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1 Corinthians 4

1 Cor. 4:15 KJV (With Strong’s)

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15
For
gar (Greek #1063)
properly, assigning a reason (used in argument, explanation or intensification; often with other particles)
KJV usage: and, as, because (that), but, even, for, indeed, no doubt, seeing, then, therefore, verily, what, why, yet.
Pronounce: gar
Origin: a primary particle
though
ean (Greek #1437)
a conditional particle; in case that, provided, etc.; often used in connection with other particles to denote indefiniteness or uncertainty
KJV usage: before, but, except, (and) if, (if) so, (what-, whither-)soever, though, when (-soever), whether (or), to whom, (who-)so(-ever). See 3361.
Pronounce: eh-an'
Origin: from 1487 and 302
ye have
echo (Greek #2192)
(used in certain tenses only) a primary verb; to hold (used in very various applications, literally or figuratively, direct or remote; such as possession; ability, contiuity, relation, or condition)
KJV usage: be (able, X hold, possessed with), accompany, + begin to amend, can(+ -not), X conceive, count, diseased, do + eat, + enjoy, + fear, following, have, hold, keep, + lack, + go to law, lie, + must needs, + of necessity, + need, next, + recover, + reign, + rest, + return, X sick, take for, + tremble, + uncircumcised, use.
Pronounce: ekh'-o
Origin: σχέω (skheh'-o)
ten thousand
murioi (Greek #3463)
ten thousand; by extension, innumerably many
KJV usage: ten thousand.
Pronounce: moo'-ree-oi
Origin: plural of an apparently primary word (properly, meaning very many)
instructors
paidagogos (Greek #3807)
a boy-leader, i.e. a servant whose office it was to take the children to school; (by implication, (figuratively) a tutor ("paedagogue"))
KJV usage: instructor, schoolmaster.
Pronounce: pahee-dag-o-gos'
Origin: from 3816 and a reduplicated form of 71
in
en (Greek #1722)
"in," at, (up-)on, by, etc.
KJV usage: about, after, against, + almost, X altogether, among, X as, at, before, between, (here-)by (+ all means), for (... sake of), + give self wholly to, (here-)in(-to, -wardly), X mightily, (because) of, (up-)on, (open-)ly, X outwardly, one, X quickly, X shortly, (speedi-)ly, X that, X there(-in, -on), through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), under, when, where(-with), while, with(-in). Often used in compounds, with substantially the same import; rarely with verbs of motion, and then not to indicate direction, except (elliptically) by a separate (and different) preposition.
Pronounce: en
Origin: a primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state), and (by implication) instrumentality (medially or constructively), i.e. a relation of rest (intermediate between 1519 and 1537)
Christ
Christos (Greek #5547)
anointed, i.e. the Messiah, an epithet of Jesus
KJV usage: Christ.
Pronounce: khris-tos'
Origin: from 5548
, yet
alla (Greek #235)
properly, other things, i.e. (adverbially) contrariwise (in many relations)
KJV usage: and, but (even), howbeit, indeed, nay, nevertheless, no, notwithstanding, save, therefore, yea, yet.
Pronounce: al-lah'
Origin: neuter plural of 243
have ye not
ou (Greek #3756)
the absolute negative (compare 3361) adverb; no or not
KJV usage: + long, nay, neither, never, no (X man), none, (can-)not, + nothing, + special, un(-worthy), when, + without, + yet but. See also 3364, 3372.
Pronounce: oo
Origin: οὐκ (ook), and (before an aspirate) οὐχ (ookh) a primary word
many
polus (Greek #4183)
(singular) much (in any respect) or (plural) many; neuter (singular) as adverbial, largely; neuter (plural) as adverb or noun often, mostly, largely
KJV usage: abundant, + altogether, common, + far (passed, spent), (+ be of a) great (age, deal, -ly, while), long, many, much, oft(-en (-times)), plenteous, sore, straitly. Compare 4118, 4119.
Pronounce: pol-oos'
Origin: including the forms from the alternate πολλός
fathers
pater (Greek #3962)
a "father" (literally or figuratively, near or more remote)
KJV usage: father, parent.
Pronounce: pat-ayr'
Origin: apparently a primary word
: for
gar (Greek #1063)
properly, assigning a reason (used in argument, explanation or intensification; often with other particles)
KJV usage: and, as, because (that), but, even, for, indeed, no doubt, seeing, then, therefore, verily, what, why, yet.
Pronounce: gar
Origin: a primary particle
in
en (Greek #1722)
"in," at, (up-)on, by, etc.
KJV usage: about, after, against, + almost, X altogether, among, X as, at, before, between, (here-)by (+ all means), for (... sake of), + give self wholly to, (here-)in(-to, -wardly), X mightily, (because) of, (up-)on, (open-)ly, X outwardly, one, X quickly, X shortly, (speedi-)ly, X that, X there(-in, -on), through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), under, when, where(-with), while, with(-in). Often used in compounds, with substantially the same import; rarely with verbs of motion, and then not to indicate direction, except (elliptically) by a separate (and different) preposition.
Pronounce: en
Origin: a primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state), and (by implication) instrumentality (medially or constructively), i.e. a relation of rest (intermediate between 1519 and 1537)
Christ
Christos (Greek #5547)
anointed, i.e. the Messiah, an epithet of Jesus
KJV usage: Christ.
Pronounce: khris-tos'
Origin: from 5548
Jesus
Iesous (Greek #2424)
Jesus (i.e. Jehoshua), the name of our Lord and two (three) other Israelites
KJV usage: Jesus.
Pronounce: ee-ay-sooce'
Origin: of Hebrew origin (03091)
I
ego (Greek #1473)
a primary pronoun of the first person I (only expressed when emphatic)
KJV usage: I, me. For the other cases and the plural see 1691, 1698, 1700, 2248, 2249, 2254, 2257, etc.
Pronounce: eg-o'
have begotten
gennao (Greek #1080)
to procreate (properly, of the father, but by extension of the mother); figuratively, to regenerate
KJV usage: bear, beget, be born, bring forth, conceive, be delivered of, gender, make, spring.
Pronounce: ghen-nah'-o
Origin: from a variation of 1085
you
humas (Greek #5209)
you (as the objective of a verb or preposition)
KJV usage: ye, you (+ -ward), your (+ own).
Pronounce: hoo-mas'
Origin: accusative case of 5210
through
dia (Greek #1223)
through (in very wide applications, local, causal, or occasional)
KJV usage: after, always, among, at, to avoid, because of (that), briefly, by, for (cause) ... fore, from, in, by occasion of, of, by reason of, for sake, that, thereby, therefore, X though, through(-out), to, wherefore, with (-in). In composition it retains the same general importance.
Pronounce: dee-ah'
Origin: a primary preposition denoting the channel of an act
the gospel
ho (Greek #3588)
the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)
KJV usage: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.
Pronounce: ho
Origin: ἡ (hay), and the neuter τό (to) in all their inflections
euaggelion (Greek #2098)
a good message, i.e. the gospel
KJV usage: gospel.
Pronounce: yoo-ang-ghel'-ee-on
Origin: from the same as 2097
.

