Some of you have become boasters. You boast, thinking that I will not come to you again.
1 Corinthians 4:21 - Easy To Read Version Which do you want: Tuilleadh leaganachaKing James Version (Oxford) 1769 What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness? Amplified Bible - Classic Edition Now which do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a rod of correction, or with love and in a spirit of gentleness? American Standard Version (1901) What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness? Common English Bible Which do you want? Should I come to you with a big stick to punish you, or with love and a gentle spirit? Catholic Public Domain Version What would you prefer? Should I return to you with a rod, or with charity and a spirit of meekness? Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version What will you? shall I come to you with a rod; or in charity, and in the spirit of meekness? |
Some of you have become boasters. You boast, thinking that I will not come to you again.
Then give this man to Satan (the Devil), so that his sinful self {\cf2\super [28]} will be destroyed. Then his spirit can be saved on the day of the Lord.
We are ready to punish any person there who does not obey. But first we want you to obey fully.
It is true that we boast freely about the authority (power) the Lord gave us. But he gave us this power to strengthen you, not to hurt you. So I will not be ashamed of that boasting we do.
I asked Titus to go to you. And I sent our brother with him. Titus did not cheat you, did he? No! You know that Titus and I did the same things and with the same spirit.
I’m writing these things while I’m not with you. I’m writing so that when I come I will not have to use my power to punish you. The Lord gave me that power to make you stronger, not to destroy you.
When I was with you the second time, I gave a warning to those people who had sinned. Now I am away from you, and I give a warning to all the other people \{who have sinned\}: When I come to you again, I will punish you \{for your sin\}.
So I decided that my next visit to you would not be another visit to make you sad.
I wrote you a letter for this reason: so that when I came to you I would not be made sad by those people who should make me happy. I felt sure of all of you. I felt sure that all of you would share my joy.
That old agreement had glory. But it really loses its glory when it is compared to the much greater glory \{of the new agreement\}.
Brothers and sisters, a person in your group might do something wrong. You people who are spiritual should go to the person who is sinning. You should help to make him right again. You should do this in a gentle way. But be careful! You might be tempted to sin, too.
We are apostles {\cf2\super [5]} of Christ. And so when we were with you, we could have used our authority to make you do things. But we were very gentle {\cf2\super [6]} with you. We were like a mother caring for her little children.
But the wisdom that comes from God is like this: First, it is pure. It is also peaceful, gentle, and easy to please. This wisdom is always ready to help people who have trouble and to do good things for other people. This wisdom is always fair and honest.