1 Corinthians 4:14-21 Study

Scripture

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 4

14 I’m not writing this to shame you, but to warn you as my dear children. 15 For you may have countless instructors in Christ, but you don’t have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. 16 Therefore I urge you to imitate me. 17 This is why I have sent Timothy to you. He is my dearly loved and faithful child in the Lord. He will remind you about my ways in Christ Jesus, just as I teach everywhere in every church.

18 Now some are arrogant, as though I were not coming to you. 19 But I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills, and I will find out not the talk, but the power of those who are arrogant. 20 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power. 21 What do you want? Should I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?

Introduction

Context

Remember last week Paul had to sarcastically call out the Corinthians. There were many in their church who were arrogantly dismissing Paul and his authority in their lives. They had a saying that there was “nothing beyond what was written” in regards to Paul. His letters were strong but in person he was not strong.

Paul redirected them in last week’s passage by pointing out the humble, low life of the Apostle. In today’s passage, Paul holds back some of the sarcasm and speaks to them directly in love. Though, he does make his authority and power known.

Verses 14-16

Paul himself recognizes the way in which he is writing to them is somewhat harsh. He says he does not seek to shame them but warn them as his children.

Good, godly leaders do not shame those following them when they mess up. It will inevitably happen. A good, godly, leader will, in love, warn those following him.

The truth is that Paul loved this church and everyone in is as his own “dear children.” They were not just numbers to him; pastoring was not just a job. Rather, they were people whom he loved. He wanted them to grow and not fall into sin; so he warned them.

Paul says I became your father in Christ Jesus through the Gospel. This is true within Christianity. We can become others’ spiritual mothers, fathers, sisters, and brothers through discipleship and the church. I would encourage everyone, especially teenagers, to have a spiritual father or mother they can look up to and imitate.

He was not sinless; he did not want the Corinthians to imitate him in his sin. But he was faithfully pursuing Christ. Paul was an example to the churches he led.

We, too, should strive to be examples to the younger ones around us. Whether they be siblings or just others in church—you should set an example worth imitating.

Verse 17

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 4

17 This is why I have sent Timothy to you. He is my dearly loved and faithful child in the Lord. He will remind you about my ways in Christ Jesus, just as I teach everywhere in every church.

We see this spiritual family expounded on further as Paul mentions his dearly loved and faithful child in the Lord Timothy.

Timothy’s family was saved after Paul shared the Gospel in their town. It seems that Timothy’s father was not around, whether that be due to death or desertion, and perhaps Paul noticed it. So, Paul took him under his wing and discipled him.

Timothy became a church leader—Paul’s right hand man, really. He would send Timothy to check on and pastor churches that Paul had planted.

Here we see that Timothy likely delivered this letter to the Corinthians and intended to stay and lead some.

Verses 18-21

To finish this rebuke up, Paul transitions back to the harshness. He calls out those who defied him directly.

Now some are arrogant, as though I were not coming to you.

He is saying that those disregarding Paul’s authority seem to act as if he was not planning on coming to visit them again. This is that idea that everyone is confident behind a screen, but if those they were trolling or insulting were in their face, they’d be silent. This is why Paul says

But I will come you soon, if the Lord wills, and I will find out not the talk, but the power of those who are arrogant.

Paul is indirectly calling out how these arrogant talkers have no real power, only talk. They had no real authority, just words they could say loudly. Paul points out an important distinction, though:

the Kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.

He points to the place which contains the most authority and says the kingdom of God is not just words, but real, true power and authority.

We cannot just be arrogant talkers who dismiss authority around us, but lack all authority in of ourselves. Rather, we should be humble in response to the authorities around us. God placed them over us for a reason, after all.

Paul closes this off with a threat:

What do you want? Should I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?

Paul didn’t mean he would literally beat them with a rod—he is trying to show them why he is softer in person than he is through his letters. He wants things to be settled and good when he arrives. He wants to come in love and gentleness, after all.

Application

Consider the example that you are setting for those around you. Would you want them to imitate all that you do as Paul wanted them to?

Consider who you have to imitate. Do you only have bad friends to imitate or do you have real men and women who truly love Jesus in your life? Do you have a discipleship relationship?

Consider your own arrogance and talk. Is that all you are? Do you attack authority and those around you when you have no right to? Do you assume and act like you know everything and dismiss everyone else?