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Text -- 1 Corinthians 4:17 (NET)

Strongs On/Off
Context
4:17 For this reason, I have sent Timothy to you, who is my dear and faithful son in the Lord. He will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach them everywhere in every church.
Parallel   Cross Reference (TSK)   ITL  

Names, People and Places, Dictionary Themes and Topics

Names, People and Places:
 · Timothy a young man of Lystra who travelled with Paul and to whom two epistles were addressed


Dictionary Themes and Topics: Zeal | WAY | Timothy | TEACH; TEACHER; TEACHING | PAUL, THE APOSTLE, 5 | Faithful | ETHICS, III | EDUCATION | CORINTHIANS, FIRST EPISTLE TO THE | CORINTH | Beloved | more
Table of Contents

Word/Phrase Notes
Robertson , Wesley , JFB , Clarke , Calvin , TSK

Word/Phrase Notes
Barnes , Poole , Haydock , Gill

Verse Notes / Footnotes
NET Notes , Geneva Bible

Verse Range Notes
TSK Synopsis , MHCC , Matthew Henry , Barclay , Constable , College , McGarvey , Lapide

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Commentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per phrase)

Robertson: 1Co 4:17 - -- Have I sent ( epempsa ). First aorist active indicative. Probably Timothy had already gone as seems clear from 1Co 16:10. Apparently Timothy came bac...

Have I sent ( epempsa ).

First aorist active indicative. Probably Timothy had already gone as seems clear from 1Co 16:10. Apparently Timothy came back to Ephesus and was sent on to Macedonia before the uproar in Ephesus (Act 19:22). Probably also Titus was then despatched to Corinth, also before the uproar.

Robertson: 1Co 4:17 - -- In every church ( en pasēi ekklēsiāi ). Paul expects his teachings and practices to be followed in every church (1Co 14:33). Note his language ...

In every church ( en pasēi ekklēsiāi ).

Paul expects his teachings and practices to be followed in every church (1Co 14:33). Note his language here "my ways those in Christ Jesus."Timothy as Paul’ s spokesman will remind (anamnēsei ) the Corinthians of Paul’ s teachings.

Wesley: 1Co 4:17 - -- Elsewhere he styles him "brother," 2Co 1:1; but here paternal affection takes place.

Elsewhere he styles him "brother," 2Co 1:1; but here paternal affection takes place.

Wesley: 1Co 4:17 - -- No less by example than precept.

No less by example than precept.

JFB: 1Co 4:17 - -- That ye may the better "be followers of me" (1Co 4:16), through his admonitions.

That ye may the better "be followers of me" (1Co 4:16), through his admonitions.

JFB: 1Co 4:17 - -- (1Co 16:10; Act 19:21-22). "Paul purposed . . . when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem. So he sent into Macedonia Timoth...

(1Co 16:10; Act 19:21-22). "Paul purposed . . . when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem. So he sent into Macedonia Timotheus and Erastus." Here it is not expressly said that he sent Timothy into Achaia (of which Corinth was the capital), but it is implied, for he sent him with Erastus before him. As he therefore purposed to go into Achaia himself, there is every probability they were to go thither also. They are said only to have been sent into Macedonia, because it was the country to which they went immediately from Ephesus. The undesignedness of the coincidence establishes the genuineness of both the Epistle and the history. In both, Timothy's journey is closely connected with Paul's own (compare 1Co 4:19). Erastus is not specified in the Epistle, probably because it was Timothy who was charged with Paul's orders, and possibly Erastus was a Corinthian, who, in accompanying Timothy, was only returning home. The seeming discrepancy at least shows that the passages were not taken from one another [PALEY, Horæ Paulinæ].

JFB: 1Co 4:17 - -- That is, converted by me (compare 1Co 4:14-15; Act 14:6-7; with Act 16:1-2; 1Ti 1:2, 1Ti 1:18; 2Ti 1:2). Translate, "My son, beloved and faithful in t...

