1 Corinthians 4:12

4:12 We work: To avoid being blamed by others for taking money, Paul preferred to support himself (9:3-18; Acts 18:3; 20:33-35). • We bless those who curse us: Paul’s response was in line with Jesus’ teaching (Matt 5:44-45; cp. Rom 12:14, 17-21).

Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

1Co 4:12. Κοπιῶμεν, we labour) as if compelled by necessity. Few of the Corinthians did so.—εὐλογοῦμεν—ἀνεχόμεθα,—παρακαλοῦμεν, we bless—we endure—we entreat) i.e. we do not return reproaches, persecution, evil speaking, but we only bless; nothing else is lawful; the world thinks that despicable.

Bengel's Gnomon of the New Testament — English translation (T&T Clark, Edinburgh, 1860) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

1Co_4:12, 1Co_4:13

And labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it; being defamed, we entreat: we are made as the filth of the world, (and are) the off-scouring of all things unto this day.

Working with our own hands. The apostle, in a subsequent chapter, proves at length his right, and that of other ministers to an adequate support from the church. But he did not avail himself of that right in Corinth, 1Co_9:15.

Being reviled. (λοιδορούμενοι), being railed at, or made the object of scurrility. We bless, i.e. we speak well of, or implore good upon. We return abuse with kind words, or, with good wishes and prayers. Being persecuted. As the former term refers to injurious words, this refers to injurious acts. We suffer it, i.e. we patiently submit to it without resistance or complaint. Being defamed, i.e. having evil deeds or motives ascribed to us. We entreat (παρακαλοῦμεν), we exhort. That is, we endeavor to meet with kindness such injurious imputations, instead of repelling them with anger and indignation. In all this the apostle followed the example of his divine master, who when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not, but committed himself to him who judgeth righteously, 1Pe_2:23.

We are made as the filth of the earth, or rather of the world (κόσμου). That is, we are regarded as the filthiest of mankind. And the off-scouring of all things, or of all men. That is, as the refuse of society. The words (περικάθαρμα and περίψημα) rendered filth and off-scouring, signify, the former, what is carried off by rinsing and the latter, what is scraped off. They both express the general idea of refuse. This is all the context demands or suggests. The apostle sums up all he had previously said, by saying, We are regarded as the dregs or refuse of the world. As both of these words, however, and especially the former, are used of victims chosen from the lowest class of the people, who in times of calamity were offered in sacrifice to the gods, it is very generally assumed that Paul here refers to that custom; and means to say that he was regarded as one of those who were considered only fit to be put to death for the good of others. This brings out the same idea in a different form. It is not probable, however, that any such allusion is here intended; because the custom was not so common as to be familiar to his readers generally, and because the word commonly used for such sacrifices was not, περικάθαρμα, which Paul uses, but κάθαρμα. In Pro_21:18 however, it is said, The wicked is a ransom (περικάθαρμα) for the righteous. Paul certainly did not consider himself or his sufferings as a propitiation for other men. The point of comparison, if there be any allusion to the custom in question, is to the vileness of such victims, which were always chosen from the worthless and despised. This and other passages of Pauls writings (comp. 2Co_11:23-27 present in a very strong light the indignities and sufferings which he endured in the service of Christ, and may well put us to shame, as well as the self-satisfied and self-indulgent Corinthians. What are we doing for him for whom Paul did and suffered so much?

Charles Hodge — Commentary on Romans (1835), First Corinthians (1857), and Ephesians (1856) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

working with our own hands--namely, "even unto this present hour" (Co1 4:11). This is not stated in the narrative of Paul's proceedings at Ephesus, from which city he wrote this Epistle (though it is expressly stated of him at Corinth, compare Act 18:3, Act 18:19). But in his address to the Ephesian elders at Miletus (Act 20:34), he says, "Ye yourselves know that these hands have ministered unto my necessities," &c. The undesignedness of the coincidence thus indirectly brought out is incompatible with forgery.

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Verse 12. Working with our own hands] They were obliged to labour in order to supply themselves with the necessaries of life while preaching the Gospel to others. This, no doubt, was the case in every place were no Church had been as yet formed: afterwards, the people of God supplied their ministers, according to their power, with food and raiment.

