1 Corinthians 4:14-21 - Paul's Concern For The Corinthian Believers

¹⁴ I am not writing this to shame you but to warn you, as my dearly loved children. ¹⁵ For although you have ten thousand guardians [Note: This word means someone who transported a child to his teacher] in [the fellowship of] Christ, you do not have many [spiritual] fathers. For I [spiritually] conceived you people through [preaching to you] the good news [about Christ]. [Note: Paul here refers to his work in establishing the church at Corinth]. ¹⁶ So, I urge you to imitate my lifestyle. ¹⁷ This is the reason that I am sending Timothy to you. He is my dearly loved and faithful [spiritual] son in [the service of] the Lord, and he will remind you of my ways [i.e., my teaching and conduct] which are in [the service of] Christ. I teach these things in every congregation wherever [I go]. ¹⁸ Now some of you have become arrogant, thinking that I would not [dare to] come to you. ¹⁹ But I will come to you soon, if the Lord wants me to. Then I will determine not [only] what these arrogant people are saying, but how much power they have. ²⁰ For God's kingdom is not a matter of [impressive] words, but of [spiritual] power. ²¹ Which do you [really] want? Shall I come to you with a rod [of discipline], or lovingly, and with a spirit of gentleness?