The Apostles’ Humility

Now I have applied these things, brothers, to myself and Apollos for your sake, in order that in us you may learn not to go beyond what is written, lest someone be inflated with pride on behalf of one person against the other. For who concedes you superiority? And what do you have that you did not receive? But if indeed you received it, why do you boast as if you[a] did not receive it? Already you are satiated! Already you are rich! Apart from us you reign as kings! And would that indeed you reigned as kings, in order that we also might reign as kings with you!

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 4:7 Here “if” is supplied as a component of the participle (“receive”) which is understood as conditional

Now, brothers and sisters, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, “Do not go beyond what is written.”(A) Then you will not be puffed up in being a follower of one of us over against the other.(B) For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive?(C) And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?

Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich!(D) You have begun to reign—and that without us! How I wish that you really had begun to reign so that we also might reign with you!

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