Paul’s Concern for the Corinthian Believers

14 I am not writing these things to shame you, but admonishing you as my dear children. 15 For if you have ten thousand guardians in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I fathered you through the gospel. 16 Therefore I exhort you, become imitators of me. 17 Because of this, I have sent to you Timothy, who is my dear and faithful child in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ Jesus, just as I teach everywhere in every church. 18 But some have become arrogant, as if I were not coming to you. 19 But I am coming to you soon, if the Lord wills, and I will know not the talk of the ones who have become arrogant, but the power. 20 For the kingdom of God is not with talk, but with power. 21 What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love and a spirit of gentleness?

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Paul’s Appeal and Warning

14 I am writing this not to shame you(A) but to warn you as my dear children.(B) 15 Even 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) 16 Therefore I urge you to imitate me.(E) 17 For 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)

18 Some of you have become arrogant,(J) as if I were not coming to you.(K) 19 But 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. 20 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of(N) talk but of power.(O) 21 What 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?

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