Albert Barnes Commentary 1 Corinthians 4:7

"For who maketh thee to differ? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? but if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory as if thou hadst not received it?" — 1 Corinthians 4:7 (ASV)

For who maketh, etc. This verse contains a reason for what Paul had just said; and the reason is that all that any of them possessed had been derived from God, and no endowments whatever that they had could be made the foundation for self-congratulation and boasting. The apostle here doubtless has in mind the teachers in the church of Corinth and intends to show them that there was no occasion for pride or to assume pre-eminence. Since all that they possessed had been given by God, it could not be the occasion for boasting or self-confidence.

To differ from another. Who has separated you from another; or who has made you superior to others? This may refer to everything in which one person was superior to others or distinguished from them. The apostle doubtless refers to those attainments in piety, talents, or knowledge by which one teacher was more eminent than others.

But the same question may be applied to native endowments of mind, to opportunities of education, to the arrangements by which one rises in the world, to health, to property, to piety, and to eminence and usefulness in the church. It is God who makes one, in any of these respects, to differ from others; and this is especially true regarding personal piety.

Had God not interfered and made a difference, all would have remained alike under sin. The human race would have collectively rejected his mercy, and it is only by his distinguishing love that any are brought to believe and be saved.

And what hast thou? This refers to talent, piety, or learning.

That thou didst not receive? From God. By whatever means you have obtained it, it has been the gift of God.

Why dost thou glory, etc.? Why do you boast as if it were the result of your own toil, skill, or endeavor? This is not designed to discourage human exertion but to discourage a spirit of vainglory and boasting. A person who makes the most painstaking and faithful effort to obtain anything good will, if successful, trace their success to God.

They will still feel that it is God who gave them the disposition, the time, the strength, and the success. And they will be grateful that they were enabled to make the effort; not vain, proud, or boastful, because they were successful. This passage states a general doctrine: that the reason why one person differs from another is to be traced to God, and that this fact should repress all boasting and glorying, and produce true humility in the minds of Christians.

It may be observed, however, that it is as true of intellectual rank, health, wealth, food, clothing, liberty, and peace, as it is of religion, that all come from God. And as this fact, which is so obvious and well known, does not repress human exertions to preserve health and obtain property, so it should not repress their exertions to obtain salvation. God governs the world on the same good principles everywhere, and the fact that he is the Source of all blessings should not operate to discourage but should prompt human effort. The hope of his aid and blessing is the only ground of encouragement in any undertaking.