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 shortly, if the Lord is willing, and then I will find out not only what these arrogant people are saying, but what power they have. 20For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power. Which do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and with 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

• Whichτίςtis · which?G5101
• do you preferθέλωthelō ethelō · to will/desireG2309
• Shall I comeἔρχομαιerchomai · to come/goG2064
• toπρόςpros · to/withG4314
• youσύsu · youG4771
• withἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• a rodῥάβδοςrhabdos · rodG4464
• orἤē · orG2228
• loveἀγάπηagapē · loveG26
• andτεte · and/bothG5037
• a gentleπραΰτηςprautēs · gentlenessG4240
• spiritπνεῦμαpneuma · spirit/breath: spiritG4151

Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 4:21

• 1 Corinthians 5:5hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the Day of the Lord.
• 2 Corinthians 10:2I beg you that when I come I may not need to be as bold as I expect toward those who presume that we live according to the flesh.
• 2 Corinthians 12:20For I am afraid that when I come, I may not find you as I wish, and you may not find me as you wish. I fear that there may be quarreling, jealousy, rage, rivalry, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorder.
• 2 Corinthians 13:2I already warned you the second time I was with you. So now in my absence I warn those who sinned earlier and everyone else: If I return, I will not spare anyone,
• 2 Corinthians 3:10Indeed, what was once glorious has no glory now in comparison to the glory that surpasses it.
• 2 Corinthians 10:1Now by the mildness and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you—I, Paul, who am humble when face to face with you, but bold when away.
• 1 Thessalonians 2:7On the contrary, we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother caring for her children.
• James 3:17But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peace-loving, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere.

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