1 Corinthians 15 10

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 verses

1 Corinthians 15 10 meaning

The Apostle Paul profoundly declares that his current transformed state, his apostleship, and his tireless labor for the Gospel are entirely attributable to the undeserved divine favor – the grace of God. He asserts that this grace, personally given to him, proved not to be ineffective but powered him to work with greater diligence than all the other apostles. Crucially, he clarifies that this intense labor was not by his own power or merit, but by the ongoing, active presence and enablement of God's grace within him, redirecting all glory to God.

1 Corinthians 15 10 Context

First Corinthians Chapter 15 is centrally dedicated to establishing the undeniable reality and implications of the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ, and consequently, the future resurrection of believers. Paul addresses those in Corinth who denied or doubted this doctrine, arguing that if Christ did not rise, their faith is futile. He lays out the historical evidence of Christ's resurrection, listing numerous witnesses, including himself. Immediately preceding verse 10, Paul humbly describes himself as the "least of the apostles," unworthy due to his past persecution of the Church (1 Cor 15:9). Verse 10, therefore, acts as a crucial bridge. It explains how such an unworthy persecutor could become such a prominent, hardworking apostle—it was not by his own merit or strength, but solely by God's transformative grace. This statement underscores the power of God to completely transform lives, directly supporting the overarching theme of God's power to conquer death and give new life. Culturally, this statement contrasts with the common Greek emphasis on human achievement and wisdom, elevating divine grace above human effort.

1 Corinthians 15 10 Word analysis

• But (Greek: de, δέ): Introduces a contrast. It marks a shift from Paul's confession of unworthiness and past as a persecutor (v. 9) to his present, divinely enabled reality.

• by the grace (Greek: chariti, χάριτι): charis signifies undeserved favor, divine kindness, God's benevolence freely given. This is the ultimate source of Paul's transformation and apostleship, totally independent of human merit. It is an active power from God.

• of God (Greek: Theou, Θεοῦ): Specifies the divine origin. This attributes the grace, and consequently all its effects, to God alone, emphasizing His sovereignty and initiative.

• I am (Greek: eimi, εἰμί): A simple declaration of being. It points to Paul's current identity, status, and existence, utterly distinct from his former self.

• what I am (Greek: ho eimi, ὅ εἰμι): Encompasses Paul's entire present reality – his salvation, sanctification, apostleship, and fruitfulness. All of this current identity is understood as a product of God's grace.

• and his grace (Greek: kai hē charis autou, καὶ ἡ χάρις αὐτοῦ): Reiterates and expands upon the divine grace, explicitly linking it back to God's person.

• which was bestowed upon me (Greek: hē eis eme genomenē, ἡ εἰς ἐμὲ γενομένη): Literally "the one that came upon me" or "that which came to be for me." It signifies an active, divine intervention or event specifically directed towards Paul, indicating a definite bestowal, not a passive reception.

• was not in vain (Greek: ouch kenē, οὐχ κενή): kenē means empty, void, useless, ineffective. "Not in vain" means God's grace was efficacious, producing tangible, spiritual results in Paul's life and ministry. It implies the grace achieved its divine purpose.

• but I laboured (Greek: alla kopiasa, ἀλλὰ ἐκοπίασα): kopiao describes intense, diligent, often wearisome toil to the point of exhaustion. It reveals Paul's immense exertion in ministry, which, importantly, is portrayed as empowered by grace, not independently from it.

• more abundantly (Greek: perissoteron, περισσοτέρον): A comparative adverb, meaning "more, exceedingly, in greater measure." Paul indicates a greater level of effort than others, not boastfully, but as an objective observation about the outcome of God's grace in his life.

• than they all (Greek: panton auton, πάντων αὐτῶν): Refers to the other apostles mentioned earlier (v. 7-8). This comparison highlights the extent of his dedicated ministry.

• yet not I (Greek: ouk egō, οὐκ ἐγώ): A powerful self-negation. Paul disclaims any personal credit for his strenuous work, emphatically redirecting the agency.

• but the grace of God (Greek: alla charis Theou, ἀλλὰ χάρις Θεοῦ): The true subject and power source of his labor. This firmly grounds all accomplishment in God's ongoing, empowering favor.

• which was with me (Greek: syn emoi, σὺν ἐμοί): syn indicates close association and cooperation. This emphasizes grace not merely as a past event but as an abiding, indwelling, and continuously empowering presence that works alongside Paul.

• "But by the grace of God I am what I am": This is a profound declaration of personal transformation. It is a direct acknowledgment that every aspect of his present identity and status, especially his apostleship, stems entirely from the unmerited favor of God, utterly rejecting any notion of self-merit.

• "his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain": This phrase underlines the dynamic and fruitful nature of divine grace. It communicates that God's grace is not merely a passive gift but an active force that generates specific and effective results in the recipient's life and work.

• "but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me": This complete statement showcases a divine paradox. It highlights Paul's intense, sacrificial effort while simultaneously clarifying that such effort was not self-generated. It illustrates synergy—human effort infused and empowered by divine grace—with all credit and agency attributed to God. The indwelling grace enables and energizes the believer's diligent labor.

1 Corinthians 15 10 Bonus section

This verse provides a crucial understanding of Christian service: genuine spiritual labor is both intensely human and thoroughly divine. Paul’s "laboured more abundantly" reveals a commitment to hard work, showing that grace does not eliminate effort but energizes it beyond natural capacity. His immediate qualifier, "yet not I, but the grace of God," safeguards against self-exaltation, a persistent temptation in human endeavors, especially in ministry. It reflects a theological conviction where all spiritual efficacy originates with and is sustained by God. This teaching directly challenges humanistic philosophies that glorify self-reliance and merit, common in Corinthian society and ever-present today. Paul’s personal testimony here is a powerful echo of the resurrection power central to Chapter 15 – if God can raise the dead and transform a persecutor into an apostle, then His grace can truly accomplish anything.

1 Corinthians 15 10 Commentary

In 1 Corinthians 15:10, Paul presents a masterpiece of theological humility and doxology. He, once a zealous persecutor of Christians, now an unparalleled missionary and apostle, unequivocally credits God's grace for every facet of his changed existence and prodigious labors. This grace was not an abstract concept but a dynamic, bestowed reality that empowered him to toil "more abundantly" than his peers. His emphasis on "yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me" perfectly balances human responsibility with divine sovereignty. It illustrates that divine grace does not lead to passivity but actively ignites and sustains extraordinary effort, while ensuring that all glory returns to the Divine Giver. His work was the tangible proof that God's grace, once received, profoundly reshapes and supernaturally empowers the human instrument for divine purposes.

• Examples: A person once deep in addiction, now faithfully serving in outreach, attributes their strength and passion to God's unmerited grace. A small, seemingly insignificant church group achieves remarkable community impact, constantly acknowledging that "it's not us, but God working through us."