OUR FATHER WHOSE KINGDOM IS NOT OF WORDS BUT OF POWER

The apostle Paul, at the end of the fourth chapter of 1 Corinthians ( verses 14 - 21 ), tells the Corinthian church that he planted to follow his example and to heed his leading as presented by Timothy ( Paulˋs son in the Lord and protoge ) to whom he had sent to teach them the same teaching that Paul taught to all the other churches he planted.

14 I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I warn you. 15 For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. 16 Therefore I urge you, imitate me. 17 For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church.

18 Now some are puffed up, as though I were not coming to you. 19 But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord wills, and I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power. 20 For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power. 21 What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?

Paul notes that some members of the church of Corinth were seeing themselves as more exalted than those who had brought the gospel to them. Paul, in a cautionary tone, tells them that he could potentially be authorized by the Lord to come to visit them and that he would come in power.

This power he carried would ferret out the pretenders and prideful ones and he advised them to stand down so that he was not compelled to come with a rod of discipline but rather with love and  gentleness.

Amen.

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