1 Corinthians 4:19 kjv
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.
1 Corinthians 4:19 nkjv
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.
1 Corinthians 4:19 niv
But I will come to you very soon, if the Lord is willing, and then I will find out not only how these arrogant people are talking, but what power they have.
1 Corinthians 4:19 esv
But I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills, and I will find out not the talk of these arrogant people but their power.
1 Corinthians 4:19 nlt
But I will come ? and soon ? if the Lord lets me, and then I'll find out whether these arrogant people just give pretentious speeches or whether they really have God's power.
1 Corinthians 4 19 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Cor 4:19 | Will come and see what those who boast can do, not the speech of the puffed up, but their power. | Echoes theme of true spiritual authority vs. empty talk. |
| Matt 7:15-20 | Beware of false prophets who come in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. | Analogy of destructive nature and how to identify false teachers. |
| Gal 5:22-23 | But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. | Contrasts destructive "fruit" with the fruit of the Spirit. |
| 2 Pet 2:1-3 | But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies... and in their greed they will exploit you with false words. | Directly addresses false teachers and their deceptive motives. |
| Rom 16:17 | I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. | Warns against those who disrupt unity and sound teaching. |
| John 8:44 | You are of your father the devil, and your desire is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning... | Identifies the ultimate source of destructive spiritual influence. |
| 1 Tim 4:1-2 | Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons, by the hypocrisy of liars whose consciences are seared. | Links doctrinal error and harmful teachings to demonic influence. |
| Jude 1:4 | For certain people have crept in unnoticed... who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. | Describes those who corrupt the truth and are destructive in their practice. |
| Col 2:18 | Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and the worship of angels, . . . puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind. | Points to faulty spiritual disciplines and pride as destructive. |
| Titus 1:11 | They must be silenced, because they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach. | Explains the disruptive and financially motivated nature of false teaching. |
| Eph 4:14 | so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. | Highlights how destructive teachings destabilize believers. |
| Jer 6:13 | "For from the least to the greatest of them, everyone is greedy for dishonest gain, and from prophet to priest, everyone deals falsely." | Old Testament parallel of corruption and dishonest dealings among leaders. |
| Ezek 13:10 | Because, yes, because they have misled my people, saying, ‘Peace,’ when there is no peace, and because, when they see a building, they build a wall, and men smear it with whitewash, | Accusation against prophets offering false reassurance. |
| Matt 13:24-30 | Jesus told them another parable... The enemy who sowed them is the devil... Let both grow together until the harvest. | Parable of the weeds shows that destructive elements can be among the faithful, but their ultimate end is different. |
| Phil 3:18-19 | For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their appetite, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. | Describes individuals whose destructive tendencies are rooted in ungodly desires and opposition to Christ. |
| 1 Cor 1:10 | I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. | The presence of destructive "knowledge" or practice leads to division, which Paul is addressing throughout this letter. |
| 1 Cor 8:1 | Now concerning food sacrificed to idols: we know that "all of us possess knowledge." This is the source of pride, while love builds up. | Connects "knowledge" with pride, a characteristic Paul is combating in Corinth. |
| Gal 1:6-9 | I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. | Describes a departure from sound gospel truth leading to trouble. |
| 2 Tim 3:7-8 | always learning and never able to arrive at a full understanding of the truth. Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men of corrupt minds, disapproved as to the faith. | Compares certain opposers of truth to the sorcerers who resisted Moses, highlighting their corrupt nature. |
| Rom 1:28 | And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. | Links the rejection of God to a corrupted understanding and practice. |
1 Corinthians 4 verses
1 Corinthians 4 19 Meaning
The verse states that certain individuals do not approach the "knowledge of God" in a way that is pleasing to God, but rather are destructive in their dealings, akin to weeds. This implies a misuse or perversion of spiritual understanding and practice, leading to negative spiritual consequences.
