1 Corinthians 4:7 kjv
For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?
1 Corinthians 4:7 nkjv
For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?
1 Corinthians 4:7 niv
For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?
1 Corinthians 4:7 esv
For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?
1 Corinthians 4:7 nlt
For what gives you the right to make such a judgment? What do you have that God hasn't given you? And if everything you have is from God, why boast as though it were not a gift?
1 Corinthians 4 7 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Corinthians 1:29-31 | "...so that no human being might boast before God." | Contrasts boasting with God's glory |
| Ephesians 2:8-9 | "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." | Emphasizes salvation as a gift from grace |
| Romans 3:27 | "Then what becomes of boasting? It is excluded. By what principle? By a works-based principle? No, but by the principle of faith." | Excludes boasting based on works |
| John 3:27 | "John answered, 'No one can receive anything except what has been given him from heaven.'" | Everything received is from God |
| James 1:17 | "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no alteration or shadow due to change." | All good things originate from God |
| 1 Peter 4:10 | "As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace." | Spiritual gifts are received and to be shared |
| Galatians 6:14 | "But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world." | True boasting is in Christ's cross |
| Romans 9:16 | "So then it depends not on the will of man, but on God who shows mercy." | God's mercy, not human will, is decisive |
| Philippians 2:3 | "Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves." | Calls for humility and valuing others |
| Psalm 115:1 | "Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!" | Directs glory to God alone |
| Jeremiah 9:23-24 | "Thus says the LORD: 'Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts, boast of this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the LORD.'" | Contrasts earthly boasting with knowing God |
| Acts 17:25 | "He gives to all life and breath and all things." | God is the source of all life and sustenance |
| 1 Corinthians 12:4-7 | "Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good." | Spiritual gifts are diverse but from one God |
| Romans 11:35-36 | "Who has gone before me, that I must pay him? He will be repaid. For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen." | Acknowledges all things are from and to God |
| Deuteronomy 8:17-18 | "Beware lest you say in your heart, 'My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.' You shall remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day." | Warns against attributing success to self |
| Isaiah 40:29 | "He gives power to the faint, and strengthens the powerless." | God empowers the weak |
| 2 Corinthians 10:17 | "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord." | Directs boasting to the Lord |
| 1 Corinthians 4:2 | "...it is required of stewards that they be found faithful." | Emphasizes faithful stewardship |
| Psalm 33:12 | "Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage!" | God's favor blesses those chosen by Him |
| 1 Corinthians 3:5 | "What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each." | Identifies ministers as servants |
| Colossians 1:27 | "...Christ in you, the hope of glory." | Christ's presence is the source of hope |
1 Corinthians 4 verses
1 Corinthians 4 7 Meaning
This verse powerfully contrasts God's sovereign grace with human boasting. It emphasizes that everything a believer possesses – spiritual gifts, salvation, righteousness – is ultimately a gift from God, not a product of human effort or superiority. Therefore, no one has a legitimate basis for exalting themselves or despising others, as any distinction arises solely from God's gracious bestowal.
1 Corinthians 4 7 Context
First Corinthians chapter 4 addresses the divisive issue of partisanship within the Corinthian church. Paul is responding to the Corinthians' unhealthy elevation of human leaders (like himself, Apollos, and Cephas) and their subsequent factions. In verse 7, he directly confronts this spirit of pride. He had just called them to see ministers as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God (4:1). This verse serves as the foundation for understanding why human boasting is inappropriate and why submission to God's sovereignty is paramount. The cultural context likely involved a society that valued eloquence, intellectual prowess, and oratorical skill, which the Corinthians were evidently prioritizing in their church leaders. Paul's emphasis on humility and dependence on God directly counters these tendencies.
1 Corinthians 4 7 Word Analysis
“But” (alla, ἀλλά): This conjunction signals a strong contrast with whatever might have preceded or been implied, highlighting the reason why one should not boast. It introduces an opposing thought or correction.
“you” (su, σύ): This is the second-person pronoun, directly addressing the recipients of the letter in Corinth.
“are” (esti, ἐστιν): The third-person singular present indicative form of the verb "to be." It asserts existence or a state of being.
“distinguished” (diakrino, διακρίνω): This verb has several nuances: to distinguish, discriminate, judge, discern, or even to quarrel or divide. In this context, it refers to being set apart, recognized, or favored in a way that leads to superiority or differentiation in status. It can also imply a judgment or opinion about oneself that causes division.
“or” (ē, ἤ): This conjunction presents an alternative or choice, in this case, between having something and not having it, which in turn implies a source for that distinction.
“what” (ti, τί): An interrogative pronoun, referring to "something."
“have” (echō, ἔχεις): The second-person singular present active indicative of "to have," indicating possession.
“you” (su, σύ): Again, the direct address to the Corinthians.
“not” (ouk, οὐκ): A negative particle, negating the preceding statement or concept.
“receive” (lambano, λαμβάνω): To take, receive, accept, or get. It implies the reception of something from an external source.
“You have been distinguished”: The perfect passive participle implies a completed action with a present result, emphasizing that this distinction is something they have received and that currently marks them.
“what do you have that you did not receive?”: This is a rhetorical question framed to drive home the point that any possession or characteristic they have is a received gift, directly undermining any ground for self-congratulation or arrogance. The phrasing is potent in emphasizing origin and divine bestowal.
1 Corinthians 4 7 Bonus Section
The phrase "What do you have that you did not receive?" strongly echoes Old Testament themes, particularly from Deuteronomy 8:17-18, where Israel was warned against pride and forgetting that their prosperity and strength came from the Lord. This rhetorical question serves as a theological axiom, underscoring God's sovereignty and the concept of divine enablement for all aspects of life and service. It’s the foundational truth behind the various gifts and ministries discussed in chapter 12 of this same letter. The implications are vast: personal integrity, spiritual insight, material blessings, and the very ability to believe are all divinely sourced, necessitating a posture of perpetual gratitude and humility.
1 Corinthians 4 7 Commentary
The Corinthians had developed a system of values that allowed for pride and boasting in human leaders and their own perceived spiritual maturity. Paul corrects this by grounding them in a radical dependence on God. He uses a question designed to dismantle any notion of self-earned superiority: "What do you have that you did not receive?" This simple yet profound query applies to every aspect of a believer's life—faith, spiritual gifts, salvation, understanding, or any good quality. If it exists within them, its ultimate origin traces back to God. This isn't meant to induce passivity, but rather a humble recognition that empowers thankful stewardship and shared ministry. True humility is the correct response to realizing everything is a divine gift, fostering unity rather than division. It reorients the focus from human accomplishment to divine grace, encouraging believers to glorify God with what they have received, rather than boasting about having received it.