1 Corinthians 15 · Verse 10

1 Corinthians 15:10

But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
1 Corinthians 15:10, King James Version

1 Corinthians 15:10 in other translations

BSBBut by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace to me was not in vain. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.
WEBBut by the grace of God I am what I am. His grace which was given to me was not futile, but I worked more than all of them; yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
ASVBut by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not found vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
YLTand by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace that is towards me came not in vain, but more abundantly than they all did I labour, yet not I, but the grace of God that is with me;
DARBYBut by God's grace I am what I am; and his grace, which was towards me, has not been vain; but I have laboured more abundantly than they all, but not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
BBEBut by the grace of God, I am what I am: and his grace which was given to me has not been for nothing; for I did more work than all of them; though not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
WebsterBut by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me, was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

What does 1 Corinthians 15:10 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
10. by ... grace ... and his grace--The repetition implies the prominence which God's grace had in his mind, as the sole cause of his marvellous conversion and subsequent labors. Though "not meet to be called an apostle," grace has given him, in Christ, the meetness needed for the office. Translate as the Greek, "His grace which was (showed) towards me." what I am--occupying the honorable office of an apostle. Contrast with this the self-sufficient prayer of another Pharisee (Lu 18:11). but I laboured--by God's grace (Php 2:16). than they all--than any of the apostles (1Co 15:7). grace of God ... with me--Compare "the Lord working with them" (Mr 16:20). The oldest manuscripts omit "which was." The "not I, but grace," implies, that though the human will concurred with God when brought by His Spirit into conformity with His will, yet "grace" so preponderated in the work, that his own co-operation is regarded as nothing, and grace as virtually the sole agent. (Compare 1Co 3:9; Mt 10:20; 2Co 6:1; Php 2:12, 13).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 10. But by the grace of God I am what I am. By the favour or mercy of God. What I have is to be traced to him, and not to any native tendency to goodness, or any native inclination to his service, or to any merit of my own. All my hopes of heaven; all my zeal; all my success; all my piety; all my apostolic endowments, are to be traced to him. Nothing is more common in the writings of Paul, than a disposition to trace all that he had to the mere mercy and grace of God. And nothing is a more certain indication of true piety than such a disposition. The reason why Paul here introduces the subject seems to be this: He had incidentally, and undesignedly, introduced a comparison in one respect between himself and the other apostles. He had not had the advantages which they had. Most of all, he was overwhelmed with the recollection that he had been a persecutor. He felt, therefore, that there was a peculiar obligation resting on him to make up by diligence for the want of their advantages of an early personal conversation with the Lord Jesus, and to express his gratitude that so great a sinner had been made an apostle, he, therefore, says that he had not been idle. He had been enabled, by the grace of God, to labour more than all the rest, and he had thus shown that he had not been insensible of his obligations.

But I laboured more abundantly, etc. I was more diligent in preaching; I encountered more perils; I have exerted myself more. The records of his life, compared with the records of the other apostles, fully show this.

Yet not I. I do not attribute it to myself. I would not boast of it. The fact is plain and undeniable, that I have so laboured. But I would not attribute it to myself. I would not be proud or vain. I would remember my former state; would remember that I was a persecutor; would remember that all my disposition to labour, and all my ability, and all my success, are to be traced to the mere favour and mercy of God. So every man who has just views feels, who has been favoured with success in the ministry. If a man has been successful as a preacher; if he has been self-denying, laborious, and the instrument of good, he cannot be insensible to the fact, and it would be foolish affectation to pretend ignorance of it. But he may feel that it is all owing to the mere mercy of God; and the effect will be to produce humility and gratitude, not pride and self-complacency.

