Devine Scripture

1 Corinthians 1:4

What does 1 Corinthians 1:4 mean?

A plain-English look at 1 Corinthians 1:4 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What 1 Corinthians 1:4 means

Paul habitually thanks God for the Corinthians because the grace of God was given to them in Christ Jesus. His gratitude focuses not on their achievements but on God’s generous action. Even a church with serious problems is a display of grace at work. By tying grace to Christ Jesus, Paul keeps the spotlight on union with the Savior as the channel of every spiritual blessing. Thanksgiving is not flattery; it is theological: God has acted among them. This sets a hopeful frame for correction—what God began by grace He intends to continue, and the Corinthians must view themselves and each other through that lens of received mercy.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

I thank my God always concerning you, for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus;

KJV

King James Version · 1611

I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ;

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

I thank my God always concerning you, for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus;

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

I give praise to my God for you at all times, because of the grace of God which has been given to you in Christ Jesus;

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

I give thanks to my God always concerning you for the grace of God that was given to you in Christ Jesus,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

I give thanks to my God always for you, for the grace of God that is given you in Christ Jesus:

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

I thank myGod always about you, in respect of the grace ofGod given to you in Christ Jesus;

Context

This thanksgiving begins a section (verses 4–9) in which Paul acknowledges God’s gifts among the Corinthians before confronting their divisions (verses 10–13). He wants them to remember grace first: their standing and resources come from Christ. The coming verses will specify enrichments in speech and knowledge (verse 5), the confirmation of Christ’s testimony (verse 6), and their not lacking in any gift as they await Jesus’ revelation (verse 7). All this leads to assurance of God’s sustaining faithfulness (verses 8–9).

v.3Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

v.4This passage

v.5that in everything ye were enriched in him, in all utterance and all knowledge;

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • 1 Timothy 1:14

    and the grace of our Lord abounded exceedingly with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

  • John 14:14

    If ye shall ask anything in my name, that will I do.

  • John 14:26

    But the Comforter, even the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said unto you.

  • John 15:26

    But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall bear witness of me:

  • Acts 11:23

    who, when he was come, and had seen the grace of God, was glad; and he exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord:

  • Romans 6:17

    But thanks be to God, that, whereas ye were servants of sin, ye became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching whereunto ye were delivered;

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