1 Corinthians 4:6–13, King James Version
Italic words were supplied in the English translation for clarity.
1 Corinthians 4:6–13
Apostolic Weakness Exposes Corinthian Boasting
Received gifts cannot underwrite a victory lap.
Paul has applied the images to himself and Apollos so they may learn not to go beyond what is written and not be puffed up in favor of one against another. What do they have that they did not receive? If they received it, why boast as if they did not? Already they have all they want; already they have become rich; without the apostles they have become kings.
God has exhibited the apostles last of all, as though sentenced to death, a spectacle to the world, angels, and people: fools, weak, in disrepute, hungry, thirsty, poorly dressed, beaten, homeless, laboring with their own hands, reviled, persecuted, slandered, treated as the refuse of the world. The contrast exposes Corinthian boasting. It does not require leaders to seek abuse, neglect health, or impose deprivation on workers.
How this should shape us
Receive what you have as gift, and be suspicious of any Christian posture that needs to look like a coronation. Honor labor and bodily limits. Weakness in this chapter is a rebuke to pride, not a program of harm.
Teach it back
Explain 1 Corinthians 4:6–13 in your own words. Include its place in 1 Corinthians, the unit's logic, one material uncertainty, and one use the context rules out.
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Go deeper
The explanation above is meant to stand on its own. Open these notes only if you want language, history, disagreements, or source locations.
Where careful interpreters disagreeThe strongest options and their difficulties
Where do careful interpreters disagree?
Best judgment: 'Not beyond what is written' has several explanations because the referent is unclear; its anti-inflation purpose in context is stronger than any one reconstruction.
How certain? probableResearch trail and exact locationsThe source record behind this section
Supports: Exact reader-facing Scripture wording, paragraph markers, supplied-word markup, and complete verse coverage.
1 Corinthians 4:6–13, pinned eng-kjv2006 USFM corpus
Supports: Greek wording, clause relationships, repeated terms, and original-language discussion.
SBLGNT official text file 1Cor.txt, 4:6–13
Supports: Verse-level syntax, KJV-era wording, textual variants, and interpretive alternatives.
NET Bible 1 Corinthians 4:6–13 print view with translator, study, and textual notes
Supports: Independent morphology and lexical-range cross-check for material Greek claims.
STEP Bible Data repository morphology and lexical records for 1 Corinthians 4:6–13
Supports: Whole-letter movement, Corinthian setting, bibliography, major alternatives, and verse-level interpretation.
Redmond, The Gospel Coalition Bible Commentary: 1 Corinthians, introduction and section on 4:6–13
Supports: Factionalism, Roman status ideology, rhetoric, and the cross as social inversion.
Finney, 'Christ Crucified and the Inversion of Roman Imperial Ideology in 1 Corinthians,' Biblical Theology Bulletin 40.1 (2010), pp. 20–33
Sources for This Section
These records identify the source, the claim it supports, and the exact location used. A source remains evidence to evaluate; it does not replace the biblical text.
Biblical text
King James (Authorized) Version — eng-kjv2006
eBible.org and CrossWire Bible Society
USFM archive eng-kjv2006_usfm.zip; source files dated 2026-08-19; downloaded 2026-08-24; archive SHA-256 aec1b3b26c622fd3d963d2bbac963016b9513246ffbfa20da00bb100372ea007; normalized corpus SHA-256 09aef51d90488aa7b9722b3fd9a93f4b25f6bf2064c5fd798fb39673c300ddf2.
Supports: Exact reader-facing Scripture wording, paragraph markers, supplied-word markup, and complete verse coverage.
Exact location: 1 Corinthians 4:6–13, pinned eng-kjv2006 USFM corpus
Open source ↗Greek textual evidence
The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition
Michael W. Holmes, editor; Society of Biblical Literature and Logos
Society of Biblical Literature and Logos Bible Software, 2010
Supports: Greek wording, clause relationships, repeated terms, and original-language discussion.
Exact location: SBLGNT official text file 1Cor.txt, 4:6–13
Open the 1 Corinthians Greek text file ↗Translation and textual notes
NET Bible - 1 Corinthians with translators' and textual notes
Biblical Studies Press
Biblical Studies Press, 2005-2026 online edition
Supports: Verse-level syntax, KJV-era wording, textual variants, and interpretive alternatives.
Exact location: NET Bible 1 Corinthians 4:6–13 print view with translator, study, and textual notes
Open the official NET 1 Corinthians PDFLexical and grammatical evidence
STEP Bible Data
Tyndale House Cambridge
Tyndale House Cambridge, repository snapshot verified 2026
Supports: Independent morphology and lexical-range cross-check for material Greek claims.
Exact location: STEP Bible Data repository morphology and lexical records for 1 Corinthians 4:6–13
Open source ↗modern open commentary
1 Corinthians
Eric C. Redmond
The Gospel Coalition Bible Commentary, 2023
Supports: Whole-letter movement, Corinthian setting, bibliography, major alternatives, and verse-level interpretation.
Exact location: Redmond, The Gospel Coalition Bible Commentary: 1 Corinthians, introduction and section on 4:6–13
Open source ↗peer reviewed social rhetorical article
Honor, Rhetoric and Factionalism in the Ancient World: 1 Corinthians 1-4 in Its Social Context
Mark T. Finney
Biblical Theology Bulletin 40(1), 2010
Supports: Factionalism, Roman status ideology, rhetoric, and the cross as social inversion.
Exact location: Finney, 'Christ Crucified and the Inversion of Roman Imperial Ideology in 1 Corinthians,' Biblical Theology Bulletin 40.1 (2010), pp. 20–33
Open source ↗