1 Corinthians 4:14-21

English Standard Version

¹⁴I do not write these things ^(A)to make you ashamed, but to admonish you ^(B)as my beloved children. ¹⁵For ^(C)though you have countless^[a] guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For ^(D)I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. ¹⁶I urge you, then, ^(E)be imitators of me. ¹⁷That is why ^(F)I sent^[b] you Timothy, ^(G)my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ,^[c] ^(H)as I teach them everywhere in every church. ¹⁸Some are ^(I)arrogant, ^(J)as though I were not coming to you. ¹⁹But ^(K)I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills, and I will find out not the talk of these arrogant people but their power. ²⁰For ^(L)the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power. ²¹What do you wish? ^(M)Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love in a spirit of gentleness?

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Footnotes

1 Corinthians 4:15 Greek you have ten thousand
1 Corinthians 4:17 Or am sending
1 Corinthians 4:17 Some manuscripts add Jesus

1 Corinthians 4:14-21

New Living Translation

¹⁴I am not writing these things to shame you, but to warn you as my beloved children. ¹⁵For even if you had ten thousand others to teach you about Christ, you have only one spiritual father. For I became your father in Christ Jesus when I preached the Good News to you. ¹⁶So I urge you to imitate me.

¹⁷That’s why I have sent Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord. He will remind you of how I follow Christ Jesus, just as I teach in all the churches wherever I go.

¹⁸Some of you have become arrogant, thinking I will not visit you again. ¹⁹But I will come—and soon—if the Lord lets me, and then I’ll find out whether these arrogant people just give pretentious speeches or whether they really have God’s power. ²⁰For the Kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk; it is living by God’s power. ²¹Which do you choose? Should I come with a rod to punish you, or should I come with love and a gentle spirit?

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1 Corinthians 4:14-21

New International Version

Paul’s Appeal and Warning

¹⁴I am writing this not to shame you^(A) but to warn you as my dear children.^(B) ¹⁵Even if you had ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father^(C) through the gospel.^(D) ¹⁶Therefore I urge you to imitate me.^(E) ¹⁷For this reason I have sent to you^(F) Timothy,^(G) my son^(H) whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church.^(I)

¹⁸Some of you have become arrogant,^(J) as if I were not coming to you.^(K) ¹⁹But I will come to you very soon,^(L) if the Lord is willing,^(M) and then I will find out not only how these arrogant people are talking, but what power they have. ²⁰For the kingdom of God is not a matter of^(N) talk but of power.^(O) ²¹What do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a rod of discipline,^(P) or shall I come in love and with a gentle spirit?