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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?

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 4:19 Lit word
  2. 1 Corinthians 4:20 Lit word

14 I am not writing these things to shame you, but to warn you as my beloved children. 15 For 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. 16 So I urge you to imitate me.

17 That’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.

18 Some of you have become arrogant, thinking I will not visit you again. 19 But 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. 20 For the Kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk; it is living by God’s power. 21 Which 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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