1 Corinthians 4:21
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New International Version (©1984)
What do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a whip, or in love and with a gentle spirit?

New Living Translation (©2007)
Which do you choose? Should I come with a rod to punish you, or should I come with love and a gentle spirit?

English Standard Version (©2001)
What do you wish? Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love in a spirit of gentleness?

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
What do you desire? Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love and a spirit of gentleness?

International Standard Version (©2008)
Which do you prefer? Should I come to you with a stick, or with love and a gentle spirit?

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
When I come to visit you, would you prefer that I punish you or show you love and a gentle spirit?

King James Bible
What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?

American King James Version
What will you? shall I come to you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?

American Standard Version
What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?

Bible in Basic English
What is your desire? is my coming to be with punishment, or is it to be in love and a gentle spirit?

Douay-Rheims Bible
What will you ? shall I come to you with a rod; or in charity, and in the spirit of meekness ?

Darby Bible Translation
What will ye? that I come to you with a rod; or in love, and in a spirit of meekness?

English Revised Version
What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of meekness?

Webster's Bible Translation
What will ye? shall I come to you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?

Weymouth New Testament
Which shall it be? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in a loving and tender spirit?

World English Bible
What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?

Young's Literal Translation
what do ye wish? with a rod shall I come unto you, or in love, with a spirit also of meekness?

Geneva Study Bible

{12} What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the {l} spirit of meekness?

(12) A passing over to another part of this epistle, in which he reprehends most sharply a very odious offence, showing the use of ecclesiastical correction.

(l) Acting meekly towards you.

People's New Testament

4:21 What will ye? When he comes, how shall he come?

With a rod? Will it be necessary to rebuke and exert his apostolic authority?

Or in love, and in the spirit of meekness? Or will the condition of the church be such that only love and gentleness will be called for?

Wesley's Notes

4:21 With a rod - That is, with severity.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

21. with a rod, or in love-The Greek preposition is used in both clauses; must I come IN displeasure to exercise the rod, or IN love, and the Spirit of meekness (Isa 11:4; 2Co 13:3)?

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

4:14-21 In reproving for sin, we should distinguish between sinners and their sins. Reproofs that kindly and affectionately warn, are likely to reform. Though the apostle spoke with authority as a parent, he would rather beseech them in love. And as ministers are to set an example, others must follow them, as far as they follow Christ in faith and practice. Christians may mistake and differ in their views, but Christ and Christian truth are the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever. Whenever the gospel is effectual, it comes not in word only, but also in power, by the Holy Spirit, quickening dead sinners, delivering persons from the slavery of sin and Satan, renewing them both inwardly and outwardly, and comforting, strengthening, and establishing the saints, which cannot be done by the persuasive language of men, but by the power of God. And it is a happy temper, to have the spirit of love and meekness bear the rule, yet to maintain just authority.


2 Corinthians 1:23 But I call God as witness to my soul, that to spare you I did not come again to Corinth.
2 Corinthians 2:1 But I determined this for my own sake, that I would not come to you in sorrow again.
2 Corinthians 2:3 This is the very thing I wrote you, so that when I came, I would not have sorrow from those who ought to make me rejoice; having confidence in you all that my joy would be the joy of you all.
2 Corinthians 12:20 For I am afraid that perhaps when I come I may find you to be not what I wish and may be found by you to be not what you wish; that perhaps there will be strife, jealousy, angry tempers, disputes, slanders, gossip, arrogance, disturbances;
2 Corinthians 13:2 I have previously said when present the second time, and though now absent I say in advance to those who have sinned in the past and to all the rest as well, that if I come again I will not spare anyone,
2 Corinthians 13:10 For this reason I am writing these things while absent, so that when present I need not use severity, in accordance with the authority which the Lord gave me for building up and not for tearing down. (NASB ©1995)

Desire Gentle Gentleness Love Meekness Prefer Punishment Rod Spirit Tender Want Whip Wish


What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?

shall. 5:5 2Co 10:2,6,8 12:20,21 13:2 3:10

and. 2Co 10:1 1Th 2:7 Jas 3:17

Bible Gateway: 1 Corinthians Chapter 4 Verse 21 NIV ESV NKJV NLT KJV Message Amplified

Alphabetical: a and come desire do gentle gentleness I in love of or prefer rod Shall spirit to What whip with you

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NT Letters: 1 Corinthians 4:21 What do you want? Shall I come (1 Cor. 1C iC 1Cor i cor icor) Christian Bible Study Resources, Dictionary, Concordance and Search Tools

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