1 Corinthians 4:15

For though ye have ten thousand tutors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers; for in Christ Jesus. begat you through the gospel.

'tutors' -'was used for the guide or attendant of the child who took him to school.' (Robertson p. 109) 'Was. slave to whom boys were entrusted on leaving the care of females, which was somewhere about their sixteenth year.' (Vincent p. 209)

'ten thousand' -this may be. slight rebuke against. desire on the part of the Corinthians to either accumulate many teachers or against desire on the part of many to be teachers, thinking what such gave them prestige.

'yet have ye not many fathers' -'Apollos and others might help them as guides..but Paul alone could claim to be their father..they owed their spiritual life to his coming to their city and evangelizing it.' (F.F. Bruce p. 51)

'I begat you through the gospel' -It is the gospel message that causes one to be born again. (James 1:18; 1 Peter 1:23) Therefore the "Spirit" mentioned in John 3:5. in connection with the new birth, must be the revelation given by the Spirit, rather than some mysterious or direct operation of the Spirit. This is the "seed" that Paul had planted. Paul spoke of other converts, as his "beloved children" (Philemon 1:10; Philemon 1:19; 2 Timothy 1:2; Titus 1:4)

Point to Note: Paul isn't using the word "father" here in the sense of. religious title. (Matthew 23:9) He isn't demanding that they call him "Father Paul". Rather he is reminding the Corinthians of. very important fact. He had founded the church in Corinth and they owed their spiritual lives to his efforts. It wasn't some stranger speaking to them, rather, it was the one who had brought them the message of salvation initially. This had been. rebuke by one who had much invested in them.