What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?
Parallel translations
- KJV What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?
- BSB Which do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and with a gentle spirit?
- NKJV What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?
- NASB What do you desire? That I come to you with a rod, or with love and a spirit of gentleness?
- NLT Which do you choose? Should I come with a rod to punish you, or should I come with love and a gentle spirit?
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- 2 Cor 13:2I have said beforehand, and I do say beforehand, as when I was present the second time, so now, being absent, I write to those who have sinned before now, and to all the rest, that, if I come again, I will not spare;
- 2 Cor 13:10For this cause I write these things while absent, that I may not deal sharply when present, according to the authority which the Lord gave me for building up, and not for tearing down.
- 1 Th 2:7But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother cherishes her own children.
- 2 Cor 12:20–21For I am afraid that by any means, when I come, I might find you not the way I want to, and that I might be found by you as you don’t desire; that by any means there would be strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, whisperings, proud thoughts, riots;
- 2 Cor 2:3And I wrote this very thing to you, so that, when I came, I wouldn’t have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy would be shared by all of you.
- Jas 3:17But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceful, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
- 2 Cor 1:23But I call God for a witness to my soul, that I didn’t come to Corinth to spare you.
- 2 Cor 10:1–2Now I Paul, myself, entreat you by the humility and gentleness of Christ; I who in your presence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you.
- 2 Cor 2:1But I determined this for myself, that I would not come to you again in sorrow.
- 2 Cor 10:6and being in readiness to avenge all disobedience, when your obedience will be made full.
- 2 Cor 10:8For though I should boast somewhat abundantly concerning our authority, (which the Lord gave for building you up, and not for casting you down) I will not be disappointed,
- 1 Cor 5:5are to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
- 2 Cor 3:10For most certainly that which has been made glorious has not been made glorious in this respect, by reason of the glory that surpasses.
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Christ at the center
Christ crucified is the wisdom and power of God; he is our Passover sacrificed for us, the firstfruits of resurrection, the foundation on which everything is built.
How 1 Corinthians 4:21 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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