1 Corinthians 4:8 kjv
Now ye are full, now ye are rich, ye have reigned as kings without us: and I would to God ye did reign, that we also might reign with you.
1 Corinthians 4:8 nkjv
You are already full! You are already rich! You have reigned as kings without us?and indeed I could wish you did reign, that we also might reign with you!
1 Corinthians 4:8 niv
Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! You have begun to reign?and that without us! How I wish that you really had begun to reign so that we also might reign with you!
1 Corinthians 4:8 esv
Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! Without us you have become kings! And would that you did reign, so that we might share the rule with you!
1 Corinthians 4:8 nlt
You think you already have everything you need. You think you are already rich. You have begun to reign in God's kingdom without us! I wish you really were reigning already, for then we would be reigning with you.
1 Corinthians 4 8 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Corinthians 4:8 | ...you have become kings—and indeed I wish you had become kings... | Direct Statement |
| 2 Timothy 2:12 | If we endure, we will also reign with him. If we deny him, he will also deny us. | Suffering leads to Reign |
| Revelation 5:10 | You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God, and they will reign on the earth.” | Kingdom and Reign of Believers |
| Revelation 1:6 | He has made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. | Kingship and Priesthood |
| Revelation 20:6 | Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over them the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years. | Reigning with Christ |
| Romans 5:17 | For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ! | Reigning in Life |
| 1 Peter 2:9 | But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. | Royal Priesthood |
| Matthew 19:28 | Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you also will sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. | Future Reign |
| Luke 1:33 | and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” | Eternal Reign |
| Philippians 3:20 | But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, | Heavenly Citizenship |
| Colossians 3:4 | When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. | Appearing in Glory |
| Romans 8:17 | Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. | Heirs and Co-heirs |
| John 1:12 | But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— | Right to become Children |
| Ephesians 2:6 | and raised us up with him and made us to sit with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, | Seated in Heavenly Places |
| Acts 1:8 | But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” | Power of the Holy Spirit |
| 1 Corinthians 1:7 | You are not lacking in any spiritual gift, as you await the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, | Awaiting Revelation |
| 2 Corinthians 3:18 | And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. | Transformation into Glory |
| 1 John 3:2 | Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. | Being Like Christ |
| 2 Timothy 4:8 | Henceforth a crown of righteousness is laid up for me, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing. | Crown of Righteousness |
| 1 Corinthians 4:7 | For who sees you differing from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if it were not received? | Rhetorical Question |
1 Corinthians 4 verses
1 Corinthians 4 8 Meaning
You are already satisfied. You are already rich. You have already reigned.
1 Corinthians 4 8 Context
This verse is found in the first letter of Paul to the Corinthian church. The chapter addresses issues of spiritual maturity, leadership, and the Corinthians' tendency to pride and division. Paul is correcting their immaturity, contrasting their current state with the ultimate reality they will experience in Christ. They were boasting and dividing, aligning themselves with human leaders rather than solely with Christ. Paul uses a rhetorical tone to highlight their spiritual pride, suggesting they felt they had already reached a state of ultimate fulfillment and security, like kings. This is in contrast to the suffering and humility that is characteristic of Christ's followers, especially apostles.
1 Corinthians 4 8 Word Analysis
hēdē (ἤδη): Already, now. Indicates a completed action or state.
gae-esthe (γε_έσθε ): You have become. Perfect tense, signifying a completed action with ongoing results.
basilei (βασιλεῖς): Kings. Plural, indicating a collective identity.
kai (καὶ): And, also. A conjunction.
thelō (θέλω): I wish, I desire. Expresses Paul's desire for them.
ge (γε): Indeed, at least. An emphatic particle.
na (ν_): Indeed, truly, surely. Another emphatic particle, reinforcing the wish.
basileu-sate (βασιλεύ-σατε): You may reign. Aorist subjunctive, often used with particles indicating a wish or purpose. It emphasizes the potential or actuality of reigning.
Already satisfied: Refers to their self-perception of spiritual fullness, implying they thought they had arrived and lacked nothing. This reflects a prideful boast in their spiritual gifts or understanding.
Already rich: Further emphasizes their perceived completeness, contrasting with the "poor but rich in faith" paradox described elsewhere (James 2:5).
Already reigned: This points to a presumption of their present status, mirroring a heavenly reality that is yet to be fully realized in its final expression for believers.
I wish indeed you had reigned: Paul's statement carries a sarcastic or ironic undertone. He doesn't genuinely wish they had reigned in their current proud state, but rather underscores the absurdity of their self-aggrandizement by pointing to a glorious reality they seem to mistakenly claim. It's a way to confront their arrogance by contrasting it with true kingship in Christ.
1 Corinthians 4 8 Bonus Section
The concept of "reigning" for believers points to shared sovereignty with Christ. This is not a worldly dominion but a spiritual authority and participation in Christ's victory over sin and death. The emphasis on "already" suggests a misunderstanding of eschatology – they were applying future, perfected realities to their present, imperfect experience, leading to arrogance. Paul consistently emphasizes that present suffering for Christ leads to future glory and reign (2 Tim 2:12; Rom 8:17). This verse also indirectly touches upon the Gnostic influences in Corinth, which often promoted a form of spiritual elitism where some felt they had attained superior knowledge and a present perfected state, apart from the full reality of Christ's return.
1 Corinthians 4 8 Commentary
Paul addresses the Corinthians' inflated self-importance. They perceived themselves as spiritually mature and advanced, acting as if they already possessed the blessings of a future, perfected state. They were like kings in their own minds, fully satisfied and rich. Paul uses sarcasm, wishing they had truly reigned, to highlight the contrast between their arrogant self-assessment and the reality of Christian discipleship, which involves suffering and humility, not merely present possession of heavenly blessings. The true reign and satisfaction are a future inheritance secured through Christ, to be entered into fully upon His return and in the resurrection.