1 Corinthians 4:21 Meaning and Explanation
“What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Paul lets the Corinthians choose how he will come: with discipline like a rod, or in love and a gentle spirit.
What Does 1 Corinthians 4:21 Mean?
Paul ends the section with a searching question that puts the outcome in their hands. He can come as a father wielding a corrective rod, or in love and gentleness. Their response to his letter will decide which.
The choice is real but the heart behind it is plain, for even the rod would be an act of love. Paul would far rather come in tenderness, and he holds the door open for them to repent so he can. The verse leaves the Corinthians, and every reader, with a question about how we will meet God's correction, whether we soften and turn, or harden and require the rod. Mercy stands ready for those who yield.
1 Corinthians 4:21 in the Original Language
praotes (πραΰτης), 'meekness' -- gentleness, strength held under control, power restrained for another's good.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Corinthians 4:21
What does 1 Corinthians 4:21 mean?
Paul lets the Corinthians choose how he will come: with discipline like a rod, or in love and a gentle spirit.