¶ For who maketh thee to differ [from another]? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive [it], why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received [it]?
For {G1063} who {G5101} maketh {G1252} thee {G4571} to differ {G1252} from another? and {G1161} what {G5101} hast thou {G2192} that {G3739} thou didst {G2983} not {G3756} receive {G2983}?{G1161} now if {G1499} thou didst receive {G2983} it, why {G5101} dost thou glory {G2744}, as {G5613} if thou hadst {G2983} not {G3361} received {G2983} it?
After all, what makes you so special? What do you have that you didn’t receive as a gift? And if in fact it was a gift, why do you boast as if it weren’t?
For who makes you so superior? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?
For who maketh thee to differ? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? but if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory as if thou hadst not received it?
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John 3:27
John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven. -
1 Peter 4:10
As every man hath received the gift, [even so] minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. -
James 1:17
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. -
1 Chronicles 29:11
Thine, O LORD, [is] the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all [that is] in the heaven and in the earth [is thine]; thine [is] the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all. -
1 Chronicles 29:16
O LORD our God, all this store that we have prepared to build thee an house for thine holy name [cometh] of thine hand, and [is] all thine own. -
Romans 12:6
Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, [let us prophesy] according to the proportion of faith; -
John 1:16
And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.
The Apostle Paul’s penetrating question in 1 Corinthians 4:7 serves as a powerful call to humility, challenging the Corinthian believers—and us—to consider the true source of all their possessions, abilities, and spiritual standing.
Context
Paul addresses the Corinthian church, which was plagued by divisions, factions, and spiritual pride. Believers were aligning themselves with different leaders (Paul, Apollos, Cephas) and boasting about their perceived wisdom, spiritual gifts, or status. In the preceding verses, Paul emphasizes that ministers are merely stewards of the mysteries of God, whose ultimate judge is the Lord, not human opinion. This verse directly confronts the Corinthians' self-exaltation, reminding them that any advantage or gift they possess is not self-generated but divinely bestowed. Their boasting was therefore illogical and disrespectful to God, the true giver.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The KJV phrase "who maketh thee to differ" translates the Greek word diakrinei (διακρίνει), which means "to distinguish, to separate, to judge." Here, it implies distinguishing oneself as superior or different from others, often in a judgmental or proud way. The word "receive" (Greek: elabes - ἔλαβες) clearly denotes a passive action; it was given to you, not earned. And "glory" (Greek: kauchasai - καυχᾶσαι) means to boast or brag, highlighting the inappropriate response to receiving a gift.
Practical Application
1 Corinthians 4:7 calls believers to a profound sense of gratitude and humility. In a world that often celebrates self-made success and personal achievement, this verse reorients our perspective towards God. It encourages us to:
Ultimately, this verse is a timeless reminder that true strength and worth are found not in what we possess or achieve, but in acknowledging God as the generous source of all things.