1 Corinthians 4:6
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
Paul isn't just telling the Corinthians to stick to Scripture; he's showing them how it's done, using himself and Apollos as examples. The point isn't just to avoid bad teaching, but to prevent pride from developing when people favor one leader over another. This humility, rooted in God's Word, is the antidote to division.
I have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers, that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul is addressing a deeply divided church in Corinth, where people are forming factions around spiritual leaders like himself and Apollos. He's just warned them about the dangers of arrogance and the importance of recognizing that all spiritual gifts and achievements ultimately come from God. This verse serves as a practical application of his previous points, showing how he and Apollos are modeling humility and obedience to Scripture to prevent further division.
Ever feel pressured to have the 'latest' spiritual insight? Paul reminds us of a foundational principle that keeps us grounded.
Paul uses himself and Apollos as examples to teach the Corinthian church a crucial lesson: 'not to go beyond what is written.' This refers to the Old Testament Scriptures. He's saying that true spiritual teaching and practice should be rooted in God's already revealed Word. It's a call to humility, urging believers to build their faith on the solid rock of Scripture, not on shifting opinions or man-made traditions. This principle protects against overblown ideas and ensures our foundation is secure.
Is your church, or even your own spiritual life, getting a little too 'woke' for its own good? Pride is a dangerous spiritual trap.
Paul directly links 'going beyond what is written' with the danger of becoming 'puffed up in favor of one against another.' When we elevate human ideas or personalities above Scripture, it inevitably leads to division and arrogance. We start comparing ourselves and our preferred teachers, creating factions ('I follow Paul,' 'I follow Apollos'). This verse is a powerful antidote to spiritual elitism and denominational pride. True unity and humility come when we all bow before the same unchanging Word of God.
Understand the original words
Ask a follow-up
adelphoi · Greek Noun
A common term for fellow believers in the church, emphasizing the relational equality and family bond established by faith in Christ.
physiousthe · Greek Verb
The state of being prideful or conceited, often used in Paul's writings to describe the arrogance of those who boast in human teachers or wisdom.
The divisions in the Corinthian church, where people were aligning themselves with different Christian leaders like Paul and Apollos, were a major catalyst for Paul writing this letter. He uses himself and Apollos as examples to correct the tendency to elevate human leaders above the foundational teachings of Scripture.
c. AD 50-52
Paul's Ministry in Corinth
Paul establishes the church in Corinth during his first missionary journey, facing significant opposition but seeing many believe.
c. AD 53-56
Paul's Ministry in Ephesus
While in Ephesus, Paul receives reports about the divisions and problems within the Corinthian church.
c. AD 55— this verse
Paul Writes 1 Corinthians
In response to the issues in Corinth, including factions forming around leaders like Apollos, Paul writes this letter.
c. AD 55-57
Apollos's Ministry in Corinth
Apollos, a Jewish Christian eloquent in the Scriptures, had ministered in Corinth after Paul, and some believers began to identify with him.
This passage echoes the sentiment of 'not going beyond what is written,' warning against adding to or taking away from God's commands, reinforcing the idea of staying within the boundaries of revealed truth.
Galatians 3:10-14Paul here emphasizes that righteousness comes through faith in God's promises, not by trying to earn it through adherence to the law, which connects to not being 'puffed up' by human efforts or wisdom beyond what God has given.
Philippians 4:2This verse directly addresses a division within the church regarding leaders (Euodia and Syntyche), highlighting the practical danger of factions and pride that Paul is warning against in Corinth.
Colossians 2:18This passage cautions against a false humility and obsession with angelic visions that lead people away from Christ, illustrating the kind of 'going beyond what is written' and becoming 'puffed up' that Paul seeks to prevent.
Paul isn't just telling the Corinthians to stick to Scripture; he's showing them how it's done, using himself and Apollos as examples. The point isn't just to avoid bad teaching, but to prevent pride from developing when people favor one leader over another. This humility, rooted in God's Word, is the antidote to division.
Paul is addressing a deeply divided church in Corinth, where people are forming factions around spiritual leaders like himself and Apollos. He's just warned them about the dangers of arrogance and the importance of recognizing that all spiritual gifts and achievements ultimately come from God. This verse serves as a practical application of his previous points, showing how he and Apollos are modeling humility and obedience to Scripture to prevent further division.
Paul is addressing a deeply divided church in Corinth, where people are forming factions around spiritual leaders like himself and Apollos. He's just warned them about the dangers of arrogance and the importance of recognizing that all spiritual gifts and achievements ultimately come from God. This verse serves as a practical application of his previous points, showing how he and Apollos are modeling humility and obedience to Scripture to prevent further division.
"I have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers, that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another." — Paul isn't just telling the Corinthians to stick to Scripture; he's showing them how it's done, using himself and Apollos as examples. The point isn't just to avoid bad teaching, but to prevent pri…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026
