1 Coríntios 4:19

19 Mas irei muito em breve, se o Senhor permitir; então saberei não apenas o que estão falando esses arrogantes, mas que poder eles têm.

1 Coríntios 4:19 Meaning and Commentary

1 Corinthians 4:19

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 ) ( Hebrews 6:3 ) 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 4:13-15 )

and will know not the speech of them that are puffed up, but the
power;
meaning chiefly the false teachers; and that his concern would be, not so much to observe their masterly language, the eloquence of their speech, the quaintness of their expressions, the cadency of their words, how nicely they were put together, and how fitly pronounced; but what life there was in their ministry, what power went forth with their words, and how effectual their preaching was to the, conversion of sinners, and the edifying of the church of God.

1 Coríntios 4:19 In-Context

17 Por essa razão estou enviando a vocês Timóteo, meu filho amado e fiel no Senhor, o qual lhes trará à lembrança a minha maneira de viver em Cristo Jesus, de acordo com o que eu ensino por toda parte, em todas as igrejas.

18 Alguns de vocês se tornaram arrogantes, como se eu não fosse mais visitá-los.

19 Mas irei muito em breve, se o Senhor permitir; então saberei não apenas o que estão falando esses arrogantes, mas que poder eles têm.

20 Pois o Reino de Deus não consiste em palavras, mas em poder.

21 Que é que vocês querem? Devo ir a vocês com vara, ou com amor e espírito de mansidão?