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 urge 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 he will remind you of my ways which are in Christ, (K)just as I teach everywhere in every church. 18 Now some have become [a](L)arrogant, 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 find out, not the [b]words of those who are (P)arrogant, but their power. 20 For the kingdom of God is (Q)not in [c]words, but in power. 21 What do you desire? (R)That I come to you with a rod, or with love and a spirit of gentleness?

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 4:18 Lit puffed up
  2. 1 Corinthians 4:19 Lit word
  3. 1 Corinthians 4:20 Lit word

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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