1 Corinthians 4:11 Meaning and Explanation
“Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace;”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Paul lists the apostles' ongoing hardships: hunger, thirst, lack of clothing, being beaten, and having no settled home.
What Does 1 Corinthians 4:11 Mean?
Moving from irony to plain fact, Paul catalogs what apostolic life actually looks like 'even unto this present hour.' The hardships are bodily and relentless, hunger, thirst, exposure, blows, homelessness, the daily lot of those who carry the gospel.
This sober list answers the Corinthians' fantasy of reigning in ease. The messengers of the risen Christ live without the securities the world prizes, and they do not apologize for it. Their endurance testifies that the treasure they carry is worth every loss. For any believer, it is a reminder that faithfulness is not measured by comfort, and that Christ Himself had nowhere to lay His head.
1 Corinthians 4:11 in the Original Language
kolaphizo (κολαφίζω), 'buffeted' -- to strike with the fist, to beat or knock about roughly.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Corinthians 4:11
What does 1 Corinthians 4:11 mean?
Paul lists the apostles' ongoing hardships: hunger, thirst, lack of clothing, being beaten, and having no settled home.