1 Corinthians 4:15 kjv
For though ye have ten thousand instructers in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.
1 Corinthians 4:15 nkjv
For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.
1 Corinthians 4:15 niv
Even if you had ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel.
1 Corinthians 4:15 esv
For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
1 Corinthians 4:15 nlt
For even if you had ten thousand others to teach you about Christ, you have only one spiritual father. For I became your father in Christ Jesus when I preached the Good News to you.
1 Corinthians 4 15 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Cor 4:14 | I do not write these things to shame you, but to correct you as my dear children. | Guidance to correction within spiritual fatherhood |
| Gal 4:19 | My dear children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you— | Spiritual birth pains and formation |
| Gal 3:26 | You are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus | Fatherhood through faith |
| John 1:12 | Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— | Gaining spiritual status by belief |
| Rom 1:16 | For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. | The gospel as God's power for salvation |
| 1 Thes 2:11 | For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory. | Apostolic fatherly example |
| Acts 1:8 | But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses... | Power from the Holy Spirit to be witnesses |
| 1 Pet 1:23 | For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. | Rebirth through God's Word |
| Col 1:27 | To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. | Christ in believers as mystery |
| Rom 8:16 | The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. | The Spirit confirming adoption |
| Eph 3:15 | ...from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. | Heavenly and earthly families |
| John 3:3 | In reply Jesus declared, "Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again." | The necessity of spiritual rebirth |
| Titus 1:4 | ...to Titus, my true son in our shared faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior. | Titus as a spiritual son |
| Phlm 1:10 | I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who in my chains has begotten me in the Lord. | Onesimus becoming a spiritual son |
| Acts 16:25 | About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. | Example of spiritual encouragement |
| Heb 12:5 | and have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his sons? It says, “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, | God's fatherly discipline |
| Rom 2:18 | and if you know his will and approve of what is superior because you are taught by the law; | Being taught by God's law |
| Gal 3:29 | If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s offspring and heirs according to the promise. | Abrahamic lineage through Christ |
| John 13:34 | "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." | The commandment of love |
| 1 Cor 11:1 | Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. | Following Christ's example |
| 1 Cor 1:10 | I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought. | Unity within the church |
1 Corinthians 4 verses
1 Corinthians 4 15 Meaning
In Christ Jesus, through the gospel, a believer can become a spiritual father through the transformative power of God, regardless of their earthly parentage. This spiritual fatherhood is established by the spreading of the good news of salvation.
1 Corinthians 4 15 Context
The Apostle Paul is addressing a spiritual crisis in the Corinthian church. Factions had formed, with people aligning themselves with different spiritual leaders like Paul, Apollos, Cephas, or Christ himself. Paul is reminding them that their true spiritual heritage and identity come from God through faith in Christ, not from any human leader. He emphasizes that human leaders are merely servants through whom believers came to faith, and that their ultimate spiritual fatherhood is a gift from God, established by the gospel message. He corrects their immaturity in boasting about human leaders, stressing that he, like any other true spiritual father, does not shame them but rather disciplines them out of love for their spiritual well-being, desiring that they grow in Christ.
1 Corinthians 4 15 Word analysis
- For (Greek: 1063. gar) - This is a conjunction introducing a reason or explanation. It explains why Paul has spiritual fatherhood.
- in (Greek: 1722. en) - A preposition indicating location, means, or manner. Here, it signifies the sphere or sphere of existence where spiritual fatherhood operates.
- Christ (Greek: 5547. Christos) - Anointed One, Messiah. It signifies the unique identity and role of Jesus as the divinely appointed Savior and Lord.
- Jesus (Greek: 2424. Iesous) - Jesus, the Greek form of Joshua. It refers to the historical person of Jesus.
- through (Greek: 1223. dia) - A preposition indicating agency or means. It shows the channel or medium by which spiritual fatherhood is established.
- the (Greek: 3588. ho, hē, to) - The definite article, pointing to a specific entity.
- gospel (Greek: 2097. euaggelion) - Good news, gospel. It refers to the message of salvation through Jesus Christ.
- I (Greek: 1473. ego) - The first-person singular pronoun. Paul refers to himself as the one who achieved this fatherhood.
- became (Greek: 1096. gineomai) - To become, to be born, to come into being. This emphasizes the new spiritual origin and status.
- your (Greek: 5216. hymōn) - The second-person plural possessive pronoun. Referring to the Corinthian believers.
- father (Greek: 3962. pater) - Father, male parent, originator, ancestor. Here, it denotes a spiritual progenitor and guide.
- in (Greek: 1722. en) - Again, signifies the means or sphere.
- Christ (Greek: 5547. Christos) - Anointed One, Messiah.
- Jesus (Greek: 2424. Iesous) - Jesus.
Word Group Analysis:
- "in Christ Jesus, through the gospel": This phrase encapsulates the foundation and method of spiritual fatherhood. It’s not by human effort but by being united with Christ and receiving the good news.
- "I became your father": This is a declaration of the role Paul played, not as an exclusive claim, but as one instance of spiritual parentage within the larger work of God.
- "through the gospel": This highlights the means by which this fatherhood is brought about – the spreading of the core Christian message.
1 Corinthians 4 15 Bonus section
This verse stands as a powerful rebuttal against any form of spiritual elitism or hierarchical boasting that elevates human leaders above their role as servants of God. Paul consistently teaches that all believers are spiritual siblings, and earthly leaders are primarily facilitators of God's work. The concept of spiritual fatherhood here is directly linked to spiritual generation—bringing people to new life in Christ through the gospel. This emphasizes the regenerative power of the Word and the Spirit in evangelism and discipleship.
1 Corinthians 4 15 Commentary
Paul asserts his spiritual paternity over the Corinthians, not in a boastful manner, but as a corrective to their factionalism. He explains that this spiritual fatherhood is a direct result of his ministry of the gospel, through which they were brought to faith in Jesus Christ. His role is derived from God's work, and their identity is ultimately found in Christ, not in any human leader. He positions his leadership as nurturing and guiding, akin to a father’s love and correction, rather than being a source of division or exclusive loyalty. The verse underscores that spiritual parentage is a divine commission fulfilled through the proclamation of the gospel.