1 Corinthians 4:12

Paul works with his own hands and responds to cursing with blessing and to persecution with endurance. It matters because Christlike grace returns good for evil.

Cross-references · 20

• 1 Pet 3:9Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.
• Rom 12:14Bless those who persecute you. Bless and do not curse.
• Matt 5:11Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.
• 1 Pet 4:12–14Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial that has come upon you, as though something strange were happening to you.
• Luke 6:28bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
• Rom 12:20On the contrary, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink. For in so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
• Acts 18:3and he stayed and worked with them because they were tentmakers by trade, just as he was.
• 1 Pet 3:14But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear what they fear; do not be shaken.”
• Matt 5:44But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
• 1 Pet 2:23When they heaped abuse on Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats, but entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly.
• Luke 23:34Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up His garments by casting lots.
• John 15:20Remember the word that I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you as well; if they kept My word, they will keep yours as well.
• Acts 7:60Falling on his knees, he cried out in a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
• 1 Cor 9:6Or are Barnabas and I the only apostles who must work for a living?
• Jude 1:9But even the archangel Michael, when he disputed with the devil over the body of Moses, did not presume to bring a slanderous charge against him, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!”
• Acts 20:34You yourselves know that these hands of mine have ministered to my own needs and those of my companions.
• 1 Th 2:9Surely you recall, brothers, our labor and toil. We worked night and day so that we would not be a burden to anyone while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.
• 1 Tim 4:10To this end we labor and strive, because we have set our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of everyone, and especially of those who believe.
• 2 Th 3:8nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. Instead, in labor and toil, we worked night and day so that we would not be a burden to any of you.
• 1 Pet 4:19So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should entrust their souls to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.

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