1 Corinthians 4 · Verse 14

1 Corinthians 4:14

I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you.
1 Corinthians 4:14, King James Version

1 Corinthians 4:14 in other translations

BSBI am not writing this to shame you, but to warn you as my beloved children.
WEBI don’t write these things to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children.
ASVI write not these things to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children.
YLTNot as putting you to shame do I write these things, but as my beloved children I do admonish,
DARBYNot as chiding do I write these things to you, but as my beloved children I admonish you.
BBEI am not saying these things to put you to shame, but so that, as my dear children, you may see what is right.
WebsterI write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you.

What does 1 Corinthians 4:14 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
14. warn--rather, "admonish" as a father uses "admonition" to "beloved sons," not provoking them to wrath (Ep 6:4). The Corinthians might well be "ashamed" at the disparity of state between the father, Paul, and his spiritual children themselves.

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 14. To shame you. It is not my design to put you to shame by showing you how little you suffer in comparison with us. This is not our design, though it may have this effect. I have no wish to make you ashamed, to appear to triumph over you, or merely to taunt you. My design is higher and nobler than this.

But as my beloved sons. As my dear children. I speak as a father to his children, and I say these things for your good. No father would desire to make his children ashamed. In his counsels, entreaties, and admonitions, he would have a higher object than that.

I warn you. I do not say these things in a harsh manner, with a severe spirit of rebuke; but in order to admonish you, to suggest counsel, to instil wisdom into the mind. I say these things not to make you blush, but with the hope that they may be the means of your reformation, and of a more holy life. No man, no minister, ought to reprove another merely to overwhelm him with shame, but the object should always be to make a brother better; and the admonition should be so administered as to have this end, not sourly or morosely, but in a kind, tender, and affectionate manner.

(|) "sons" "children" (e) "I warn you" 1Thes 2:11

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 14 I write not these things to shame you - It is not by way of finding fault with you for not providing me with the necessaries of life that I write thus; but I do it to warn you to act differently for the time to come; and be not so ready to be drawn aside by every pretender to apostleship, to the neglect of those to whom, under God, you owe your salvation.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Corinthians 4:14-21
In reproving for sin, we should distinguish between sinners and their sins. Reproofs that kindly and affectionately warn, are likely to reform. Though the apostle spoke with authority as a parent, he would rather beseech them in love. And as ministers are to set an example, others must follow them, as far as they follow Christ in faith and practice. Christians may mistake and differ in their views, but Christ and Christian truth are the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever. Whenever the gospel is effectual, it comes not in word only, but also in power, by the Holy Spirit, quickening dead sinners, delivering persons from the slavery of sin and Satan, renewing them both inwardly and outwardly, and comforting, strengthening, and establishing the saints, which cannot be done by the persuasive language of men, but by the power of God. And it is a happy temper, to have the spirit of love and meekness bear the rule, yet to maintain just authority.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

1 Corinthians 4:14 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.

οὐκoukNotG3756
ἐντρέπωνentrepōnshamingG1788
ὑμᾶςhumasyouG4771
γράφωgraphōdo I writeG1125
ταῦτα,tautathese things,G3778
ἀλλ᾽all᾽butG235
ὡςhōsasG5613
τέκναteknachildrenG5043
μουmouof mineG3165
ἀγαπητὰagapētabelovedG27
νουθετῶν.nouthetōnadmonishing [you].G3560

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

Cross references for 1 Corinthians 4:14

  • 1 Thessalonians 2:11

    As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children,

  • 3 John 1:4

    I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.

  • 1 Corinthians 9:15

    But I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void.

  • 1 Corinthians 4:15

    For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.

  • Colossians 1:28

    Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:

  • 1 Thessalonians 5:14

    Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.

  • 2 Corinthians 12:19

    Again, think ye that we excuse ourselves unto you? we speak before God in Christ: but we do all things, dearly beloved, for your edifying.

  • 1 Corinthians 6:5

    I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren?

  • 2 Corinthians 11:11

    Wherefore? because I love you not? God knoweth.

  • Ezekiel 3:21

    Nevertheless if thou warn the righteous man, that the righteous sin not, and he doth not sin, he shall surely live, because he is warned; also thou hast delivered thy soul.

  • 2 Corinthians 7:3

    I speak not this to condemn you: for I have said before, that ye are in our hearts to die and live with you.

  • 2 Corinthians 12:14-15

    Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not yours, but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children. And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
write.
9:15; 2Co 7:3; 12:19
my.
15; 2Co 6:11-13; 11:11; 12:14,15; 1Th 2:11
I.
Eze 3:21; Ac 20:31; Col 1:28; 1Th 5:14

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

Context

  • 1 Corinthians 4:13

    Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day.

  • 1 Corinthians 4:14

    I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you.

  • 1 Corinthians 4:15

    For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.

Read all of 1 Corinthians 4

1 Corinthians 4:14 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		No escribo esto para avergonzaros: mas amonéstoos como á mis hijos amados.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Ce n’est pas pour vous faire honte que j’écris ces choses, mais je vous avertis comme mes enfants bien-aimés.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Nicht euch zu beschämen schreibe ich dieses, sondern ich ermahne euch als meine geliebten Kinder.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Non ut confundam vos, hæc scribo, sed ut filios meos carissimos moneo.