That is, converted by me (compare 1Co 4:14-15; Act 14:6-7; with Act 16:1-2; 1Ti 1:2, 1Ti 1:18; 2Ti 1:2). Translate, "My son, beloved and faithful in the Lord."

JFB: 1Co 4:17 - -- Timothy, from his spiritual connection with Paul, as converted by him, was best suited to remind them of the apostle's walk and teaching (2Ti 3:10), w...

Timothy, from his spiritual connection with Paul, as converted by him, was best suited to remind them of the apostle's walk and teaching (2Ti 3:10), which they in some respects, though not altogether (1Co 11:2), had forgotten.

JFB: 1Co 4:17 - -- An argument implying that what the Spirit directed Paul to teach "everywhere" else, must be necessary at Corinth also (1Co 7:17).

An argument implying that what the Spirit directed Paul to teach "everywhere" else, must be necessary at Corinth also (1Co 7:17).

Clarke: 1Co 4:17 - -- For this cause - That you imitate me, and know in what this consists

For this cause - That you imitate me, and know in what this consists

Clarke: 1Co 4:17 - -- I sent unto you Timotheus - The same person to whom he wrote the two epistles that are still extant under his name, and whom he calls here his belov...

I sent unto you Timotheus - The same person to whom he wrote the two epistles that are still extant under his name, and whom he calls here his beloved son, one of his most intimate disciples; and whom he had been the means of bringing to God through Christ

Clarke: 1Co 4:17 - -- My ways which be in Christ - This person will also inform you of the manner in which I regulate all the Churches; and show to you, that what I requi...

My ways which be in Christ - This person will also inform you of the manner in which I regulate all the Churches; and show to you, that what I require of you is no other than what I require of all the Churches of Christ which I have formed, as I follow the same plan of discipline in every place. See the Introduction, Section 3.

Calvin: 1Co 4:17 - -- 17.For this cause The meaning is: “That you may know what my manner of life is, and whether I am worthy to be imitated, listen to what Timothy has ...

17.For this cause The meaning is: “That you may know what my manner of life is, and whether I am worthy to be imitated, listen to what Timothy has to say, who will be prepared to be a faithful witness of these things. Now as there are two things that secure credit to a man’s testimony — a knowledge of the things which he relates, and fidelity — he lets them know that Timothy possesses both of these things. For in calling him his dearly beloved son, he intimates that he knew him intimately, and was acquainted with all his affairs; and farther, he speaks of him as faithful in the Lord He gives also two things in charge to Timothy — first, to recall to the recollection of the Corinthians those things which they should of themselves have had in remembrance, and in this he tacitly reproves them; and secondly, to testify to them, how uniform and steady his manner of teaching was in every place. Now it is probable that he had been assailed by the calumnies of the false apostles, as though he assumed more authority over the Corinthians than he did over others, or as though he conducted himself in a very different way in other places; for it is not without good reason that he wishes this to be testified to them. It is then the part of a prudent minister so to regulate his procedure, and to observe such a method of instruction, that no such objection may be brought against him, but he shall be prepared to answer on the same ground as Paul does.

TSK: 1Co 4:17 - -- I sent : 1Co 16:10; Act 19:21, Act 19:22; Phi 2:19; 1Th 3:2, 1Th 3:3 who is : 1Co 4:15; 1Ti 1:2; 2Ti 1:2 faithful : 1Co 4:2, 1Co 7:25; Num 12:7; Pro 1...

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Commentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per Verse)

Barnes: 1Co 4:17 - -- For this cause - In order to remind you of my doctrines and my manner of life. Since I am hindered from coming myself, I have sent a fellow lab...

For this cause - In order to remind you of my doctrines and my manner of life. Since I am hindered from coming myself, I have sent a fellow laborer as my messenger, well acquainted with my views and feelings, that he might do what I would do if I were present.

