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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The Apostles’ Example of Humility

Now, brothers,(A) I have applied these things to myself and Apollos(B) for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the saying: “Nothing beyond what is written.”[a] The purpose is that none of you will be inflated with pride in favor of one person over another. For who makes you so superior? What do you have that you didn’t receive? If, in fact, you did receive it, why do you boast as if you hadn’t received it? You are already full! You are already rich! You have begun to reign as kings without us—and I wish you did reign, so that we could also reign with you!

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 4:6 The words in quotation marks could = the OT, a Jewish maxim, or a popular proverb.