Being reviled, we bless, c.] What a most amiable picture does this exhibit of the power of the grace of Christ! Man is naturally a proud creature, and his pride prompts him always to avenge himself in whatever manner he can, and repay insult with insult. It is only the grace of Christ that can make a man patient in bearing injuries, and render blessing for cursing, beneficence for malevolence, &c. The apostles suffered an indignities for Christ's sake for it was on his account that they were exposed to persecutions, &c.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

12. When he says that while persecuted he suffers it, and that he prays for his revilers, he intimates that he is not merely afflicted and abased by God, by means of the cross, but is also endowed with a disposition to abase himself willingly. In this, perhaps, he gives a stroke to the false apostles, who were so effeminate and tender, that they could not bear to be touched even with your little finger. In speaking of their laboring he adds — with our own hands, to express more fully the meanness of his employments — “I do not merely gain a livelihood for myself by my own labor, but by mean labor, working with my own hands.”

John Calvin's Commentaries (1540-1563) — public domain. Text from the Calvin Translation Society English edition (1840s-50s) via the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (ccel.org). Calvin's coverage is partial (roughly two-thirds of the Bible); uncommented books and verses are honest gaps, never fabricated. The 19th-century editor's footnotes and remarks are omitted so the notes are faithfully Calvin's own voice.

(12) And labour.—While at Ephesus, whence this letter was written, the Apostle supported himself by working with Aquila and Priscilla at tent-making. This labour was no recreation or pastime with St. Paul, it was hard and earnest work. (See 1Th_2:8-9; 2Th_3:8.) That this labour was rendered more excessive from the Apostle’s characteristic generosity to others, we may conclude from the expression used in his farewell to the Ephesian elders (Act_20:17-38), “Ye yourselves know that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me.”

Being reviled, we bless.—A striking contrast to the way in which the Corinthians would act under similar circumstances, and yet a literal obedience to the teaching of the Master (Mat_5:39; Mat_5:44). Thus the Apostle became in the eyes of the world, “a fool” for Christ’s sake.

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

12. and labour, working with our own hands] Consult Paley, Horae Paulinae, 1st Ep. to Corinthians, No. vi, for a full discussion of the remarkable coincidence between this passage and the speech to the Ephesian elders in Act_20:34, where, though the words were spoken on a different occasion, and are related by a different author, we find statements exactly corresponding. St Paul, in this Epistle written from Ephesus, and in that speech spoken at Ephesus, states that he laboured with his own hands there, and in both cases the remark is dropped undesignedly. The coincidence is the best proof possible of the genuineness both of Epistle and narrative. See also ch. 1Co_9:6 and Act_18:3; 1Th_2:9; 2Th_3:8.

being reviled, we bless] Compare St Mat_5:5; Mat_5:38-45; St Luk_23:34; St Joh_18:23; 1Pe_2:23.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

And labour, working with our own hands,.... As the apostle did at Corinth, Act 18:3 and elsewhere; partly to minister to his own necessities, and those of others; and partly that he might not be burdensome to the churches; and also to set an example of diligence and industry to others; though he had a right and power to claim a maintenance of those to whom he ministered.

Being reviled, we bless; as Christ commanded, Mat 5:44 and the apostle himself directed and exhorted to, Rom 12:14

being persecuted, we suffer it; that is, patiently; neither resisting our persecutors, nor murmuring and repining at our unhappy circumstances; but taking all in good part, as what is the will of God, and will make for his glory.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

12 And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:

Ver. 12. And labour, working, &c.] Whereas they might object, Are you hungry, thirsty, naked? It is because you are idle. No, saith he, "we labour, working with our hands" (a shame for you to suffer it), and yet can hardly sweat out a poor living. This one example of Paul is much pleaded in these times by men of perverse minds to dispute God out of his own. One apostle works with his hands, or two, now and then at pleasure; all the rest live upon the Church (for could those fishermen catch fish in the forests, deserts, or streets?), yet one Paul is set against all the rest of the apostles; yea, set together by the ears with himself; anything to save their purses.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

And labour ... - This Paul often did. See the note at Act 18:3; compare Act 20:34; 1Th 2:9. 2Th 3:8.

Being reviled - That they were often reviled or reproached, their history everywhere shows. See the Acts of the Apostles. They were reviled or ridiculed as Jews by the Gentiles; and jeered by all as “Nazarenes,” and as deluded followers of Jesus; as the victims of a foolish superstition and enthusiasm.

