1 Corinthians 4:6 kjv
And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.
1 Corinthians 4:6 nkjv
Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that you may learn in us not to think beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up on behalf of one against the other.
1 Corinthians 4:6 niv
Now, brothers and sisters, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, "Do not go beyond what is written." Then you will not be puffed up in being a follower of one of us over against the other.
1 Corinthians 4:6 esv
I have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers, that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another.
1 Corinthians 4:6 nlt
Dear brothers and sisters, I have used Apollos and myself to illustrate what I've been saying. If you pay attention to what I have quoted from the Scriptures, you won't be proud of one of your leaders at the expense of another.
1 Corinthians 4 6 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Cor 1:10 | "I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment." | Unity in the church |
| 1 Cor 3:4 | "For when one says, 'I follow Paul,' and another, 'I follow Apollos,' are you not being merely human?" | No reliance on human leaders |
| 1 Cor 3:5 | "What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each." | Servanthood of ministers |
| 1 Cor 3:9 | "For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field, God's building." | Co-workers with God |
| 1 Cor 12:4 | "Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit;" | Diversity of gifts, one Spirit |
| 1 Cor 12:5 | "and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord;" | Diversity of service, one Lord |
| 1 Cor 12:11 | "All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each as he wills." | Spirit-empowered and directed |
| Gal 3:28 | "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." | Unity in Christ, breaking barriers |
| Eph 4:11-12 | "And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ," | Gifts for equipping the church |
| Phil 1:1 | "Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons:" | Saints as servants of Christ |
| Col 1:23 | "...if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard..." | Steadfastness in the Gospel |
| John 15:5 | "I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing." | Dependence on Christ |
| Acts 20:24 | "But I do not account my life of any value nor as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God." | Finishing the ministry entrusted |
| Rom 1:1 | "Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God," | Called as a servant |
| 1 Pet 4:10 | "As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace:" | Stewardship of gifts |
| Heb 12:15 | "See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God, that no 'root of bitterness' springs up and causes trouble, and through it many become defiled," | Warning against division/bitterness |
| 2 Cor 5:20 | "So we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God." | Ambassadors for Christ |
| Ps 115:1 | "Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory, because of your steadfast love, because of your faithfulness!" | Giving glory to God |
| Matt 6:24 | "No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money." | Singularity of service to God |
| Mark 9:38 | "John said to him, 'Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he did not follow us.'" | Jealously over those outside their group |
1 Corinthians 4 verses
1 Corinthians 4 6 Meaning
The verse teaches that the disciples of Christ should not be puffed up or arrogant, favoring one leader over another. All true spiritual gifts and apostolic authority originate from God, and all faithful servants are simply ministers through whom God acts. The focus should be on God's faithfulness, not on human leaders.
1 Corinthians 4 6 Context
First Corinthians chapter 4 addresses the issue of divisions within the Corinthian church, where people were aligning themselves with different spiritual leaders like Paul, Apollos, and Peter, leading to pride and factionalism. Paul, writing this letter, is confronting these divisive attitudes and reminding them of their true identity in Christ and the nature of ministry. This specific verse, chapter 4, verse 6, serves as a concluding statement to this line of thought in the chapter, reinforcing the idea that their pride in human leaders is misguided and that all ministries are derived from God. The overall theme of 1 Corinthians is the correction of disorder and sin within the church, restoring it to a healthier functioning according to God's will.
1 Corinthians 4 6 Word Analysis
- Eis (εἰς): Into, unto, to. Here it signifies the goal or focus of the teaching: to bring them to an understanding focused upon a principle.
- Humas (ὑμᾶς): You (plural). Refers directly to the Corinthian believers.
- Metatithenai (μετατιθέναι): To transfer, to shift, to change, to put from one side to another. It implies a "changing of sides" or allegiance.
- Allo apo allou (ἄλλο ἀπ' ἄλλου): One from another. Highlights the comparative and exclusive loyalty the Corinthians were exhibiting, setting one believer apart from and against another.
- Pro phanē (πρὸ προσώπου): Before the face, in comparison with, in respect of. Indicates that the basis for this shift of allegiance is a perceived superiority or a particular favoritism towards one leader over another.
- Skenoi (σκηνοῖ): To make a tent, to tabernacle. Implies God's power manifesting through them. The idea is that their gifts are divinely constructed habitations or displays of God's power.
- Periphousein (περιποιήσεως): Possession, acquisition, preservation. Refers to that which is acquired or possessed. Paul states that the Corinthians are God's possession.
- Paradidomi (παραδίδωμι): To give, deliver, hand over. Indicates a committed delivery or instruction.
- Phasē (φάση): To say, to speak, to tell. The act of declaring something, often in contrast or affirmation.
Words/Phrases Group Analysis:
- "that no one of you be puffed up" (hina mēdeis ex humōn phusiōtai): This phrase encapsulates the warning against arrogance and pride based on their identification with specific human teachers. The verb 'phusiōtai' is in the passive voice, suggesting an internal swelling or inflation.
- "in favor of one against another" (allon huper allou): This highlights the sectarianism, the partisan loyalty. It’s not just preferring one, but elevating one at the expense of another, creating division.
- "God is my witness" (Martus moi esti theos): An invocation for an oath. It signifies the utmost seriousness and truthfulness Paul asserts.
- "nothing beyond what is written" (ouk para ha gegraptai): A reference to Scripture, emphasizing adherence to divine revelation rather than human traditions or inventions. It implies a standard to which all teaching and belief should conform. This reinforces reliance on the Word of God as the ultimate authority.
1 Corinthians 4 6 Bonus Section
The phrase "nothing beyond what is written" is a critical principle for sound biblical interpretation and Christian practice. It signifies that Scripture alone is the sufficient and authoritative rule of faith and life. This does not negate the work of the Holy Spirit in illuminating Scripture or the use of church tradition (which is tested against Scripture), but it strictly guards against innovations or teachings that contradict or go beyond the clear testimony of the Bible. Paul’s argument is that these divisions and personal exaltations have no basis in Scripture, making them purely human and therefore divisive. The verse implicitly advocates for a "sola Scriptura" principle concerning matters of faith and doctrine for the church.
1 Corinthians 4 6 Commentary
Paul firmly redirects the Corinthians' focus from their leaders to God as the sole source of all spiritual authority and ministry. The factionalism arose from exalting men and their teachings above God's revealed truth. Paul emphasizes that all believers, including himself and Apollos, are servants ("diakonoi") and conduits, not the source of faith or spiritual life. Their ultimate allegiance must be to Christ, and their understanding of ministry should be grounded in Scripture. The "not beyond what is written" admonishes them to avoid developing theological systems or loyalties that are not supported by the divinely inspired Word of God. This principle protects against false teachings and divisive human-centered doctrines, directing believers towards humble submission and unity in Christ, acknowledging God’s ultimate ownership and sovereign direction of all things.
Practical Usage Examples:
- When faced with disagreements about ministry methods or preferred teachers within a church, believers should remember that all gifts and ministries come from God.
- Focus should remain on the teachings of Scripture rather than blindly following any one leader.
- Avoid comparing ministers or elevating one's own spiritual leader above others, recognizing they are all servants of the same Lord.