“By the grace of God
I am what I am.
His grace toward me
Was not in vain.
On the contrary,
I worked harder
Than any of them.
Although it was not I,
But the grace of God
That is with me.”
χάριτι δὲ Θεοῦ εἰμι ὅ εἰμι, καὶ ἡ χάρις αὐτοῦ ἡ εἰς ἐμὲ οὐ κενὴ ἐγενήθη, ἀλλὰ περισσότερον αὐτῶν πάντων ἐκοπίασα, οὐκ ἐγὼ δὲ ἀλλὰ ἡ χάρις τοῦ Θεοῦ σὺν ἐμοί
Paul said that by the grace of God (χάριτι δὲ Θεοῦ) he is what he is. “I am what I am (εἰμι ὅ εἰμι)”. God’s grace toward him (καὶ ἡ χάρις αὐτοῦ ἡ εἰς ἐμὲ) was not in vain (οὐ κενὴ ἐγενήθη). On the contrary (ἀλλὰ), he worked harder than any of them (περισσότερον αὐτῶν πάντων ἐκοπίασα). Although it was not him (οὐκ ἐγὼ), but the grace of God (ἀλλὰ ἡ χάρις τοῦ Θεοῦ) that was with him (σὺν ἐμοί). Paul explained and defended his apostleship. It was the grace of God that made him what he is. However, he was quick to point out that God’s grace was not in vain. Paul worked harder than anyone else. However, he admitted that it was not his hard work, but the grace of God within him that had brought about success. Paul was defensive about his work. At the same time, he said that he responded to that grace with hard work. Finally, he admitted, it was the grace of God and not his hard work that made his apostolic mission successful. Grace and work went hand in hand. Have you seen the grace of God in your life?