We bless - We return good for evil. In this they followed the explicit direction of the Saviour; see the note at Mat 5:44. The main idea in these passages is, that they were reviled, were persecuted, etc. The other clauses, “we bless,” “we suffer it,” etc. seem to be thrown in “by the way” to show how they bore this ill treatment. As if he had said “we are reviled; and what is more, we bear it patiently, and return good for evil.” At the same time, that he was recounting his trials, he was, therefore, incidentally instructing them in the nature of the gospel, and showing how their sufferings were to be borne; and how to illustrate the excellency of the Christian doctrine.

Being persecuted - See the note at Mat 5:11.

We suffer it - We sustain it; we do not revenge it; we abstain from resenting or resisting it.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

And labour, working with our hands; we do not only labour in the word and doctrine, but we labour with our hands, that we might not be burdensome to the church, our hands ministering to our necessities, Act 20:34; though, as he saith, 1Co 9:4, they had a power to eat and drink, that is, a right to have demanded meat and drink of them, and might have forbore working; for who goeth a warfare at his own charges? 1Co 3:6,7. Whence we may observe, that though the ministers of Christ ought to be maintained by the churches to which they relate, and they sin if they neglect it; yet where this either is not done through men’s sinful neglect of them, or cannot be done through the poverty of the members of such churches, it is lawful for them to labour with their hands.

Being reviled, we bless; we are reviled and spoken ill of, but we do not revile others, but speak well of them, and wish well to them.

Being persecuted, we suffer it; though we be hunted and pursued to the endangering of our lives and liberties, yet we do make no resistance, but patiently suffer it. By this the apostle showeth them the duty of Christians, as well as their lot and portion in this life; and also tacitly reflecteth on them and their teachers, who were some of those that thus reviled the apostles; and though they did not, it may be, smite them with their hands, yet they persecuted them with their tongues; and leaves it to their consideration, whether the apostles or they lived more up to the rule of Christianity given by Christ, Mat 5:39-41.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

12. Working… hands—Not only at Corinth at first, (Act_18:3,) but in Ephesus now. Act_20:34.

Reviled… bless—The words, perhaps, indicate that St. Paul had read the Gospel of Matthew. See Mat_5:39; Mat_5:44.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Labour, working with our own hands. St. Paul supported himself by the dreary toil and scant earnings of a tent maker, in the express determination to be no burden upon his converts. (Act_18:3 Act_20:34; 1Th_2:9; 2Th_3:8; 1Co_9:6; 2Co_11:7, etc.) Such conduct was the more noble because all mechanical trades were looked down upon by the Greeks as a sort of banausia. And though it was repellent and mechanical work to be handling the strong scented black goats" hair all day, yet by this labour he maintained not only himself but also his brother missionaries. (Act_20:34) Being reviled. The early Christians were falsely accused of the most execrable crimes, so that the very name "Christian" was regarded as equivalent to "malefactor". (1Pe_4:14, 1Pe_4:16) We bless. Herein they obeyed the direct precept of our Lord, (Mat_5:44) as well as his example. (Luk_23:44; 1Pe_2:23 1Pe_3:9)

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

We bless-suffer it-intreat - We do not return revilings, persecution, defamation; nothing but blessing.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.

12. “We toil, working with our own hands.” Like tramps in our day, they were ready to perform manual labor for temporal support. “Being reviled, we bless.” Lord, help us to bless people when they abuse us. “Being persecuted, we bear it with no retaliatory spirit whatever.” Lord, help us to do likewise.

William B. Godbey, Commentary on the New Testament (1896–1900) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

and we toil, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless [ Luk_6:27 ; 1Pe_2:23 ]; being persecuted, we endure ;

J. W. McGarvey (with Philip Y. Pendleton), Commentaries on the New Testament (The Fourfold Gospel, 1914; Acts; and the epistles) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

12. And labor. Support ourselves by our own hands, while preaching the gospel, returned good for evil.

B. W. Johnson's The People's New Testament with Notes (1889–1891) — public domain. Electronic text from the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (CCEL) ThML edition.

