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 exhort 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 who will remind you of my ways which are in Christ, ^(K)just as I teach everywhere in every church. ¹⁸ Now some have become ^(L)puffed up, 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 know, not the ^[a]words of those who are ^(P)puffed up but their power. ²⁰ For the kingdom of God does ^(Q)not consist in ^[b]words but in power. ²¹ What do you desire? ^(R)Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love and a spirit of gentleness?