For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.
For - I say, 'my sons.'
Though ye have ten thousand - implying that the Corinthians had more "instructors" than was desirable.
Instructors - tutors х paidagoogous (G3807)] who had the care of rearing, but not the rights or affection of the father, who alone had begotten them spiritually.
In Christ. Paul admits that these "instructors" were not mere legalists, but evangelical teachers. He uses a stronger phrase of himself in begetting them spiritually "in Christ Jesus," implying both the saviour's office and persons. As Paul was the means of regenerating them, and yet 'baptized none of them except Crispus, Gaius, and the household of Stephanas,' regeneration cannot be inseparably in and by baptism (1 Corinthians 1:14-17).