1 Corinthians 15:10Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

"Yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me." What can be more wonderful than this soul? After humbling himself so greatly and speaking of only one merit of his own, he does not even call this his own. In every way he softens the greatness of what he said by both the preceding and the following words. He does this even though he said it out of necessity. [...] Why then did he utter those lofty words, "I labored more abundantly than they all"? The circumstances compelled him to do so. If he had not said this, but only humbled himself, how could he confidently present himself as a witness? How could he place himself alongside the others and say: "according to the glorious Gospel of the blessed God which was entrusted to me" (1 Tim 1:11)? A witness must be trustworthy and great. And how he labored more than they, he explained above when he said: "Do we not have the right to eat and drink, as do the other Apostles?" And again: "To those outside the law I became as one outside the law. Though not being outside the law before God, but under the law of Christ, that I might gain those outside the law" (1 Cor 9:4-5, 21). Where zeal had to be shown, there he surpassed all. Where condescension had to be shown, there again he was excellent. Some, however, say that he was sent to the Gentiles and traversed the greater part of the world. Therefore he received greater grace. Truly, if he labored more, the grace was greater. And he received greater grace because he showed greater zeal. Do you see how the very thing by which he tries and strives to cover his deeds proves that he was first of all? Hearing this, let us also disclose our faults and keep silent about our virtues. If circumstances require it, let us speak of them modestly and ascribe everything to grace, as the Apostle does. He describes his former life in detail, but ascribes everything that follows to grace. Thus he shows in all things the love of God, who saved such a sinner and, after saving him, made him such a righteous man. Therefore let no one who is vicious despair, and let no virtuous person trust in himself. Let the latter be cautious, and the former zealous. As the careless man cannot stand in virtue, so the zealous man cannot be powerless in avoiding vice. Blessed David is an example of both. As soon as he allowed a little carelessness, he fell deeply. But when he gave himself to contrition, he ascended again to his former height. Both despair and carelessness are equally evil. The one quickly casts a man down from the very height of heaven. The other does not allow the fallen man to rise. Therefore Paul said concerning the first: "Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall" (1 Cor 10:12). Thus, he says, I know and am assured that the Lord has released me from sins. But when I think of my deeds and look upon the abyss of God's love for mankind, then I am fully convinced. By His grace and love for mankind alone, I am what I am. Having said, "I am not worthy to be called an Apostle, because I persecuted the Church of God," he added: "But by the grace of God I am what I am." That is, although on my part I displayed such great malice, His ineffable goodness and mercy granted me forgiveness. Do you see a soul crushed and constantly remembering the sins committed even before baptism? Let us also imitate this Apostle. Daily recalling the sins we have committed after baptism, let us always keep them in mind. Let us never allow ourselves to forget them. This will be a strong enough bridle for us, to humble and tame us. And why do I speak of Paul, so great and exalted a man? Do you wish to see how the righteous of the Old Testament were glorified above all by this same thing? After accomplishing countless struggles and already having ineffable boldness before God, they humbled themselves. Listen to how the patriarch, even after converse with God and after the promise given to him, spoke of himself: "I am dust and ashes" (Gen 18:27).

They look, I say, upon this man, the athlete of Christ, taught by Him (cf. Gal 1:19), anointed by Him, crucified with Him (cf. Gal 2:19), and glorified in Him. In the theater of this world, where he became a spectacle to angels and to men (cf. 1 Cor 4:9), he lawfully contends and presses forward toward the prize of the high calling (Phil 3:13-14).

He teaches us to rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep (cf. Rom 12:15). He has conflicts without and fears within (2 Cor 7:5). He has the desire to depart and be with Christ (Phil 1:23). He desires to see the Romans, that he may have some fruit among them also, as among the other nations (Rom 1:13).

He is zealous for the Corinthians, and because of this zeal he fears lest their minds be turned away by deception from the simplicity that is in Christ (cf. 2 Cor 11:2-3). He has great sorrow and unceasing pain in his heart for the Israelites (cf. Rom 9:2), because, being ignorant of God's righteousness and seeking to establish their own righteousness, they did not submit to the righteousness of God (Rom 10:3).

He tells not only of his sorrow, but also of his mourning over those who had sinned before and had not repented of the uncleanness, fornication, and licentiousness which they practiced (2 Cor 12:21).

Paul did not labor in order to obtain grace. He obtained grace in order to labor.

How then is what God commands, even with difficulty, fulfilled without His help, when, if the Lord does not build, the builder is said to have labored in vain (Ps 126:1)?

Paul boasts that he has despised his own righteousness and seeks righteousness through Christ. He seeks the righteousness from God by faith, that he may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death (Phil 3:9-10). God also gives strength in labors.

"Yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me." To avoid suspicion of arrogance, the Apostle Paul constantly diminishes himself. He attributes this no longer to himself, but to the grace of God, so that he may always bring all glory to God, by whom he is rightly exalted.

He does not dare to describe his labors separately, but magnifies them generally, saying: "I labored more abundantly than they all." That is, more than Peter, more than the twelve Apostles, more than the five hundred brethren, James, and all the disciples he mentioned above. See verse 11.

Moved before the greatness of the grace of God manifested in him, he calls himself the least of all the Apostles. Yet lest anyone despise his testimony because of this, he turns the readers' attention to the presence of God's grace in him. This grace was clearly revealed in the multitude of his successful labors, and especially in their fruits, which grew through the faith of the Corinthians themselves.

Finally, he persuades them to receive the objects of faith not with regard to persons, but according to the essence of those objects and their undoubted reliability.

Dwelling on the Apostle's words, in which he speaks of himself with great humility, Bishop Theophan says: "Having touched upon himself and his calling, the Apostle could not refrain from pausing on this. He did so both from his feeling of humility and gratitude, and because of the purpose for which he was bringing forward testimony to the resurrection.

"I persecuted the Church, he says, and therefore I am not worthy to be called an Apostle. This is a strong expression of humility. Yet at the same time, if he formerly persecuted the Church, and now became a preacher of the faith whose foundation is Christ's resurrection, then everyone could infer from this that this persecutor must have received a striking assurance of the resurrection, since he became a preacher of the faith from being a persecutor.

"This inference gave Paul's testimony concerning Christ's resurrection a higher value than all the others. It also exalted them all and crowned them with itself."

Therefore, although he points out that he labored more than all the Apostles, he sees in this not the fruit of his own zeal, but likewise the work of grace. His own spirit would not have had sufficient strength to kindle such intense zeal. His will would not have had the energy to continue such extraordinary labors.

This is the sincere confession: not I, but the grace that was with me. Now bring these together: by the grace of God I am what I am; grace in me was not in vain; by the grace of God I labored. You must be convinced that this is a man who bears grace and is borne by grace.

If this is so, then what is the testimony to the resurrection in his mouth, if not the same as testimony from above, from God Himself? Thus the manifestation of humility became an unconquerable assurance of the certainty of the testimony concerning the resurrection of Christ the Lord.