1 Corinthians 4:19

But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power. An emphatic negation of their supposition (). SHORTLY - after Pentecost (). IF THE LORD WILL - a wise proviso (). He does not seem to have been able to go as soon as he intended. AND WILL KNOW - take cognizance of. BUT THE POWER. I care not for their high sounding "speech;" what I desire to know is, whether they be really powerful in the Spirit, or not. A predominant feature of Grecian character was a love for power of discourse, rather than of godliness....

19._But I will come shortly. _“They are in a mistake,” says he, “in raising their crests during my absence, as though this were to be of long duration, for they shall in a short time perceive how vain their confidence has been.” He has it not, however, so much in view to terrify them, as though he would on his arrival thunder forth against them, but rather presses and bears down upon their consciences, for, however they might disguise it, they were aware that he was furnished with divine influence. The clause, _if the Lord will_, intimates, that we ought not to promise anything to others as to the future, or to determine with ourselves, without adding this limitation in so far as _the Lord will permit _Hence James with good reason derides the rashness of mankind (James 4:15) in planning what they are to do ten years afterwards, while they have not security for living

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...

Verse 19. _BUT I WILL COME TO YOU SHORTLY_] God being my helper, I fully purpose to visit you; and then I shall put those proud men to the proof, not of their _speech_ - eloquence, or pretensions to great knowledge and influence, but of their _power_ - the authority they profess to have from God, and the evidences of that authority in the works they have performed. See the _Introduction_, sect. xi....

BUT I WILL COME - It is from no fear of them that I am kept away; and to convince them of this I will come to them speedily. IF THE LORD WILL - If the Lord permit; if by his providence he allows me to go. Paul regarded the entering on a journey as dependent on the will of God; and felt that God had all in his hand. No purpose should be formed without a reference to his will; no plan without feeling that he can easily frustrate it and disappoint us; see James 4:15. AND WILL KNOW - I will examine; I will put to the test; I will fully understand, NOT THE SPEECH ... - Not their vain and empty boasting; not their confident assertions, and their self-complacent views. BUT THE POWER - Their real power

EXPOSITION 1 CORINTHIANS 4:1 _Judgments, human and Divine, respecting ministers._ 1 CORINTHIANS 4:1 LET A MAN SO ACCOUNT OF US. Since it is inevitable that Christians should form some estimate of the position of their ministers, he proceeds to tell them what that estimate should be. Ministers are not to be unduly magnified, for their position is subordinate; they are not to be unduly depreciated, for if they are faithful they may appeal from frivolous human prejudices and careless depreciations to that only Judge and Master before whom they stand or fall. MINISTERS; here _huperetas; _in...

BUT I WILL COME TO YOU SHORTLY,.... This he said as threatening them, but not by way of prophecy; for it is not certain that he ever did come to them after this; but by way of promise, as it was then the real intention, inclination, and resolution of his mind, though with this condition, IF THE LORD WILL; which is rightly put, and what the apostle had a continual regard unto, in all things he was concerned; see Romans 1:10 and though it is not absolutely necessary that this should be expressed by us always in so many words; though should it, as the sentence is short and full, there would be no impropriety in it; yet this should always be the sense of our minds and conduct in all the affairs of life; see James 4:13 and will know not the speech of them that are puffed up, but the p

CHAPTER 4 _ 1. Servants of Christ and Stewards of the Mysteries of God. (1 Corinthians 4:1)._ 2. Contrast Between Self-Glorification and Humiliation. (1 Corinthians 4:6). 3. Admonition to Beloved Children. (1 Corinthians 4:14). Paul speaks of himself and the fellow workmen as servants of Christ and the stewards of the mysteries of God. They were serving under Christ. Apollos, though not an Apostle, is included by Paul. Apollos with his great eloquence probably appealed strongly to the Corinthians and thus the party spirit had been fostered among them. But Paul classes Apollos with himself; he might have told the Corinthians that Apollos was not an Apostle and

FATHERLY ADMONITION, ENTREATY, AND WARNING. The tone of mingled severity, irony, and pathos disappears; yet the affection is combined with sternness, and he warns them not to presume on his mildness. He has no desire to shame them, but only to give them his paternal admonition. For he is their only begetter in Christ, though tutors in Christ they may have by the myriad. Let them take after him as good children should; he is sending Timothy, another of his dear children, but a loyal one, who will revive by his conduct their fading memories of their father's real character and behaviour. Some have been inflated by the news that Timothy is coming, as if Paul would not face the church himself. But he means to come, and try the issue with the boasters, not in word but in power, for power not utterance is the note of the Kingdom. It is for the church to decide whether he comes to chastise or i...

THE THREE JUDGMENTS (1 Corinthians 4:1-5)...