1 Corinthians 4:14-21
14I do not write these things to ashame you, but to admonish you as my beloved bchildren. 15For if you were to have countless atutors in Christ, yet you would not have many fathers, for in bChrist Jesus I cbecame your father through the dgospel. 16Therefore I exhort you, be aimitators of me. 17For this reason I ahave sent to you bTimothy, who is my cbeloved and faithful child in the Lord, and who will remind you of my ways which are in Christ, djust as I teach everywhere in every church. 18Now some have become apuffed up, as though I were not bcoming to you. 19But I awill come to you soon, bif the Lord wills, and I shall know, not the 1words of those who are cpuffed up but their power. 20For the kingdom of God does anot consist in 1words but in power. 21What do you desire? aShall I come to you with a rod, or with love and a spirit of gentleness?