1 Corinthians 4 · Verse 10

1 Corinthians 4:10

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.

1 Corinthians 4:10, King James Version

1 Corinthians 4:10 in other translations

BSB	We are fools for Christ, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are honored, but we are dishonored.
WEB	We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You have honor, but we have dishonor.
ASV	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.
YLT	we are fools because of Christ, and ye wise in Christ; we are ailing, and ye strong; ye glorious, and we dishonoured;
DARBY	We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye prudent in Christ: we weak, but ye strong: ye glorious, but we in dishonour.
BBE	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.
Webster	We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honorable, but we are despised.

What does 1 Corinthians 4:10 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

10. Irony. How much your lot (supposing it real) is to be envied, and ours to be pitied. fools--(1Co 1:21; 3:18; compare Ac 17:18; 26:24). for Christ's sake ... in Christ--Our connection with Christ only entails on us the lowest ignominy, "ON ACCOUNT OF," or, "FOR THE SAKE OF" Him, as "fools"; yours gives you full fellowship IN Him as "wise" (that is, supposing you really are all you seem, 1Co 3:18). we ... weak ... ye ... strong--(1Co 2:3; 2Co 13:9). we ... despised--(2Co 10:10) because of our "weakness," and our not using worldly philosophy and rhetoric, on account of which ye Corinthians and your teachers are (seemingly) so "honorable." Contrast with "despised" the "ye (Galatians) despised not my temptation ... in my flesh" (Ga 4:14).

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

Barnes' Notes

Verse 10. We are fools. This is evidently ironical. "We are doubtless foolish men, but ye are wise in Christ. We, Paul, Apollos, and Barnabas [Cephas], have no claims to the character of wise men--we are to be regarded as fools, unworthy of confidence, and unfit to instruct; but you are full of wisdom."

For Christ's sake. διαχριστον. On account of Christ; or in reference to his cause, or in regard to the doctrines of the Christian religion.

But ye are wise in Christ. The phrase, "in Christ," does not differ in signification materially from the one above, "for Christ's sake." This is wholly ironical, and is exceedingly pungent. "You, Corinthians, boast of your wisdom and prudence. You are to be esteemed very wise. You are unwilling to submit to be esteemed fools. You are proud of your attainments. We, in the mean time, who are apostles, and who have founded your church, are to be regarded as fools, and as unworthy of public confidence and esteem. The whole design of irony is to show the folly of their boasted wisdom. That they only should be wise and prudent, and the apostles fools, was in the highest degree absurd; and this absurdity the apostle puts in a strong light by his irony.

We are weak. We are timid and feeble, but you are daring, bold, and fearless. This is irony. The very reverse was probably true. Paul was bold, daring, fearless in declaring the truth, whatever opposition it might encounter; and probably many of them were timid and time-serving, and endeavouring to avoid persecution, and to accommodate themselves to the prejudices and opinions of those who were wise in their own sight; the prejudices and opinions of the world.

Ye are honourable. Deserving of honour, and obtaining it. Still ironical. You are to be esteemed as worthy of praise.

We are despised. ατιμοι. Not only actually contemned, but worthy to be so. This was irony also. And the design was to show them how foolish was their self-confidence and self-flattery, and their attempt to exalt themselves.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 10 We are fools for Christ's sake - Here he still carries on the allusion to the public spectacles among the Romans, where they were accustomed to hiss, hoot, mock, and variously insult the poor victims. To this Philo alludes, in his embassy to Caius, speaking of the treatment which the Jews received at Rome: ὡσπερ γαρ εν θεατρῳ κλωσμοσυριττοντων, καταμωκωμενων, αμετραχλευαζοντων· "For, as if exhibited upon a theater, we are hissed, most outrageously hooted, and insulted beyond all bounds." Thus, says the apostle, we are fools on Christ's account; we walk in a conformity to his will, and we bear his cross: and did we walk according to the course of this world, or according to the man-pleasing conduct of some among you, we should have no such cross to bear. Ye are wise in Christ - Surely all these expressions are meant ironically; the apostles were neither fools, nor weak, nor contemptible; nor were the Corinthians, morally speaking, wise, and strong, and honorable. Change the persons, and then the epithets will perfectly apply.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Corinthians 4:7-13