More on:

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Begotten,
Christ,
Fathers,
Ten,
The Gospel,
The Lord Jesus

Cross References

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ye have.
2 Tim. 4:3• 3For the time shall be when they will not bear sound teaching; but according to their own lusts will heap up to themselves teachers, having an itching ear; (2 Tim. 4:3)
for.
1 Cor. 3:6,10• 6*I* have planted; Apollos watered; but God has given the increase.
 10According to the grace of God which has been given to me, as a wise architect, I have laid the foundation, but another builds upon it. But let each see how he builds upon it. (1 Cor. 3:6,10)
;
1 Cor. 9:1‑2• 1Am I not free? am I not an apostle? have I not seen Jesus our Lord? are not *ye* my work in the Lord?
 2If I am not an apostle to others, yet at any rate I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are *ye* in the Lord. (1 Cor. 9:1‑2)
;
Acts 18:4‑11• 4And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded Jews and Greeks.
 5And when both Silas and Timotheus came down from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in respect of the word, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ.
 6But as they opposed and spoke injuriously, he shook his clothes, and said to them, Your blood be upon your own head: *I* am pure; from henceforth I will go to the nations.
 7And departing thence he came to the house of a certain man, by name Justus, who worshipped God, whose house adjoined the synagogue.
 8But Crispus the ruler of the synagogue believed in the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing, believed, and were baptised.
 9And the Lord said by vision in the night to Paul, Fear not, but speak and be not silent;
 10because *I* am with thee, and no one shall set upon thee to injure thee; because I have much people in this city.
 11And he remained there a year and six months, teaching among them the word of God. (Acts 18:4‑11)
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Rom. 15:20• 20and so aiming to announce the glad tidings, not where Christ has been named, that I might not build upon another's foundation; (Rom. 15:20)
;
2 Cor. 3:1‑3• 1Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or do we need, as some, commendatory letters to you, or commendatory from you?
 2*Ye* are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read of all men,
 3being manifested to be Christ's epistle ministered by us, written, not with ink, but the Spirit of the living God; not on stone tables, but on fleshy tables of the heart. (2 Cor. 3:1‑3)
;
Gal. 4:19• 19my children, of whom I again travail in birth until Christ shall have been formed in you: (Gal. 4:19)
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Titus 1:4• 4to Titus, my own child according to the faith common to us: Grace and peace from God the Father, and Christ Jesus our Saviour. (Titus 1:4)
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Philem. 10‑12,19• 10I exhort thee for *my* child, whom I have begotten in my bonds, Onesimus,
 11once unserviceable to thee, but now serviceable to thee and to me:
 12whom I have sent back to thee: but do *thou* receive him, that is, *my* bowels:
 19*I* Paul have written it with mine own hand; *I* will repay it: that I say not to thee that thou owest even thine own self also to me. (Philem. 10‑12,19)
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James 1:18• 18According to his own will begat he us by the word of truth, that we should be a certain first-fruits of *his* creatures. (James 1:18)
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1 Peter 1:23• 23being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the living and abiding word of God. (1 Peter 1:23)

J. N. Darby Translation

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15
For if ye should have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet not many fathers; for in Christ Jesus *I* have begotten you through the glad tidings.

W. Kelly Translation

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15
for if ye should have ten thousand child-guidesa in Christ, yet not many fathers, for in Christ Jesus, through the gospel, I begot you.

WK Translation Notes

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a
It is well to observe that there is no depreciation of Christian teaching or teachers in comparison with gospel work, such as the common version naturally insinuates. It is an appeal to the love which ought to bind specially the converted souls to him who was the means of bringing them to God; and not in any way a formal comparison of the relative value of this gift with that. Hence there is the avoidance of the word "didaskalous," or teacher, and the use of the somewhat slighting term, "paidagōgous" (tutors), as applied to those at Corinth who had done too much to occupy and turn away the saints there. They sought to keep the brethren who listened to them in their leading-strings. They sought to direct the thoughts and ways of their admirers, as do guardians, or "paidagōgos", with the young entrusted to their charge.