1-corinthians 4:12
Translations
King James Version (KJV)
And labor, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:
American King James Version (AKJV)
And labor, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:
American Standard Version (ASV)
and we toil, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure;
Basic English Translation (BBE)
And with our hands we do the hardest work: when they give us curses we give blessings, when we undergo punishment we take it quietly;
Webster's Revision
And labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it;
World English Bible
We toil, working with our own hands. When people curse us, we bless. Being persecuted, we endure.
English Revised Version (ERV)
and we toil, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure;
Clarke's 1-corinthians 4:12 Bible Commentary
Working with our own hands - They were obliged to labor in order to supply themselves with the necessaries of life while preaching the Gospel to others. This, no doubt, was the case in every place were no Church had been as yet formed: afterwards, the people of God supplied their ministers, according to their power, with food and raiment.
Being reviled, we bless, etc. - What a most amiable picture does this exhibit of the power of the grace of Christ! Man is naturally a proud creature, and his pride prompts him always to avenge himself in whatever manner he can, and repay insult with insult. It is only the grace of Christ that can make a man patient in bearing injuries, and render blessing for cursing, beneficence for malevolence, etc. The apostles suffered an indignities for Christ's sake; for it was on his account that they were exposed to persecutions, etc.
Barnes's 1-corinthians 4:12 Bible Commentary
And labour ... - This Paul often did. See the note at Acts 18:3; compare Acts 20:34; 1 Thessalonians 2:9. 2 Thessalonians 3:8.
Being reviled - That they were often reviled or reproached, their history everywhere shows. See the Acts of the Apostles. They were reviled or ridiculed as Jews by the Gentiles; and jeered by all as "Nazarenes," and as deluded followers of Jesus; as the victims of a foolish superstition and enthusiasm.
We bless - We return good for evil. In this they followed the explicit direction of the Saviour; see the note at Matthew 5:44. The main idea in these passages is, that they were reviled, were persecuted, etc. The other clauses, "we bless," "we suffer it," etc. seem to be thrown in "by the way" to show how they bore this ill treatment. As if he had said "we are reviled; and what is more, we bear it patiently, and return good for evil." At the same time, that he was recounting his trials, he was, therefore, incidentally instructing them in the nature of the gospel, and showing how their sufferings were to be borne; and how to illustrate the excellency of the Christian doctrine.
Being persecuted - See the note at Matthew 5:11.
We suffer it - We sustain it; we do not revenge it; we abstain from resenting or resisting it.
Wesley's 1-corinthians 4:12 Bible Commentary
4:12 We bless - suffer it - intreat - We do not return revilings, persecution, defamation; nothing but blessing.