We have no reason to be proud; all we have, or are, or do, that is good, is owing to the free and rich grace of God. A sinner snatched from destruction by sovereign grace alone, must be very absurd and inconsistent, if proud of the free gifts of God. St. Paul sets forth his own circumstances, ver. 9 Allusion is made to the cruel spectacles in the Roman games; where men were forced to cut one another to pieces, to…

Read the full comment on 1 Corinthians 4:7-13 →

1 Corinthians 4:10 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.

ἡμεῖςhēmeisWe ourselvesG3165

μωροὶmōroi[are] foolsG3474

διὰdiaon account ofG1223

ΧριστὸνChristonChristG5547

ὑμεῖςhumeisyou yourselvesG4771

δὲdehoweverG1161

φρόνιμοιphronimoiwiseG5429

ἐνeninG1722

Χριστῷ·ChristōChrist;G5547

ἡμεῖςhēmeiswe ourselvesG3165

ἀσθενεῖςastheneisweakG772

ὑμεῖςhumeisyou yourselvesG4771

δὲdehoweverG1161

ἰσχυροί·ischuroistrong;G2478

ὑμεῖςhumeisYou yourselvesG4771

ἔνδοξοιendoxoihonoredG1741

ἡμεῖςhēmeiswe ourselvesG3165

δὲdehoweverG1161

ἄτιμοι.atimoiwithout honor.G820

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

Cross references for 1 Corinthians 4:10

1 Corinthians 2:3
And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.
Acts 26:24
And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.
1 Corinthians 3:18
Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.
2 Corinthians 13:9
For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection.
Acts 17:18
Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection.
1 Peter 4:14
If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
2 Corinthians 11:19
For ye suffer fools gladly, seeing ye yourselves are wise.
Hosea 9:7
The days of visitation are come, the days of recompence are come; Israel shall know it: the prophet is a fool, the spiritual man is mad, for the multitude of thine iniquity, and the great hatred.
Proverbs 11:12
He that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbour: but a man of understanding holdeth his peace.
Luke 18:9
And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:
2 Corinthians 13:3-4
Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, which to you-ward is not weak, but is mighty in you. For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.
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 his communication.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

are fools.
1:1-3,18-20,26-28; 2:3,14; 3:18; 2Ki 9:11; Ho 9:7; Ac 17:18,32
Ac 26:24
for.
Mt 5:11; 10:22-25; 24:9; Lu 6:22; Ac 9:16; 1Pe 4:14
are wise.
8; 10:14,15; Jer 8:8,9
we are weak.
2:3; 2Co 10:10; 11:29; 12:9,10; 13:3,4,9
but ye.
3:2; 10:12
but we.
Pr 11:12; Isa 53:3; Lu 10:16; 18:9; 1Th 4:8

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

Context

1 Corinthians 4:9
For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.
1 Corinthians 4:10
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.
1 Corinthians 4:11
Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace;

Read all of 1 Corinthians 4

1 Corinthians 4:10 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Nosotros necios por amor de Cristo, y vosotros prudentes en Cristo; nosotros flacos, y vosotros fuertes; vosotros nobles, y nosotros viles.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Nous, nous sommes fous pour l’amour de Christ, mais vous, vous êtes sages en Christ; nous sommes faibles, mais vous forts; vous en honneur, mais nous dans le mépris.
German Elberfelder 1871	Wir sind Narren um Christi willen, ihr aber seid klug in Christo; wir schwach, ihr aber stark; ihr herrlich, wir aber verachtet.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Nos stulti propter Christum, vos autem prudentes in Christo: nos infirmi, vos autem fortes: vos nobiles, nos autem ignobiles.