Devine Scripture

1 Corinthians 4:10

What does 1 Corinthians 4:10 mean?

A plain-English look at 1 Corinthians 4:10 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What 1 Corinthians 4:10 means

Paul piles up contrasts: “We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ; we are weak, but you are strong; you have glory, but we have dishonor.” The point is not to deny the Corinthians’ place “in Christ,” but to unmask their worldly standards. True fidelity to the crucified Lord can look foolish and weak. The apostles embraced that path, accepting scorn for Christ’s sake. Meanwhile, the Corinthians prided themselves on wisdom, power, and honor. Paul’s irony aims to persuade them to value the way of the cross—embracing lowliness and apparent folly over image and status—because that is the pattern of the gospel they profess.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

We are fools for Christ’s sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye have glory, but we have dishonor.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

We are fools for Christ’s sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

We are fools for Christ’s sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye have glory, but we have dishonor.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

We are made to seem foolish for Christ, but you are wise in Christ; we are feeble, but you are strong; you have glory, but we have shame.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

we <FI>are<Fi> fools because of Christ, and ye wise in Christ; we <FI>are<Fi> ailing, and ye strong; ye glorious, and we dishonoured;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

We are fools for Christs sake, but you are wise in Christ: we are weak, but you are strong: you are honourable, but we without honour.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

We [are] fools for Christ's sake, but ye prudent in Christ: we weak, but ye strong: ye glorious, but we in dishonour.

Context

After depicting apostles as a public spectacle (verse 9), Paul intensifies the contrast between apostolic self-giving and Corinthian self-importance. Verse 10 sets categories—foolish/wise, weak/strong, dishonored/honored—that the next verses will illustrate with concrete hardships and responses (verses 11–13). The flow is moving from rhetorical irony to tangible evidence, preparing the reader to feel the weight of apostolic suffering and to reconsider triumphal attitudes in the church.

v.9For, I think, God hath set forth us the apostles last of all, as men doomed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, both to angels and men.

v.10This passage

v.11Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwelling-place;

Cross references

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

  • Matthew 5:11

    Blessed are ye when men shall reproach you, and persecute you, and say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

  • 2 Corinthians 13:9

    For we rejoice, when we are weak, and ye are strong: this we also pray for, even your perfecting.

  • Luke 6:22

    Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake.

  • 2 Corinthians 11:29

    Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is caused to stumble, and I burn not?

  • 2 Kings 9:11

    Then Jehu came forth to the servants of his lord: and one said unto him, Is all well? wherefore came this mad fellow to thee? And he said unto them, Ye know the man and what his talk was.

  • 1 Corinthians 1:18

    For the word of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us who are saved it is the power of God.

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