Have I sent unto you Timotheus - Timothy, the companion and fellow laborer of Paul. This was probably when Paul was at Ephesus. He sent Timothy and Erastus into Macedonia, probably with instruction to go to Corinth if convenient. Yet it was not quite certain that Timothy would come to them, for in 1Co 16:10, he expresses a doubt whether he would. Paul was probably deeply engaged in Asia, and did not think it proper then for him to leave his field of labor. He probably supposed also, that Timothy, as his ambassador, would be able to settle the difficulties in Corinth as well as if he were himself present.

My beloved son - In the gospel. See Act 16:1-3; 1Ti 1:2. He supposed, therefore, that they would listen to him with great respect.

And faithful in the Lord - A true Christian and a faithful servant of Christ; and who is, therefore, worthy of your confidence.

Of my ways - My doctrine, my teaching, my mode of life.

Which be in Christ - That is, my Christian life; my ministry; or my conduct as a Christian and a follower of the Saviour.

As I teach everywhere ... - This was designed probably to show them that he taught them no new or special doctrines; he wished them simply to conform to the common rules of the churches, and to be like their Christian brethren everywhere. The Christian church is founded every where on the same doctrines; is bound to obey the same laws; and is suited to produce and cherish the same spirit. The same spirit that was required in Ephesus or Antioch, was required at Corinth; the same spirit that was required at Corinth, at Ephesus, or at Antioch, is required now.

Poole: 1Co 4:17 - -- This Timothy Paul found at Lystra, Act 16:1 . His father was a Greek, his mother a Jewess, therefore Paul circumcised him; her name was Eunice...

This Timothy Paul found at Lystra, Act 16:1 . His father was a Greek, his mother a Jewess, therefore Paul circumcised him; her name was Eunice, the daughter of Lois, 2Ti 1:5 . Paul took him along with him in his travels. He was ordained by the imposition of the hands of the presbytery, 1Ti 4:14 2Ti 1:6 . Paul calls him his beloved son, either because he was his spiritual son, or because he was by him instructed in the gospel: he calls him his own son in the faith, 1Ti 1:2 .

Faithful in the Lord because he was faithful in the work of the Lord, in the business of the ministry.

Who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church he (saith the apostle) shall bring to your remembrance my ways in the Lord, he shall acquaint you with both what doctrine I have preached and what course of life I have lived; how I have preached to every church, what rules I have given for the ordering of every church, and how I have walked before and toward them.

Haydock: 1Co 4:14-17 - -- I write not. St. Paul here insinuates to the Corinthians, that they ought to blush with shame for neglecting the apostles, who had suffered so many ...

I write not. St. Paul here insinuates to the Corinthians, that they ought to blush with shame for neglecting the apostles, who had suffered so many hardships for them, to follow after teachers void of honour, and to glory in being called the disciples of such men. (Estius) ---

I admonish you as my dearest children, of what is for your good, and I may take this liberty, as being your spiritual father in Christ, by whom you were first made Christians. Be ye followers of me, as I also am of Christ: follow the doctrine of Christ, which I follow, and taught you. Timothy, my beloved son in the Lord, whom I send to you, will put you in mind of what I teach, and of what I practise. (Witham)

Gill: 1Co 4:17 - -- For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus,.... This is an instance of his care of them, concern for them and respect unto them; that he not only w...

For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus,.... This is an instance of his care of them, concern for them and respect unto them; that he not only writes unto them, giving his best advice and counsel, promising to come unto them; but in the mean while sends Timothy to them, whose character is here given as one dear to him, and in all things trusty and faithful:

who is my beloved son; so, in his epistles to him, he often styles him his son, his own son in the faith, his dearly beloved son; not that he was the instrument of his conversion, for he was a disciple of Christ before the apostle was acquainted with him; see Act 16:1 but either because of his age, he being younger than he; or because of his great affection for him; and chiefly because, as a son with a father, he served him in the Gospel, Phi 2:22 and since he was so familiar with him, and so much loved by him, it might reasonably be thought he full well knew his ways and methods of doctrine and practice.