(a) "not I" Mt 10:20

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 10 But, by the grace of God I am what I am - God, by his mere grace and good will, has called me to be an apostle, and has denominated me such. And his grace, etc. - Nor have I been unfaithful to the Divine call; I used the grace which he gave me; and when my labors, travels, and sufferings are considered, it will be evident that I have labored more abundantly than the whole twelve. This was most literally true. Yet not I, but the grace of God - It was not through my own power or wisdom that I performed these things, but through the Divine influence which accompanied me.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Corinthians 15:1-11

Chapter Outline The apostle proves the resurrection of Christ from the dead. (1-11) Those answered who deny the resurrection of the body. (12-19) The resurrection of believers to eternal life. (20-34) Objections against it answered. (35-50) The mystery of the change that will be made on those living at Christ's second coming. (51-54) The believer's triumph over death and the grave, An exhortation to diligence…

Read the full comment on 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 →

1 Corinthians 15:10 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

χάριτιcharitiBy [the] graceG5485
δὲdehoweverG1161
θεοῦtheouof GodG2316
εἰμιeimiI amG1510
ὅhowhatG3739
εἰμι,eimiI am,G1510
καὶkaiandG2532
ἡhētheG3588
χάριςcharisgraceG5485
αὐτοῦautouof HimG846
ἡhē<the>G3588
εἰςeistowardG1519
ἐμὲememe myselfG1473
οὐounotG3756
κενὴkenēvoidG2756
ἐγενήθη,egenēthēhas been,G1096
ἀλλὰallaRatherG235
περισσότερονperissoteronmore excessiveG4054
αὐτῶνautōnthan themG846
πάντωνpantōnallG3956
ἐκοπίασα,ekopiasaI toiled,G2872
οὐκouknotG3756
ἐγὼegōI myselfG1473
δέ,dehowever,G1161
ἀλλ᾽all᾽butG235
ἡhētheG3588
χάριςcharisgraceG5485
τοῦtou<the>G3588
θεοῦtheouof GodG2316
ἡhēthat [was]G3588
σὺνsunwithG4862
ἐμοί.emoime myself.G1473

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 1 Corinthians 15:10

  • Philippians 4:13

    I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

  • Philippians 2:13

    For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

  • 2 Corinthians 3:5

    Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;

  • Ephesians 3:7-8

    Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power. Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;

  • Ephesians 2:7-8

    That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

  • Galatians 2:8

    (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:)

  • 2 Corinthians 10:12-16

    For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. But we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you. For we stretch not ourselves beyond our measure, as though we reached not unto you: for we are come as far as to you also in preaching the gospel of Christ: Not boasting of things without our measure, that is, of other men’s labours; but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly, …

  • Romans 12:3

    For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

  • Romans 11:5-6

    Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

  • 2 Corinthians 12:11

    I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing.

  • Colossians 1:28-29

    Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.

  • 2 Corinthians 6:1

    We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
by.
4:7; Ro 11:1,5,6; Eph 2:7,8; 3:7,8; 1Ti 1:15,16
his grace.
2; 2Co 6:1
but I.
Ro 15:17-20; 2Co 10:12-16; 11:23-30; 12:11
yet.
Mt 10:20; 2Co 3:5; Ga 2:8; Eph 3:7; Php 2:13; 4:13; Col 1:28,29

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 1 Corinthians 15:9

    For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

  • 1 Corinthians 15:10

    But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

  • 1 Corinthians 15:11

    Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed.

Read all of 1 Corinthians 15

1 Corinthians 15:10 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Empero por la gracia de Dios soy lo que soy: y su gracia no ha sido en vano para conmigo; antes he trabajado más que todos ellos: pero no yo, sino la gracia de Dios que fué conmigo.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Mais par la grâce de Dieu, je suis ce que je suis; et sa grâce envers moi n’a pas été vaine, mais j’ai travaillé beaucoup plus qu’eux tous, non pas moi toutefois, mais la grâce de Dieu qui est avec moi.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Aber durch Gottes Gnade bin ich, was ich bin; und seine Gnade gegen mich ist nicht vergeblich gewesen, sondern ich habe viel mehr gearbeitet als sie alle; nicht aber ich, sondern die Gnade Gottes, die mit mir war.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Gratia autem Dei sum id quod sum, et gratia ejus in me vacua non fuit, sed abundantius illis omnibus laboravi: non ego autem, sed gratia Dei mecum: