What does “what do you have that you did not receive?” mean (1 Corinthians 4:7)?

Answer

In 1 Corinthians 4:7, the apostle Paul uses rhetorical questions to address the issue of pride and boasting in the Corinthian church. Unfortunately, the pride of the believers had led them to prioritize outward appearances and eloquent speech over the work of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 1:10-4:21). Therefore, Paul corrects their behavior and emphasizes a fundamental theological truth: all their talents, accomplishments, and successes are gifts from God. Thus, it is not about their own achievements, but about what the Lord has accomplished through them: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord” «But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. », (2 Corinthians 10:17).

Paul poses three rhetorical questions in 1 Corinthians 4:7 to drive his point home:

1. “For who makes you different from anyone else?” — While believers may have diverse spiritual gifts and roles within the church (1 Corinthians 12:11;Ephesians 4:11), no one is superior or inferior to another (Romans 12:3;Philippians 2:1-11). Therefore, the appropriate attitude is one of humility. In humility, the “self” should be completely disregarded: “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” «I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. », (Galatians 2:20, ESV).

2. “What do you have that you did not receive?” — Believers should remember that everything we have is not self-attained but received from God: “In him we live and move and have our being” “for in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.”, (Acts 17:28).

In James 1:17, the apostle expresses the same idea but in different words: “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change” (ESV).

Because every good and perfect gift comes from God, we are called to steward his possessions wisely, carefully, and faithfully: “This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful” (1 Corinthians 4:1-2; ESV). Stewardship includes management of our time (Ephesians 5:15-16), spiritual gifts “As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”, (1 Peter 4:10), relationships (Colossians 3:12-14), marriages (Ephesians 5:25-27), finances (Matthew 25:14-30), and possessions “And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things whi

He who possesseth. », (Luke 12:15). In short, it encompasses everything we have on earth.

3. “And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?” — Boasting about our abilities, accomplishments, and achievements as if they are not received from God is like a charity recipient boasting about his wealth. It is not only misguided but absurd: “Thus says the Lord: ‘Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord’” (Jeremiah 9:23-24;ESV).

Paul’s rhetorical questions in 1 Corinthians 4:7 are poignant reminders to view life through the lens of divine grace (cf: 1 Corinthians 15:9-11). Everything we have we owe to God. If we fail to give Him credit, then we will become “puffed up with pride” «Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. », (1 Timothy 3:6) and lose sight of what is most important: loving God and our neighbor (Matthew 22:36-40).