And faithful in the Lord; a faithful steward of the mysteries of grace; faithful in the Gospel of Christ, and to the souls of men; a faithful minister of the Lord's; one who had been tried, proved, and found faithful, and therefore might be trusted to, and depended upon:

who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways; his way of preaching, and the doctrines he taught; and what should be the manner of life and conversation agreeably thereunto, and to his own; and all those rules and orders he gave for the discipline and management of the affairs of churches; all which he had formerly delivered to them, though they, through length of time, and the ministry of the false teachers among them, had greatly forgotten them: wherefore Timothy is sent, not to teach them new ways, nor, indeed, to teach at all, whose youth they might be tempted to despise; but only to put them in mind of what the apostle had formerly taught them: and which are recommended by their being such ways,

which be in Christ; the doctrines he had preached among them, the sum and substance of them were Christ, and him crucified; the ordinances he had delivered to them were what he had received from Christ; and all the rules and methods he had proposed to them for the regulation of their conduct, and the management of their ecclesiastical affairs, were such as were agreeably to the mind of Christ, and tended to his glory; he took no step, nor proposed any to be taken, but in Christ, and for the good of his interest: and he adds,

as I teach everywhere, in every church; the faith he delivered everywhere was one and the same; the Son of God, preached by him, was not yea and nay; the trumpet he blew always gave a certain sound; the rules prescribed by him, and orders he laid down, for the conduct of life, and government of churches, were exactly alike in all places; he taught no doctrines at Corinth, nor enjoined the observance of any rule, but what all other churches were taught and directed to; his plan of doctrine and discipline was the same everywhere.

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Commentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

NET Notes: 1Co 4:17 ‡ Several important mss read ᾿Ιησοῦ (Ihsou, “Jesus”) after Χριστῷ (Cr...

Geneva Bible: 1Co 4:17 For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ( i ) ways ...

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Commentary -- Verse Range Notes

TSK Synopsis: 1Co 4:1-21 - --1 In what account the ministers ought to be had.7 We have nothing which we have not received.9 The apostles spectacles to the world, angels, and men;1...

MHCC: 1Co 4:14-21 - --In reproving for sin, we should distinguish between sinners and their sins. Reproofs that kindly and affectionately warn, are likely to reform. Though...

Matthew Henry: 1Co 4:17-21 - -- Here, I. He tells them of his having sent Timothy to them, to bring them into remembrance of his ways in Christ, as he taught every where in every ...

Barclay: 1Co 4:14-21 - --With this passage Paul brings to an end the section of the letter which deals directly with the dissensions and divisions at Corinth. It is as a fath...

Constable: 1Co 1:10--7:1 - --II. Conditions reported to Paul 1:10--6:20 The warm introduction to the epistle (1:1-9) led Paul to give a stron...

Constable: 1Co 1:10--5:1 - --A. Divisions in the church 1:10-4:21 The first major problem was the divisions that were fragmenting the...

Constable: 1Co 4:1-21 - --7. The Corinthians' relationship with Paul 4:1-21 The apostle now returned to the subject of him...

Constable: 1Co 4:14-21 - --A final appeal and exhortation 4:14-21 Paul concluded this first major section of the epistle (1:10-4:21) by reasserting his apostolic authority, whic...

College: 1Co 4:1-21 - --1 CORINTHIANS 4 E. APOSTLES OF CHRIST (4:1-21) 1. The Apostles as Servants of Christ (4:1-5) 1 So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Chris...

McGarvey: 1Co 4:17 - --For this cause have I sent unto you Timothy, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, who shall put you in remembrance of my ways which are i...

Lapide: 1Co 4:1-21 - --CHAPTER IV. SYNOPSIS OF THE CHAPTER S. Paul proceeds in his task of uprooting the divisions, the pride, and the boasting of the Corinthians, and esp...

