¹⁴ I’m not writing these things to make you ashamed but to warn you, since you are my loved children. ¹⁵ You may have ten thousand mentors in Christ, but you don’t have many fathers. I gave birth to you in Christ Jesus through the gospel, ¹⁶ so I encourage you to follow my example. ¹⁷ This is why I’ve sent Timothy to you; he’s my loved and trusted child in the Lord; he’ll remind you about my way of life in Christ Jesus. He’ll teach the same way as I teach everywhere in every church. ¹⁸ Some have become arrogant as if I’m not coming to see you. ¹⁹ But, if the Lord is willing, I’ll come to you soon. Then I won’t focus on what these arrogant people say, but I’ll find out what power they possess. ²⁰ God’s kingdom isn’t about words but about power. ²¹ Which do you want? Should I come to you with a big stick to punish you, or with love and a gentle spirit?