1Cor 4:12 | RWP | e4.org | We toil ( κοπιωμεν ). Common late verb for weariness in toil ( ), working with our own hands ( εργαζομενο ταις ιδιαις χερσιν ) instrumental case χερσιν and not simply for himself but also for Aquila and Priscilla as he explains in . This personal touch gives colour to the outline. Paul alludes to this fact often ( ; ; ; ). "Greeks despised manual labour; St. Paul glories in it" (Robertson and Plummer). Cf. Deissmann, Light, etc. , p. 317. Being reviled we bless ( λοιδορουμενο ευλογουμεν ). Almost the language of Peter about Jesus ( ) in harmony with the words of Jesus in ; . Being persecuted we endure ( διωκομενο ανεχομεθα ). We hold back and do not retaliate. Turn to Paul's other picture of his experiences in the vivid contrasts in ; for an interpretation of his language here.

‏ 1 Corinthians 4:12

We toil ( κοπιωμεν ). Common late verb for weariness in toil (Lu 5:5),

working with our own hands ( εργαζομενο ταις ιδιαις χερσιν ) instrumental case χερσιν and not simply for himself but also for Aquila and Priscilla as he explains in Ac 20:34. This personal touch gives colour to the outline. Paul alludes to this fact often (1Th 2:9; 2Th 3:8; 1Co 9:6; 2Co 11:7). "Greeks despised manual labour; St. Paul glories in it" (Robertson and Plummer). Cf. Deissmann, Light, etc., p. 317.

Being reviled we bless ( λοιδορουμενο ευλογουμεν ). Almost the language of Peter about Jesus (1Pe 2:23) in harmony with the words of Jesus in Mt 5:44; Lu 6:27.

Being persecuted we endure ( διωκομενο ανεχομεθα ). We hold back and do not retaliate. Turn to Paul's other picture of his experiences in the vivid contrasts in 2Co 4:7-10; 6:3-10 for an interpretation of his language here.