seen in the next phrase "but his grace toward me was not in vain." The doctrine of God's grace, far from minimizing human responsibility, often inspires greater dedication and commitment to God's purposes. Paul's testimony serves as an encouragement to believers that God uses imperfect and even unlikely individuals for His glory, demonstrating that true spiritual transformation and fruitfulness are always the work of God's grace.
1 Corinthians 15 10 Commentary
Paul uses his own dramatic conversion and subsequent ministry as evidence for the reality of the resurrection. He preempts any notion that his apostleship is due to his own merit or achievement. Instead, he anchors his entire being and purpose in the "grace of God." This grace, which first arrested him as a persecutor and then commissioned him as an apostle, continues to be the sustaining power for his work. His effectiveness is not a testament to his own sufficiency, but to God's sufficient grace working through him. This highlights the principle that true spiritual effectiveness and identity are derived from God, not from human effort or status. It is a statement of profound humility and utter dependence on the divine source of all spiritual life and service.