1 Corinthians 4:14-21

New American Standard Bible

¹⁴I do not write these things to ^(A)shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved ^(B)children. ¹⁵For 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. ¹⁶Therefore I urge you, be ^(G)imitators of me. ¹⁷For 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. ¹⁸Now some have become ^[a]^(L)arrogant, as though I were not ^(M)coming to you. ¹⁹But 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. ²⁰For the kingdom of God is ^(Q)not in ^[c]words, but in power. ²¹What do you desire? ^(R)That I come to you with a rod, or with love and a spirit of gentleness?

Read full chapter

Footnotes

1 Corinthians 4:18 Lit puffed up
1 Corinthians 4:19 Lit word
1 Corinthians 4:20 Lit word

1 Corinthians 4:14-21

New King James Version

Paul’s Paternal Care

¹⁴I do not write these things to shame you, but ^(A)as my beloved children I warn you. ¹⁵For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for ^(B)in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. ¹⁶Therefore I urge you, ^(C)imitate me. ¹⁷For this reason I have sent ^(D)Timothy to you, ^(E)who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will ^(F)remind you of my ways in Christ, as I ^(G)teach everywhere ^(H)in every church.

¹⁸^(I)Now some are ^[a]puffed up, as though I were not coming to you. ¹⁹^(J)But I will come to you shortly, ^(K)if the Lord wills, and I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power. ²⁰For ^(L)the kingdom of God is not in word but in ^(M)power. ²¹What do you want? ^(N)Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?