1 Corinthians 15:10

But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

Verse 9 Read Chapter 15 Verse 11

Ambrosiaster

AD 400

Paul says all this in order to show that despite his great sins and unworthiness, the grace of God was not given to him for nothing. Commentary on Paul’s Epistles.

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Augustine of Hippo

AD 430

How, then, is God’s commandment accomplished, even with difficulty, without his help, since if the Lord does not build, the builder is said to have labored in vain. Letter , From Alypius and to Paulinus.

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Augustine of Hippo

AD 430

Paul did not labor in order to receive grace, but he received grace so that he might labor.

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Augustine of Hippo

AD 430

Gladly and with the eyes of faith do all in the look up to this great man, Paul, this athlete of Christ, who was anointed by Christ and instructed by him. With him he was nailed to the cross, and through him made glorious. This man was made a spectacle to the world, to angels and to men. He lawfully carried on a great conflict in the theater of this world and strained forward to the prize of his heavenly calling.

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Basil the Great

AD 379

He who spends his time in softness and all laxity because of his luxurious living, who is clothed in purple and fine linen and feasting every day in splendid fashion and who flees the labors imposed by virtue has neither labored in this life nor will live in the future, but he will see life afar off, while being racked in the fire of the furnace.

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Basil the Great

AD 379

This is the perfect and consummate glory in God: not to exult in one’s own righteousness, but recognizing oneself as lacking true righteousness, to be justified by faith in Christ alone. Paul gloried in despising his own righteousness. In seeking after the righteousness by faith which is of God through Christ, he sought only to know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable to his death, so as to attain to the resurrection from the dead… It is God who grants efficacy to our labors.

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Cornelius a Lapide

AD 1637

I am what I am—an Apostle, and Teacher of the Gentiles. His grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain. Not empty, barren, without results. S. Ambrose reads: "His grace was not poor in me," and then the meaning would be: "Though I persecuted the Church of Christ, yet I did not on that account receive a grace of apostleship that was poor and slight, and less than that of the other Apostles, but if anything greater." But I laboured more abundantly than they all. S. Jerome (Ep. ad Paulinum) says beautifully: "A sudden increase of heat banishes a long existing lukewarmness. Paul was changed into an Apostle instead of a persecutor; was last in order, first in merits; for though last he laboured more than all." For, as Gregory says (Pastor. p3 , c29): "A guilty life that has learnt to glow with love for God is often more pleasing to Him than a blameless life that has grown sluggish from long security." Yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. It plainly appears from this p... Read More

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George Leo Haydock

AD 1849

I have laboured more abundantly. He does not say better, or that he excelled them; and even as to his labours, he gives the honour to God: Not I, but the grace of God with me. (Witham)

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Irenaeus of Lyons

AD 202

Wherefore also Paul, since he was the apostle of the Gentiles, says, "I laboured more than they all."

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John Chrysostom

AD 407

Did you see how he reaped the benefit of God’s liberality and then how abundantly he contributed his own share, by his zeal, his fervor, his faith, his courage, his patience, his lofty mind and his undaunted will? This is why he deserved a larger measure of help from above.

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John Chrysostom

AD 407

You are familiar with Paul, who labored so much and erected so many trophies in combat with the devil. He physically marched throughout the known world. He orbited the earth, ocean, air—he circled the world as if he had wings. He was stoned, beaten and murdered. He suffered everything for the name of God, called from above by a heavenly voice… . We know, we understand, he said, the grace we have received, and it did not find me inattentive.

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John Chrysostom

AD 407

If Paul was so humble, why did he call attention to his labors? He had to do this in order to justify his right to be a trustworthy witness and a teacher.

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John Chrysostom

AD 407

Do you see again another excess of humility? In that the defects he imputes to himself, but of the good deeds nothing; rather he refers all to God. Next, lest he might hereby render his hearer supine, he says, And His grace which was bestowed upon me was not found vain. And this again with reserve: in that he said not, I have displayed a diligence worthy of His grace, but, it was not found vain. But I labored more abundantly than they all. He said not, I was honored, but, I labored; and when he had perils and deaths to speak of, by the name of labor he again abates his expression. Then again practicing his wonted humility, this also he speedily passes by and refers the whole to God, saying, Yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. What can be more admirable than such a soul? Who having in so many ways depressed himself and uttered but one lofty word, not even this does he call his own; on every side finding ways, both from the former things and from them that follow aft... Read More

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