1 Corinthians 4:14

14 I write not these things, that I confound you, but I warn you as my most dear-worthy sons.

1 Corinthians 4:14 Meaning and Commentary

1 Corinthians 4:14

I write not these things to shame you
Though they had a great deal of reason to be ashamed of the vain opinion they had of themselves, and that they suffered the faithful ministers of Christ to want the necessaries of life, when they abounded so much with the good things of it; and though the apostle's view in giving this narrative was to bring them under a sense of their faults, and to a conviction of them, and so to shame for them, in order to their future reformation and amendment; yet it was not merely to put them to the blush, but to admonish and instruct them, that he enlarged on these things:

but as my beloved sons I warn you;
they being his children in a spiritual sense, for whom he had the strongest love and affection, as their spiritual Father; and as it was his place, and became him standing in such a relation to them, he warned, admonished, and put them in mind of their obligations and duty to him.

1 Corinthians 4:14 In-Context

12 and we travail working with our hands; we be cursed, and we bless; we suffer persecution, and we abide long [and we sustain, or abide long];

13 we be blasphemed, and we beseech; as cleansings of this world we be made the out-casting [we be made the parings, or out-castings,] of all things till yet.

14 I write not these things, that I confound you, but I warn you as my most dear-worthy sons.

15 For why if ye have ten thousand of under-masters in Christ, but not many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have engendered you by the gospel [for why in Christ Jesus I have gendered you by the gospel].

16 Therefore, brethren, I pray you [Therefore I pray you], be ye followers of me, as I of Christ.