1 Corinthians 4:21

1 Corinthians 4:21 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?
• New International Version (NIV)What do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a rod of discipline, or shall I come in love and with a gentle spirit?
• English Standard Version (ESV)What do you wish? Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love in a spirit of gentleness?
• New King James Version (NKJV)What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?

Context of 1 Corinthians 4:21

19But I will come to you soon, if the Lord is willing, and I will find out not just the talk of these arrogant people, but [evaluate] their [spiritual] power [whether they live up to their own claims]. 20For the kingdom of God is not based on talk but on power. Which do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a rod [of discipline and correction], or with love and a gentle spirit?

1 Corinthians 4:21 word by word

Τί θέλετε; ἐν ῥάβδῳ ἔλθω πρὸς ὑμᾶς ἢ ἐν ἀγάπῃ πνεύματί τε πραΰτητος;¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Whatτίςtis · which?G5101
• will yeθέλωthelō ethelō · to will/desireG2309
• shall I comeἔρχομαιerchomai · to come/goG2064
• untoπρόςpros · to/withG4314
• youσύsu · youG4771
• withἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• a rodῥάβδοςrhabdos · rodG4464
• orἤē · orG2228
• loveἀγάπηagapē · loveG26
• andτεte · and/bothG5037
• the spiritπνεῦμαpneuma · spirit/breath: spiritG4151
• of meeknessπραΰτηςprautēs · gentlenessG4240

Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 4:21

• 1 Corinthians 5:5you are to hand over this man to Satan for the destruction of his body, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
• 2 Corinthians 10:2I ask that when I do come I will not be driven to the boldness that I intend to show toward those few who regard us as if we walked according to the flesh [like men without the Spirit].
• 2 Corinthians 12:20For I am afraid that perhaps when I come I may find you not to be as I wish, and that you may find me not as you wish—that perhaps there may be strife, jealousy, angry tempers, disputes, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder;
• 2 Corinthians 13:2I have already warned those who have sinned in the past and all the rest as well, and I warn them now even though I am absent [from you] as I did when I was with you the second time, that if I come back I will not spare anyone,
• 2 Corinthians 3:10Indeed, what had glory [the Law], in this case no longer has glory because of the glory that surpasses it [the gospel].
• 2 Corinthians 10:1Now I, Paul, urge you by the gentleness and graciousness of Christ—I who am meek [so they say] when with you face to face, but bold [outspoken and fearless] toward you when absent!
• 1 Thessalonians 2:7But we behaved gently when we were among you, like a devoted mother tenderly caring for her own children.
• James 3:17But the wisdom from above is first pure [morally and spiritually undefiled], then peace-loving [courteous, considerate], gentle, reasonable [and willing to listen], full of compassion and good fruits. It is unwavering, without [self-righteous] hypocrisy [and self-serving guile].

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 4:21

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 21Shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love - Here he alludes to the case of the teacher and father, mentioned in 1 Corinthians 4:15. Shall I come to you with the authority of a teacher, and use the rod of discipline? or shall I come in the tenderness of a father, and entreat you to do what I have authority to enforce? Among the Jews, those who did not amend, after being faithfully admonished, were whipped, either publicly or privately, in the synagogue…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 21What will ye - It depends on yourselves how I shall come. If you lay aside your contentions and strifes; if you administer discipline as you should; if you give yourselves heartily and entirely to the work of the Lord, I shall come, not to reprove or to punish, but as a father and a friend. But if you do not heed my exhortations or the labors of Timothy; if you still continue your contentions, and do not remove the occasions of offence, I shall come with…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 14-21Verses 14-21 In reproving for sin, we should distinguish between sinners and their sins. Reproofs that kindly and affectionately warn, are likely to reform. Though the apostle spoke with authority as a parent, he would rather beseech them in love. And as ministers are to set an example, others must follow them, as far as they follow Christ in faith and practice. Christians may mistake and differ in their views, but Christ and Christian truth are the same…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 14-21Paul ends this part about divisions in the church with kind, fatherly advice and a warning (1 Corinthians 1:10–4:21).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2121. with a rod, or in love--The Greek preposition is used in both clauses; must I come IN displeasure to exercise the rod, or IN love, and the Spirit of meekness (Is 11:4; 2Co 13:3)?Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Corinthians 4:21

• Church
• Minister, Christian
• Zeal, Religious

In the dictionaries

• Account
• Corinthians, First Epistle to the
• Instructor
• Offscouring
• Rod
• Shame
• Steward
• Corinthians, First Epistle to the
• Paul, the Apostle

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 4

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings