THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS A MATTER OF POWER

Passage: 1 Corinthians 4:14-21

Key verse: 20

NIV

Paul’s Appeal and Warning

14 I am writing this not to shame you(A) but to warn you as my dear children.(B) 15 Even if you had ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father(C) through the gospel.(D) 16 Therefore I urge you to imitate me.(E) 17 For this reason I have sent to you(F) Timothy,(G) my son(H) whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church.(I)

18 Some of you have become arrogant,(J) as if I were not coming to you.(K) 19 But I will come to you very soon,(L) if the Lord is willing,(M) and then I will find out not only how these arrogant people are talking, but what power they have. 20 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of(N) talk but of power.(O) 21 What do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a rod of discipline,(P) or shall I come in love and with a gentle spirit?

Read full chapter
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

14 I do not write these things (A)to make you ashamed, but to admonish you (B)as my beloved children. 15 For (C)though you have countless[a] guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For (D)I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. 16 I urge you, then, (E)be imitators of me. 17 That is why (F)I sent[b] you Timothy, (G)my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ,[c] (H)as I teach them everywhere in every church. 18 Some are (I)arrogant, (J)as though I were not coming to you. 19 But (K)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. 20 For (L)the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power. 21 What do you wish? (M)Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love in a spirit of gentleness?

Read full chapter
Footnotes
  1. 1 Corinthians 4:15 Greek you have ten thousand
  2. 1 Corinthians 4:17 Or am sending
  3. 1 Corinthians 4:17 Some manuscripts add Jesus
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

Imitate Paul (14-17)

Paul's letter to the Corinthians was not meant to shame them. He wrote to them to warn them as his dear children. Paul genuinely loved the Corinthians. He was their spiritual father. They first heard the gospel through Paul. They became Christians because of Paul. He became the instrument of their new birth. How could they, who were liable to fall into division continue to grow in the gospel? Paul urged them to imitate him. As Paul followed Christ, they should follow Christ in the same way. For this purpose, Paul would send Timothy to help them.

Not a matter of talk, but of power (18-21)

Some in the Corinthian church became condescending toward Paul. Some were even speaking out against Paul and his ministry, saying he was weak (2 Cor 2:17). Paul was coming in God's power, not only to help them grow spiritually, but to deal with the arrogant talkers. So, they could either continue as they were and incur Paul's wrath or repent their division and accept Paul in love.

Prayer: Father, thank you for our spiritual fathers. Help us not be arrogant, but to grow in power, imitating Paul and his faith.

One Word: The Kingdom of God is a matter of power