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—and soon—if the Lord lets me, and then I’ll find out whether these arrogant people just give pretentious speeches or whether they really have God’s power. 20For the Kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk; it is living by God’s power. Which do you choose? Should I come with a rod to punish you, or should I come 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 5:5Then you must throw this man out and hand him over to Satan so that his sinful nature will be destroyed and he himself will be saved on the day the Lord returns.
• 2 Corinthians 10:2Well, I am begging you now so that when I come I won’t have to be bold with those who think we act from human motives.
• 2 Corinthians 12:20For I am afraid that when I come I won’t like what I find, and you won’t like my response. I am afraid that I will find quarreling, jealousy, anger, selfishness, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorderly behavior.
• 2 Corinthians 13:2I have already warned those who had been sinning when I was there on my second visit. Now I again warn them and all others, just as I did before, that next time I will not spare them.
• 2 Corinthians 3:10In fact, that first glory was not glorious at all compared with the overwhelming glory of the new way.
• 2 Corinthians 10:1Now I, Paul, appeal to you with the gentleness and kindness of Christ—though I realize you think I am timid in person and bold only when I write from far away.
• 1 Thessalonians 2:7As apostles of Christ we certainly had a right to make some demands of you, but instead we were like children among you. Or we were like a mother feeding and caring for her own children.
• James 3:17But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always 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