By the Grace of God I Am What I Am: What Does 1 Corinthians 15:10 Mean?

1 Corinthians 15:10 reads, “But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.” King James Version (KJV)

Translation1 Corinthians 15:10
ESVBut by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.
NASBBut by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me.
NIVBut by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.
NLTBut whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out his special favor on me—and not without results. For I have worked harder than any of the other apostles; yet it was not I but God who was working through me by his grace.

Also see, what does What God Has Joined Together mean? to learn more.

By the Grace of God I Am What I Am: Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary

15:1-11 The word resurrection, usually points out our existence beyond the grave. Of the apostle’s doctrine not a trace can be found in all the teaching of philosophers. The doctrine of Christ’s death and resurrection, is the foundation of Christianity. Remove this, and all our hopes for eternity sink at once.

And it is by holding this truth firm, that Christians stand in the day of trial, and are kept faithful to God. We believe in vain, unless we keep in the faith of the gospel. This truth is confirmed by Old Testament prophecies; and many saw Christ after he was risen.

This apostle was highly favoured, but he always had a low opinion of himself, and expressed it. When sinners are, by Divine grace, turned into saints, God causes the remembrance of former sins to make them humble, diligent, and faithful.

He ascribes to Divine grace all that was valuable in him. True believers, though not ignorant of what the Lord has done for, in, and by them, yet when they look at their whole conduct and their obligations, they are led to feel that none are so worthless as they are.

All true Christians believe that Jesus Christ, and him crucified, and then risen from the dead, is the sun and substance of Christianity. All the apostles agreed in this testimony; by this faith they lived, and in this faith they died.

Also see, what does Beloved Let Us Love One Another mean? to learn more.

1 Corinthians 15:10 | Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

10. by … grace … and his grace—The repetition implies the prominence which God’s grace had in his mind, as the sole cause of his marvellous conversion and subsequent labors.

Though “not meet to be called an apostle,” grace has given him, in Christ, the meetness needed for the office. Translate as the Greek, “His grace which was (showed) towards me.”

what I am—occupying the honorable office of an apostle. Contrast with this the self-sufficient prayer of another Pharisee (Lu 18:11).

but I laboured—by God’s grace (Php 2:16).

than they all—than any of the apostles (1Co 15:7).

grace of God … with me—Compare “the Lord working with them” (Mr 16:20). The oldest manuscripts omit “which was.” The “not I, but grace,” implies, that though the human will concurred with God when brought by His Spirit into conformity with His will, yet “grace” so preponderated in the work, that his own co-operation is regarded as nothing, and grace as virtually the sole agent. (Compare 1Co 3:9; Mt 10:20; 2Co 6:1; Php 2:12, 13).

Also see, what does No One Can Snatch Them Out of My Hand mean? to learn more.

Daniel Isaiah Joseph

Daniel's seminary degree is in Exegetical Theology. He was a pastor for 10 years. As a professor, he has taught Bible and theology courses at two Christian universities. Please see his About page for details.

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