1 Corinthians 4:14-21
Christian Standard Bible
Paul’s Fatherly Care
14 I’m not writing this to shame you, but to warn you as my dear children.(A) 15 For you may have countless instructors in Christ, but you don’t have many fathers. For I became your father(B) in Christ Jesus through the gospel. 16 Therefore I urge you to imitate me. 17 This is why I have sent(C) Timothy to you. He is my dearly loved and faithful(D) child in the Lord. He will remind you about my ways in Christ Jesus, just as I teach everywhere in every church.
18 Now some are arrogant, as though I were not coming to you. 19 But I will come to you soon,(E) if the Lord wills, and I will find out not the talk, but the power of those who are arrogant. 20 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power. 21 What do you want? Should I come to you with a rod,(F) or in love and a spirit of gentleness?(G)
Read full chapter
1 Corinthians 4:14-21
New American Standard Bible
14 I do not write these things to (A)shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved (B)children. 15 For if you were to have countless (C)tutors in Christ, yet you would not have many fathers, for in (D)Christ Jesus I (E)became your father through the (F)gospel. 16 Therefore I urge you, be (G)imitators of me. 17 For this reason I (H)have sent to you (I)Timothy, who is my (J)beloved and faithful child in the Lord, and he will remind you of my ways which are in Christ, (K)just as I teach everywhere in every church. 18 Now some have become [a](L)arrogant, as though I were not (M)coming to you. 19 But I (N)will come to you soon, (O)if the Lord wills, and I shall find out, not the [b]words of those who are (P)arrogant, but their power. 20 For the kingdom of God is (Q)not in [c]words, but in power. 21 What do you desire? (R)That I come to you with a rod, or with love and a spirit of gentleness?
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 1 Corinthians 4:18 Lit puffed up
- 1 Corinthians 4:19 Lit word
- 1 Corinthians 4:20 Lit word
The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.