1 Corinthians 4 19 Context
This verse is part of the Apostle Paul's closing remarks in the chapter, following his discussion about correcting church members and his personal approach to ministry. Paul has been addressing issues within the Corinthian church, particularly divisions and boastful attitudes stemming from misplaced emphasis on certain teachers or spiritual gifts. He asserts his apostolic authority and outlines the characteristics of true ministry. The preceding verses discuss how he will come to Corinth to assess the "power" and conduct of those who are overly confident in themselves, rather than just listening to their words. This verse serves as a summary of the negative outcome for those who do not approach spiritual matters correctly.
1 Corinthians 4 19 Word analysis
- Will come (ἥξω - hekso): Future indicative active of ἥκω (heko), meaning "to come," "to arrive." Indicates Paul's intended future action.
- and see (καὶ ἴδετε - kai idete): Conjunction "and" (kai) plus the aorist subjunctive active of ὁράω (horaō), meaning "to see," "to perceive," "to witness." Implies a personal examination and discernment.
- what (τί - ti): Interrogative pronoun, "what." Refers to the nature of their boast or action.
- the manner of speaking (τὸν λόγον - ton logon): Definite article "the" (ton) with accusative masculine singular of λόγος (logos). Refers to "word," "speech," "saying," or "reason." In this context, it emphasizes the verbal expression of their boast.
- of the puffed up (τῶν φυσιωμένων - tōn phusiomenōn): Genitive plural masculine passive participle of φυσιάω (phusiao), meaning "to puff up," "to inflate with pride," "to be arrogant." Highlights their inflated self-importance.
- but the power (ἀλλὰ τὴν δύναμιν - alla tēn dunamin): Adversative conjunction "but" (alla) with accusative feminine singular definite article "the" (tēn) and δύναμις (dunamis), meaning "power," "strength," "might," "ability." Contrasts mere words with genuine spiritual capability.
- Note on Contextual Understanding: The "puffed up" refers to those in Corinth who were excessively proud of their spiritual gifts, knowledge, or association with particular leaders, creating divisions within the church. Paul states he will come not just to hear their boastful words, but to see if their boast is backed by genuine spiritual power, demonstrating God's validating work rather than human arrogance. The subsequent clause ("what the puffed up say, but their power") suggests an alternative interpretation or a rephrasing: he will see the speech of those who are not puffed up, but possess true power, contrasting with the puffed-up talkers. However, the more widely accepted reading connects "puffed up" with their boasting, and the focus is on the nature of their power.
1 Corinthians 4 19 Bonus Section
This verse is deeply connected to the overall theme of combating pride and division within the Corinthian church, which Paul addresses extensively in chapters 1-3. The concept of "puffed up" (φυσιωμένων - phusiomenōn) is crucial; it describes individuals who are conceited and arrogant, likely due to their perceived superior knowledge or spiritual status. This pride is diametrically opposed to the humility and selflessness that Christ exemplified. The contrast between mere "speech" (λόγον - logon) and "power" (δύναμιν - dunamin) is significant. "Power" here likely refers to the authentic demonstration of the Holy Spirit's work, such as wisdom, teaching, discernment, and spiritual effectiveness, which builds up the church. Paul’s own ministry, as described throughout his letters, is characterized by suffering and weakness in the eyes of the world, yet filled with divine power that transforms lives (2 Cor 12:9-10). The verse implicitly warns against false teachers or spiritual influencers whose words are impressive but lack divine substance and result in harm or division, as opposed to the edifying work of the Spirit.
1 Corinthians 4 19 Commentary
Paul reiterates his intent to visit the Corinthian church to evaluate the spiritual reality behind the boastful claims of some members. He will not be impressed by eloquent but empty words; rather, he seeks to ascertain the genuine power and demonstration of God at work in their lives and teachings. This emphasizes that true Christian life and ministry are characterized by substantive spiritual effectiveness and godly character, not mere self-promotion or pride in knowledge. Paul’s standard for judging is God’s power, which leads to edification and unity, not divisiveness and arrogance.