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Introduction / Outline

Robertson: 1 Corinthians (Book Introduction) First Corinthians From Ephesus a.d. 54 Or 55 By Way of Introduction It would be a hard-boiled critic today who would dare deny the genuineness o...

JFB: 1 Corinthians (Book Introduction) The AUTHENTICITY of this Epistle is attested by CLEMENT OF ROME [First Epistle to the Corinthians, 47], POLYCARP [Epistle to the Philippians, 11], and...

JFB: 1 Corinthians (Outline) THE INSCRIPTION; THANKSGIVING FOR THE SPIRITUAL STATE OF THE CORINTHIAN CHURCH; REPROOF OF PARTY DIVISIONS: HIS OWN METHOD OF PREACHING ONLY CHRIST. ...

TSK: 1 Corinthians 4 (Chapter Introduction) Overview 1Co 4:1, In what account the ministers ought to be had; 1Co 4:7, We have nothing which we have not received; 1Co 4:9, The apostles specta...

Poole: 1 Corinthians 4 (Chapter Introduction) CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 4

MHCC: 1 Corinthians (Book Introduction) The Corinthian church contained some Jews, but more Gentiles, and the apostle had to contend with the superstition of the one, and the sinful conduct ...

MHCC: 1 Corinthians 4 (Chapter Introduction) (1Co 4:1-6) The true character of gospel ministers. (1Co 4:7-13) Cautions against despising the apostle. (1Co 4:14-21) He claims their regard as the...

Matthew Henry: 1 Corinthians (Book Introduction) An Exposition, with Practical Observations, of The First Epistle of St. Paul to the Corinthians Corinth was a principal city of Greece, in that partic...

Matthew Henry: 1 Corinthians 4 (Chapter Introduction) In this chapter the apostle, I. Directs them how to account of him and his fellow-ministers, and therein, tacitly at least, reproves them for thei...

Barclay: 1 Corinthians (Book Introduction) A GENERAL INTRODUCTION TO THE LETTERS OF PAUL The Letters Of Paul There is no more interesting body of documents in the New Testament than the letter...

Barclay: 1 Corinthians 4 (Chapter Introduction) The Three Judgments (1Co_4:1-5) Apostolic Humility And Unchristian Pride (1Co_4:6-13) A Father In The Faith (1Co_4:14-21)

Constable: 1 Corinthians (Book Introduction) Introduction Historical Background Corinth had a long history stretching back into the...

Constable: 1 Corinthians (Outline) Outline I. Introduction 1:1-9 A. Salutation 1:1-3 B. Thanksgiving 1:4-9 ...

Constable: 1 Corinthians 1 Corinthians Bibliography Adams, Jay. Marriage, Divorce and Remarriage in the Bible. Phillipsburg, N.J.: Presb...

Haydock: 1 Corinthians (Book Introduction) THE FIRST EPISTLE OF ST. PAUL, THE APOSTLE, TO THE CORINTHIANS. INTRODUCTION. Corinth was the capital of Achaia, a very rich and populous city...

Gill: 1 Corinthians (Book Introduction) INTRODUCTION TO 1 CORINTHIANS This was not the first epistle that was written by the apostle to the Corinthians, for we read in this of his having ...

Gill: 1 Corinthians 4 (Chapter Introduction) INTRODUCTION TO 1 CORINTHIANS 4 The chief heads of this chapter are the account that ought to be had of the ministers of the Gospel; cautions again...

College: 1 Corinthians (Book Introduction) FOREWORD Since the past few decades have seen an explosion in the number of books, articles, and commentaries on First Corinthians, a brief word to t...

College: 1 Corinthians (Outline) OUTLINE I. INTRODUCTION - 1:1-9 A. Salutation - 1:1-3 B. Thanksgiving - 1:4-9 II. DISUNITY AND COMMUNITY FRAGMENTATION - 1:10-4:21 A. ...

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