1 Corinthians 4:15

Though they may have many teachers, Paul is uniquely their spiritual father because he brought them the gospel. It matters because the one who first proclaims Christ to us holds a special, irreplaceable bond.

Cross-references · 17

• Gal 4:19My children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you,
• 1 Cor 3:10By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one must be careful how he builds.
• 1 Cor 9:23I do all this for the sake of the gospel, so that I may share in its blessings.
• 1 Cor 9:14In the same way, the Lord has prescribed that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.
• 1 Pet 1:23For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.
• 1 Cor 9:18What then is my reward? That in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not use up my rights in preaching it.
• Rom 15:20In this way I have aspired to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else’s foundation.
• Titus 1:4To Titus, my true child in our common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.
• Phlm 1:19I, Paul, write this with my own hand. I will repay it—not to mention that you owe me your very self.
• 2 Cor 3:1–3Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, like some people, letters of recommendation to you or from you?
• Jas 1:18He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we would be a kind of firstfruits of His creation.
• Phlm 1:10–12I appeal to you for my child Onesimus, whose father I became while I was in chains.
• 1 Cor 9:12If others have this right to your support, shouldn’t we have it all the more? But we did not exercise this right. Instead, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ.
• Acts 18:4–11Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks alike.
• 2 Tim 4:3For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires.
• 1 Cor 3:6I planted the seed and Apollos watered it, but God made it grow.
• 1 Cor 9:1–2Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you yourselves not my workmanship in the Lord?

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