1 Corinthians 4:19

1 Corinthians 4:19 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power.
• New International Version (NIV)But I will come to you very soon, if the Lord is willing, and then I will find out not only how these arrogant people are talking, but what power they have.
• English Standard Version (ESV)But I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills, and I will find out not the talk of these arrogant people but their power.
• New King James Version (NKJV)But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord wills, and I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power.

Context of 1 Corinthians 4:19

17To help you to do that, I have sent Timothy to visit you. He is like a son to me, and I love him very much. He continues to serve the Lord well. He will help you to remember how I live as a Christian. I teach the same things to all groups of Christians everywhere. 18Some people among you have become proud. They think that I will never come back to warn them. But I will come to visit you again soon, if the Lord wants me to. Then I will find out what these proud people are really like. It is not just the words that they say. I will find out if they have the power of God. 20When people serve God as their king, they have God's power. They do not just speak proud words. 21I will come and I will find out what is really true. So you must choose. Will I need to be angry and punish you? Or will I speak kind words to show that I love you? Which do you want me to do?

1 Corinthians 4:19 word by word

ἐλεύσομαι δὲ ταχέως πρὸς ὑμᾶς, ἐὰν ὁ κύριος θελήσῃ, καὶ γνώσομαι οὐ τὸν λόγον τῶν πεφυσιωμένων ἀλλὰ τὴν δύναμιν.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Butδέde · thenG1161
• I will comeἔρχομαιerchomai · to come/goG2064
• toπρόςpros · to/withG4314
• youσύsu · youG4771
• shortlyταχέωςtacheōs · soonG5030
• ifἐάνean · ifG1437
• the Lordὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• the Lordκύριοςkurios · lord: GodG2962
• willθέλωthelō ethelō · to will/desireG2309
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• will knowγινώσκωginōskō · to knowG1097
• notοὐou · noG3756
• the speechλόγοςlogos · wordG3056
• are puffed upφυσιόωphusioō · to inflateG5448
• butἀλλάalla · butG235
• the powerδύναμιςdunamis · powerG1411

Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 4:19

• 1 Corinthians 14:5I would like all of you to speak in different kinds of languages. But even more, I want you to speak God's message clearly to people. Anyone who can speak a message from God is important in the church. He is more important than someone who speaks in different kinds of languages. That person only helps the church if someone can explain what he says. Only in that way will his message help the church to become stronger.
• Acts 19:21After these things happened, Paul decided that he should go to Jerusalem. But first he wanted to visit the believers in Macedonia and Greece. He said, ‘After I have been to Jerusalem, I must also go to Rome.’
• 2 Corinthians 1:15So, because I was sure that you trusted me, I wanted to visit you twice. Then I could bring God's help to you twice. I decided to visit you first on my way to Macedonia. Then I would visit you again on my way back from Macedonia. After that, you could help to send me on my journey to Judea.
• 2 Corinthians 2:1Because of that, I decided not to visit you again at that time. I did not want to make you sad.
• Acts 18:21Before he left, he said to them, ‘If God wants me to come back, I will return to you.’ Then Paul got in a ship and he sailed from Ephesus to Caesarea.
• Romans 15:32If God agrees, I will then be able to come to you, and we will be happy together. I will enjoy having some rest while I stay there with you.
• Hebrews 6:3Yes, we must choose to go on from those early lessons! God is ready to help us to do that.
• James 4:15So what you ought to say is, ‘If the Lord agrees and we are still alive, then we will do this or that.’
• 1 Corinthians 4:18Some people among you have become proud. They think that I will never come back to warn them.
• 2 Corinthians 13:1This is the third time that I will be coming to visit you. Remember this: ‘There must be two or three people to say certainly that another person has done something wrong. Two or three people must agree what has happened.’
• 1 Corinthians 2:6But we do speak about wise thoughts to those of you who know Christ very well. But those wise thoughts do not belong to this world. They are not the ideas that the rulers of this world think are important. Those rulers will not be powerful for long.

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 4:19

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 19But I will come to you shortly - God being my helper, I fully purpose to visit you; and then I shall put those proud men to the proof, not of their speech - eloquence, or pretensions to great knowledge and influence, but of their power - the authority they profess to have from God, and the evidences of that authority in the works they have performed. See the Introduction, Section 11.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 19But I will come - It is from no fear of them that I am kept away; and to convince them of this I will come to them speedily. If the Lord will - If the Lord permit; if by his providence he allows me to go. Paul regarded the entering on a journey as dependent on the will of God; and felt that God had all in his hand. No purpose should be formed without a reference to his will; no plan without feeling that he can easily frustrate it and disappoint us; see…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. 18-20Some might have thought Paul was afraid to visit because he sent Timothy. However, Paul was very busy with his work in Ephesus at that time (Acts 19:8–20; see study note on Acts 19:10). He planned to visit soon (see 1 Corinthians 16:5–9; Acts 19:21–22; 20:1–3; compare 2 Corinthians 1:15–2:4) and would face those who opposed him. He would show they were just talkers. His actions and words would prove God's power (see also 1 Corinthians 2:4).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1919. Alford translates, "But come I will"; an emphatical negation of their supposition (1Co 4:18). shortly--after Pentecost (1Co 16:8). if the Lord will--a wise proviso (Jas 4:15). He does not seem to have been able to go as soon as he intended. and will know--take cognizance of. but the power--I care not for their high-sounding "speech," "but" what I desire to know is "their power," whether they be really powerful in the Spirit, or not. The predominant…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Corinthians 4:19

• Church
• Power
• Righteousness
• Will
• 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