1 Corinthians 4:21

“What will ye? etc.] Or “how will ye, that I should come unto you?” as the Arabic and Ethiopic versions read it: since the apostle had determined upon his coming to them: and had made mention of it, he puts it to them, in what manner they themselves would choose he should come unto them; shall I come unto you with a rod; either as a schoolmaster, as were their false teachers, with a “ferula”; or as a father with a rod of correction and chastisement, assuming his paternal authority, putting on severe looks, and using roughness; or rather as an apostle with the apostolical rod; by which is meant not excommunication, which is what belongs to a whole community, and not any single person; but a…”

“with a rod, or in love--The Greek preposition is used in both clauses; must I come IN displeasure to exercise the rod, or IN love, and the Spirit of meekness (Isa 11:4; Co2 13:3)? Next: 1 Corinthians Chapter 5”

“What will ye - It depends on yourselves how I shall come. If you lay aside your contentions and strifes; if you administer discipline as you should; if you give yourselves heartily and entirely to the work of the Lord, I shall come, not to reprove or to punish, but as a father and a friend. But if you do not heed my exhortations or the labors of Timothy; if you still continue your contentions, and do not remove the occasions of offence, I shall come with severity and the language of rebuke. With a rod - To correct and punish. In the spirit of meekness - Comforting and commending instead of chastising. Paul intimates that this depended on themselves. They had the power, and it was their duty…”

“With a rod - That is, with severity. Next: 1 Corinthians Chapter 5”

“shall: Co1 5:5; Co2 10:2, Co2 10:6, Co2 10:8, Co2 12:20, Co2 12:21, Co2 13:2, Co2 3:10 and: Co2 10:1; Th1 2:7; Jam 3:17 Next: 1 Corinthians Chapter 5”