1 Corintios 4:19

19 Pero iré presto a vosotros, si el Señor quisiere; y conoceré, no las palabras de los que andan envanecidos, sino la virtud.

1 Corintios 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 Corintios 4:19 In-Context

17 Por lo cual os he enviado a Timoteo, que es mi hijo amado y fiel en el Señor, el cual os amonestará de cuáles sean mis caminos en Cristo, de la manera que enseño en todas partes en todas las Iglesias.

18 Mas algunos están envanecidos, como si nunca hubiese yo de ir a vosotros.

19 Pero iré presto a vosotros, si el Señor quisiere; y conoceré, no las palabras de los que andan envanecidos, sino la virtud.

20 Porque el Reino de Dios no consiste en palabras, sino en virtud.

21 ¿Qué queréis? ¿Iré a vosotros con vara, o con caridad y espíritu de mansedumbre?