1 Corinthians 4:20 Meaning and Explanation
“For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →God's kingdom is demonstrated not by impressive speech but by genuine power.
What Does 1 Corinthians 4:20 Mean?
This compact statement grounds the warning Paul just gave. The reason he will weigh power over speech is that the kingdom of God itself operates that way, its reality shown in power, not in talk.
Words can describe the kingdom, argue for it, even adorn it, but they cannot substitute for it. The rule of God breaks into human life with transforming force, freeing the captive, renewing the heart, raising the spiritually dead. The Corinthians, enamored of eloquence, needed this anchor, and so do we. A faith that is all language and no living power has missed the kingdom's very nature, for where God truly reigns, lives are changed.
1 Corinthians 4:20 in the Original Language
basileia (βασιλεία), 'kingdom' -- the reign or rule of God, His active kingship breaking into the world.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Corinthians 4:20
What does 1 Corinthians 4:20 mean?
God's kingdom is demonstrated not by impressive speech but by genuine power.