1 Corinthians 4:15

“For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, etc.] Or “schoolmasters”; by whom he means the false teachers, whom, for argument sake, he admits to be instructors in Christ, or ministers of his, as in (<471123>2 Corinthians 11:23) and who were many, and of whose number the Corinthians boasted; though they were not so numerous as here supposed; for the expression is hyperbolical: perhaps some reference may be had to the multitude of schoolmasters, tutors, and governors, and who also were called twba, “fathers”, which those that were Jews of this church at Corinth had before they believed in Christ; as the members of the great sanhedrim, the great number of doctors, wise men, Scribes…”

“ten thousand--implying that the Corinthians had more of them than was desirable. instructors--tutors who had the care of rearing, but had not the rights, or peculiar affection, of the father, who alone had begotten them spiritually. in Christ--Paul admits that these "instructors" were not mere legalists, but evangelical teachers. He uses, however, a stronger phrase of himself in begetting them spiritually, "In Christ Jesus," implying both the Saviour's office and person. As Paul was the means of spiritually regenerating them, and yet "baptized none of them save Crispus, Gaius, and the household of Stephanas," regeneration cannot be inseparably in and by baptism (Co1 1:14-17).”

“For though ye have ten thousand instructors - Though you may have or though you should have. It matters not how many you have, yet it is still true that I only sustain the relation to you of spiritual father, and whatever respect it is proper for you to have toward them, yet there is a special right which I have to admonish you, and a special deference which is due to me, from my early labors among you, and from the fact that you are my spiritual children. Instructers - Greek: pedagogues; or those who conducted children to school, and who superintended their conduct out of school hours. Hence, those who had the care of children, or teachers (in general). It is then applied to instructors of…”

“I have begotten you - This excludes not only Apollos, his successor, but also Silas and Timothy, his companions; and the relation between a spiritual father and his children brings with it an inexpressible nearness and affection. 1 Corinthians 4:16”

“ye have: Ti2 4:3 for: Co1 3:6, Co1 3:10, Co1 9:1, Co1 9:2; Act 18:4-11; Rom 15:20; Co2 3:1-3; Gal 4:19; Tit 1:4; Plm 1:10-12, Plm 1:19; Jam 1:18; Pe1 1:23 1 Corinthians 4:16”