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 only the talk of these arrogant people, but also their power. 20For the kingdom of God is demonstrated not in idle talk but with power. What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod of discipline or with love and a spirit of gentleness?

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 5:5turn this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.
• 2 Corinthians 10:2now I ask that when I am present I may not have to be bold with the confidence that (I expect) I will dare to use against some who consider us to be behaving according to human standards.
• 2 Corinthians 12:20For I am afraid that somehow when I come I will not find you what I wish, and you will find me not what you wish. I am afraid that somehow there may be quarreling, jealousy, intense anger, selfish ambition, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorder.
• 2 Corinthians 13:2I said before when I was present the second time and now, though absent, I say again to those who sinned previously and to all the rest, that if I come again, I will not spare anyone,
• 2 Corinthians 3:10For indeed, what had been glorious now has no glory because of the tremendously greater glory of what replaced it.
• 2 Corinthians 10:1Now I, Paul, appeal to you personally by the meekness and gentleness of Christ (I who am meek when present among you, but am full of courage toward you when away!) –
• 1 Thessalonians 2:7although we could have imposed our weight as apostles of Christ; instead we became little children among you. Like a nursing mother caring for her own children,
• James 3:17But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and not hypocritical.

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