The Meaning of 1 Corinthians 4:19 Explained

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.

YLT: but I will come quickly unto you, if the Lord may will, and I will know not the word of those puffed up, but the power;

Darby: but I will come quickly to you, if the Lord will; and I will know, not the word of those that are puffed up, but the power.

ASV: But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will; and I will know, not the word of them that are puffed up, but the power.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does 1 Corinthians 4:19 Mean?

Verse Meaning

However, Paul did plan to return if God allowed him to do so. Evidently he was not able to return for some time. In2Corinthians he responded to criticism from within the church to the effect that he had promised to come but did not ( 2 Corinthians 1:15-18).
Paul knew that all the pretension to superior wisdom in the church was a result to viewing things from a worldly perspective; there was no reality behind it.

Context Summary

1 Corinthians 4:14-21 - Teaching Converts Christ's Ways
The relationship between the Apostle and his converts was very tender. They were his children. They might have instructors and tutors, but they could have but one father; and as father he might have to use the rod. Love can be stern and punitive. Spare the rod and spoil the child. It is not pure but selfish love that forbears to speak and act strongly when eternal interests are at stake. This is an aspect of God's love which is likely to be overlooked. If we escape chastisement, we are bastards and not sons. "What son is he whom the father chasteneth not?" Hebrews 12:5-11.
The beloved Timothy was sent to bring the recreant church back to its old love and faith. He was well fitted to represent the Apostle till Paul could tear himself from his thronging duties at Ephesus. Notice that God's kingdom comes in power, not in word, 1 Corinthians 4:21. Is not this the reason why it comes so slowly? We treat it as though it would come through our much speaking, through eloquent and honeyed speech. But it is not so. It comes in the power of the Holy Spirit, and in that supremacy of the Divine Spirit over all other spirit forces. God send us more of this great dynamic! [source]

Chapter Summary: 1 Corinthians 4

1  In what account the apostles ought to be regarded
7  We have nothing which we have not received
9  The apostles spectacles to the world, angels, and men;
13  the filth and offscouring of the world;
15  yet our fathers in Christ;
16  whom we ought to follow

Greek Commentary for 1 Corinthians 4:19

If the Lord will [εαν ο κυριος τελησηι]
Third-class condition. See James 4:15; Acts 18:21; 1 Corinthians 16:7 for the use of this phrase. It should represent one‘s constant attitude, though not always to be spoken aloud. [source]
But the power [αλλα την δυναμιν]
The puffed up Judaizers did a deal of talking in Paul‘s absence. He will come and will know their real strength. II Corinthians gives many evidences of Paul‘s sensitiveness to their talk about his inconsistencies and cowardice (in particular chs. 2 Corinthians 1; 2; 10; 11; 12; 2 Corinthians 13:1-14). He changed his plans to spare them, not from timidity. It will become plain later that Timothy failed on this mission and that Titus succeeded. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 1 Corinthians 4:19

Acts 18:21 If God will [του τεου τελοντος]
Genitive absolute of present active participle. This expression (εαν — ean with subjunctive) occurs also in 1 Corinthians 4:19; 1 Corinthians 16:7; James 4:15. Such phrases were common among Jews, Greeks, and Romans, and are today. It is simply a recognition that we are in God‘s hands. The Textus Receptus has here a sentence not in the best MSS.: “I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem.” This addition by D and other documents may have been due to a desire to give a reason for the language in Acts 18:22 about “going up” to Jerusalem. Whether Paul said it or not, it was in the spring when he made this journey with a company of pilgrims probably going to the feast of Pentecost in Jerusalem. We know that later Paul did try to reach Jerusalem for Pentecost (Acts 20:16) and succeeded. As the ship was leaving, Paul had to go, but with the hope of returning soon to Ephesus as he did. [source]
1 Corinthians 5:2 And ye are puffed up [και υμεις πεπυσιωμενοι εστε]
Emphatic position of υμεις — humeis (you). It may be understood as a question. Perfect passive periphrastic indicative of the same verb πυσιοω — phusioō used already of the partisans in Corinth (1 Corinthians 4:6, 1 Corinthians 4:19, 1 Corinthians 4:20). Those of the same faction with this scoundrel justified his rascality. [source]
Philippians 2:23 How it will go with me [τα περι εμε]
On the force of απο — apo with οραω — horaō (look away) see note on Hebrews 12:2. “The things concerning me,” the outcome of the trial. Cf. 1 Corinthians 4:17, 1 Corinthians 4:19. [source]
James 4:15 If the Lord will [εαν ο κυριος τεληι]
Condition of the third class with εαν — ean and the present active subjunctive (or first aorist active τελεσηι — thelesēi in some MSS). The proper attitude of mind (Acts 18:21; 1 Corinthians 4:19; 1 Corinthians 16:7; Romans 1:19; Philemon 2:19, Philemon 2:24; Hebrews 6:3), not to be uttered always in words like a charm. This Hellenistic formula was common among the ancient heathen, as today among modern Arabs like the Latin deo volente.This or that (τουτο η εκεινο — touto ē ekeino). Applicable to every act. [source]

What do the individual words in 1 Corinthians 4:19 mean?

I will come however shortly to you if the Lord wills and I will find out not the talk of those being puffed up but the power
ἐλεύσομαι δὲ ταχέως πρὸς ὑμᾶς ἐὰν Κύριος θελήσῃ καὶ γνώσομαι οὐ τὸν λόγον τῶν πεφυσιωμένων ἀλλὰ τὴν δύναμιν

ἐλεύσομαι  I  will  come 
Parse: Verb, Future Indicative Middle, 1st Person Singular
Root: ἔρχομαι  
Sense: to come.
δὲ  however 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: δέ  
Sense: but, moreover, and, etc.
ταχέως  shortly 
Parse: Adverb
Root: ταχέως  
Sense: quickly, shortly.
Κύριος  Lord 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: κύριος  
Sense: he to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master, lord.
θελήσῃ  wills 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Subjunctive Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: θέλω  
Sense: to will, have in mind, intend.
γνώσομαι  I  will  find  out 
Parse: Verb, Future Indicative Middle, 1st Person Singular
Root: γινώσκω  
Sense: to learn to know, come to know, get a knowledge of perceive, feel.
λόγον  talk 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: λόγος  
Sense: of speech.
τῶν  of  those 
Parse: Article, Genitive Masculine Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
πεφυσιωμένων  being  puffed  up 
Parse: Verb, Perfect Participle Middle or Passive, Genitive Masculine Plural
Root: φυσιόω  
Sense: to make natural, to cause a thing to pass into nature.
δύναμιν  power 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: δύναμις  
Sense: strength power, ability.