When we are reviled, we bless

This can be stated in active form. AT: "When people revile us, we bless them" or "When people scorn us, we bless them" (See: Active or Passive)

When we are persecuted

This can be stated in active form. AT: "When people persecute us" (See: Active or Passive)

When we are slandered

This can be stated in active form. AT: "When people slander us" (See: Active or Passive)

We have become, and are still considered to be, the refuse of the world

"People began to consider us—and they still consider us—to be the garbage of the world"

translationWords

bless

persecute

endure

slander

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.

12. ἐργαζόμενοι ταῖς ἰδίαις χερσίν. Consult Paley, Horae Paulinae, 1st Ep. to Corinthians, No. 6, for a full discussion of the remarkable coincidence between this passage and the speech to the Ephesian elders in Act 20:34, where, though the words were spoken on a different occasion, and are related by a different author, we find statements exactly corresponding. St Paul, in this Epistle written from Ephesus, and in that speech spoken at Ephesus, states that he laboured with his own hands there, and in both cases the remark is dropped undesignedly. The coincidence is the best proof possible of the genuineness both of Epistle and narrative. See also ch. 1Co 9:6 and Act 18:3; 1Th 2:9; 2Th 3:8.

λοιδορούμενοι εὐλογοῦμεν. Compare Mat 5:5; Mat 5:38-45; Luk 23:34; Joh 18:23; 1Pe 2:20; 1Pe 2:23.

Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges (Cambridge University Press, 1896; 21 vols, various authors incl. Carr, Maclear, Plummer, Farrar, Lumby, Moule, M. R. James, Simcox) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

12.] As testimonies to Paul’s working with his own hands, see Act 18:3; Act 20:34; ch. 9:6; 1Th 2:9; 2Th 3:8. That the other Apostles did the same, need not necessarily be inferred from this passage, for he may be describing the state of all by himself as a sample; but it is conceivable, and indeed probable, that they did.

λοιδ.… κ.τ.λ.] ‘So far are we from vindicating to ourselves places of earthly honour and distinction, that we tamely submit to reproach, persecution, and evil repute;—nay, we return blessing, and patience, and soft words.’

Henry Alford, The Greek Testament (1849–1861) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

12. κοπιῶμεν ἐργ. τ. ἰδίαις χερσίν. Again and again he mentions this (9:6; 2Co 11:7; 1Th 2:9; 2Th 3:8; cf. Act 18:3, Act 20:34). See Knowling on Act 18:3, Deissmann, Light, p. 317, and Ramsay, St Paul, pp. 34-36. He had worked for his own living when he was at Corinth, and he was doing this at Ephesus at the time of writing. He must maintain his independence. Graviter peccat, et libertatem arguendi amittit, qui ab eo aliquid accipit, qui propterea tribuit ne redarguat (Atto). The plural may be rhetorical, but it probably includes other teachers who did the like. Greeks despised manual labour; St Paul glories in it.

λοιδορούμενοι εὐλογοῦμεν, διωκόμενοι ἀνεχόμεθα. He is perhaps not definitely alluding to the Lord’s commands (Mat 5:44; Luk 6:27), but he is under their influence. Here again, Greek prejudice would be against him. In the preliminary induction which Aristotle (Anal. Post. II. xii. 21) makes for the definition of μεγαλόψυχία, he asks what it is that such μεγαλόψυχοι as Achilles, Ajax, and Alcibiades have in common, and answers, τὸ μὴ ἀνέχεσθαι ὑβριζόμενοι. In his full description (Eth. Nic. IV. iii. 17, 30), of the high-minded man, he says that he πάμπαν ὀιγωρήσει the contempt of others, and that he is not μνησίκακος; but this is because he is conscious that he never deserves ill, and because he does not care to bear anything, good or ill (and least of all ill), long in mind. Just as the Greek would think that the Apostle’s working with his own hands stamped him as βάναυσος, so he would regard his manner of receiving abuse and injury as fatal to his being accounted μεγαλόψυχος; he must be an abject person.

International Critical Commentary — older volumes (1896–1929), various authors — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Labor [κοπιωμεν] . Rev., toil. Unto weariness. See on Luk 5:5. Reviled [λοιδορουμενοι] . See on Act 23:4.

We bless [ευλογουμεν] . See on blessed, Joh 12:13.

We suffer [ανεχομεθα] . Lit., we hold or bear up.

Marvin R. Vincent, Word Studies in the New Testament (1887–1900) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.