1 Corinthians 4:7
New International Version
For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?

New Living Translation
For what gives you the right to make such a judgment? What do you have that God hasn’t given you? And if everything you have is from God, why boast as though it were not a gift?

English Standard Version
For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?

Berean Standard Bible
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?

Berean Literal Bible
For who makes you any different? And what do you have that you did not receive? And if also you did receive it, why do you boast as not having received it?

King James Bible
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?

New King James Version
For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?

New American Standard Bible
For who considers you as superior? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?

NASB 1995
For who regards you as superior? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?

NASB 1977
For who regards you as superior? And what do you have that you did not receive? But if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?

Legacy Standard Bible
For who regards you as superior? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?

Amplified Bible
For who regards you as superior or what sets you apart as special? What do you have that you did not receive [from another]? And if in fact you received it [from God or someone else], why do you boast as if you had not received it [but had gained it by yourself]?

Christian Standard Bible
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?

Holman Christian Standard Bible
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?

American Standard Version
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?

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
For who is investigating you, and what do you have that you have not received? And if you have received, why are you boasting as if it is what you have not received?

Contemporary English Version
What is so special about you? What do you have that you were not given? And if it was given to you, how can you brag?

Douay-Rheims Bible
For who distinguisheth thee ? Or what hast thou that thou hast not received ? And if thou hast received, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it ?

English Revised Version
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?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Who says that you are any better than other people? What do you have that wasn't given to you? If you were given what you have, why are you bragging as if it weren't a gift?

Good News Translation
Who made you superior to others? Didn't God give you everything you have? Well, then, how can you boast, as if what you have were not a gift?

International Standard Version
For who makes you 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 receive it?

Literal Standard Version
for who makes you to differ? And what do you have, that you did not receive? And if you also received, why do you glory as not having received?

Majority Standard Bible
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?

New American Bible
Who confers distinction upon you? What do you possess that you have not received? But if you have received it, why are you boasting as if you did not receive it?

NET Bible
For who concedes you any superiority? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you received it, why do you boast as though you did not?

New Revised Standard Version
For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you received it, why do you boast as if it were not a gift?

New Heart English Bible
For who makes you different? And what do you have that you did not receive? But if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?

Webster's Bible Translation
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?

Weymouth New Testament
Why, who gives you your superiority, my brother? Or what have you that you did not receive? And if you really did receive it, why boast as if this were not so?

World English Bible
For who makes you different? And what do you have that you didn’t receive? But if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?

Young's Literal Translation
for who doth make thee to differ? and what hast thou, that thou didst not receive? and if thou didst also receive, why dost thou glory as not having received?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Fools for Christ
6Brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us not to go beyond what is written. Then you will not take pride in one man over another. 7For 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? 8Already you have all you want. Already you have become rich. Without us, you have become kings. How I wish you really were kings, so that we might be kings with you!…

Cross References
John 3:27
John replied, "A man can receive only what is given him from heaven.

Romans 12:3
For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but think of yourself with sober judgment, according to the measure of faith God has given you.

Romans 12:6
We have different gifts according to the grace given us. If one's gift is prophecy, let him use it in proportion to his faith;

1 Peter 4:10
As good stewards of the manifold grace of God, each of you should use whatever gift he has received to serve one another.


Treasury of Scripture

For who makes you to differ from another? and what have you that you did not receive? now if you did receive it, why do you glory, as if you had not received it?

who.

1 Corinthians 12:4-11
Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit…

1 Corinthians 15:10
But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

Romans 9:16-18
So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy…

maketh thee to differ.

1 Corinthians 3:5
Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?

1 Corinthians 7:7
For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that.

1 Chronicles 29:11-16
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…

why.

1 Corinthians 5:6
Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?

2 Chronicles 32:23-29
And many brought gifts unto the LORD to Jerusalem, and presents to Hezekiah king of Judah: so that he was magnified in the sight of all nations from thenceforth…

Ezekiel 28:2-5
Son of man, say unto the prince of Tyrus, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thine heart is lifted up, and thou hast said, I am a God, I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas; yet thou art a man, and not God, though thou set thine heart as the heart of God: …

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1 Corinthians 4
1. In what account the apostles ought to be regarded.
7. We have nothing which we have not received.
9. The apostles spectacles to the world, angels, and men;
13. the filth and offscouring of the world;
15. yet our fathers in Christ;
16. whom we ought to follow.














(7) For . . .--This is the explanation of why such "puffing up" is absurd. Even if one possess some gift or power, he has not attained it by his own excellence or power; it is the free gift of God.

Verse 7. - Who maketh thee to differ? literally, Who distinguisheth thee? He means that this glorification and depreciation of rival views and rival teachers sprang from unwarrantable arrogance. It involved a claim to superiority, and a right to sit in judgment, which they did not possess. That thou didst not receive? Even supposing that you have some special gift, it is a gift, not a merit, and therefore it is a boon for which to be thankful, not a pre-eminence of which to boast.

"Satan, I know thy power, and thou know'st mine,
Neither our own, but given. What folly, then,
To try what arms can do!"


(Milton, 'Paradise Lost.')

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
For
γάρ (gar)
Conjunction
Strong's 1063: For. A primary particle; properly, assigning a reason.

who
τίς (tis)
Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5101: Who, which, what, why. Probably emphatic of tis; an interrogative pronoun, who, which or what.

makes you so superior?
διακρίνει (diakrinei)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1252: From dia and krino; to separate thoroughly, i.e. to withdraw from, or oppose; figuratively, to discriminate, or hesitate.

What
τί (ti)
Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 5101: Who, which, what, why. Probably emphatic of tis; an interrogative pronoun, who, which or what.

do you have
ἔχεις (echeis)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 2192: To have, hold, possess. Including an alternate form scheo skheh'-o; a primary verb; to hold.

that
(ho)
Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3739: Who, which, what, that.

you did not receive?
ἔλαβες (elabes)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 2983: (a) I receive, get, (b) I take, lay hold of.

And
δὲ (de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.

if
εἰ (ei)
Conjunction
Strong's 1487: If. A primary particle of conditionality; if, whether, that, etc.

you did receive [it],
ἔλαβες (elabes)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 2983: (a) I receive, get, (b) I take, lay hold of.

why
τί (ti)
Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 5101: Who, which, what, why. Probably emphatic of tis; an interrogative pronoun, who, which or what.

do you boast
καυχᾶσαι (kauchasai)
Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 2744: To boast; I glory (exult) proudly. From some base akin to that of aucheo and euchomai; to vaunt.

as though
ὡς (hōs)
Adverb
Strong's 5613: Probably adverb of comparative from hos; which how, i.e. In that manner.

[you did not]?
λαβών (labōn)
Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2983: (a) I receive, get, (b) I take, lay hold of.


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NT Letters: 1 Corinthians 4:7 For who makes you different? And what (1 Cor. 1C iC 1Cor i cor icor)
1 Corinthians 4:6
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