1 Corinthians 4:21

‘What do you wish? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and in a spirit of meekness?'

So he closes this section by leaving them a choice. Do they prefer severity, or love and gentleness. As a concerned father he is prepared to use the rod of chastening (Hebrews 12:5 compare Proverbs 13:24; Proverbs 23:13) but would prefer to come in love and gentleness. It is up to them and will depend on how they respond to his letter. The rod may have in mind ‘the rod of iron' (Revelation 2:27; Revelation 12:5) as in Psalms 2:9, ‘the iron sceptre' of judgment. The latter would tie in with his claim to reveal the Kingly Rule of God in power. But the context more suggests the father's correcting rod. Perhaps he wanted some to see one and some the other. However he is making it clear that he would prefer to come as a father, arriving in love and gentleness to greet responsive children. Some see here a reference to the Holy Spirit, but in view of the contrast we are probably intended to see it as signifying Paul's own spirit.

This leads immediately into chapter 5. He is about to exercise his fatherly authority. Let them consider how they will respond to it.