“At thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore” (Ps. 16: 11)
The Basket Case Chronicles #41
“Now some are puffed up, as though I would not come to you. 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. For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power. What will ye? Shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?” (1 Cor. 4:18-21).
The apostle now mentions some at Corinth who would cast themselves in the role of his opponents. They talk as though Paul talks big, but he isn’t going to come here. But Paul says that he will in fact come, if God allows it, and these wiseacres will find out that Paul is not puffed up like they are. He will come with power—the kingdom is in power, and not mere words. What would you rather, Paul asks. Should Paul come with a rod, or with love and meekness?
In 1 Cor. 13, a few chapters down the road, Paul contrasts the word translated “puffed up” with love. Here he contrasts it with power. There it is arrogant, and does not act lovingly. Here it is arrogant, and cannot follow through on its boastful claims.
Paul will indeed come, and he will check out the boastful claims of these puffer birds, and he will see how far they can fly in that condition. The kingdom of God, Paul says, is potent. He therefore asks the Corinthians what they would prefer. Would they like love that disciplines, as with a rod, or love that seems more like love, in a spirit of meekness. But either way the power is there.