{"author":null,"canonical_references":[],"database_sha256":"8cfbe7284c6936871d57c02dc6aa63ebbdfd4722422d539dd9f716e46e91112e","date_end":null,"date_start":null,"edition_year":null,"id":"sermonindex-ecf-347","native_reference":{"book_number":530,"chapter_from":4,"chapter_to":4,"system":"MyBible module coordinates (mapping unverified)","verse_from":19,"verse_to":19},"public_import_allowed":false,"record_kind":"verse-keyed-module-record","review_required":["English edition and exact text","author/work attribution","dating","verse mapping and citation kind","reuse and attribution","split author quotations and deduplicate"],"review_status":"unreviewed","source_html":"<p><b>Ambrosiaster</b>: Paul couches his promise to come in the will of God, because God knows more than man. If there was some advantage in Paul's going to Corinth, God would make it known, and if he did not turn up, the Corinthians would know that the Lord had not wanted him to.<br/><i>— COMMENTARY ON PAUL'S EPISTLES</i></p><p><b>Clement of Alexandria</b>: It teaches the magnificence of the wisdom implanted in her children by instruction. Now the apostle says, \"I will know not the speech of those that are puffed up, but the power; for the kingdom of God is not in word.\" By which is clearly revealed that the gnostic does not sin in speech, nor is puffed up by talk, but is full of work, having made his whole life in accordance with the Lord's commands.<br/><i>— The Stromata Book 7</i></p><p><b>John Chrysostom</b>: And therefore he goes on, \"But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will.\" Now to say this only would seem to be mere threatening. But to promise himself and demand from them the requisite proof by actions also; this was a course for a truly high spirit. Accordingly he added this too, saying, \"And I will know, not the word of them which are puffed up, but the power.\" For not from any excellencies of their own but from their teacher's absence, this self-will arose. Which again itself was a mark of a scornful mind towards him. And this is why, having said, \"I have sent Timothy,\" he did not at once add, \"I will come;\" but waited until he had brought his charge against them of being \"puffed up:\" after that he saith, \"I will come.\" Since, had he put it before the charge, it would rather have been an apology for himself as not having been deficient, instead of a threat; nor even so would the statement have been convincing. But as it is, placing it after the accusation, he rendered himself such as they would both believe and fear.</p><p>Mark also how solid and secure he makes his ground: for he saith not simply, \"I will come:\" but, \"If the Lord will:\" and he appoints no set time. For since he might perhaps be tardy in coming, by that uncertainty he would fain keep them anxiously engaged. And, lest they should hereupon fall back again, he added, \"shortly.\"</p><p>\"And I will know, not the word of them that are puffed up, but the power.\" He said not, \"I will know not the wisdom, nor the signs,\" but what? \"not the word:\" by the term he employs at the same time depressing the one and exalting the other. And for a while he is setting himself against the generality of them who were countenancing the fornicator. For if he were speaking of him, he would not say, \"the power;\" but, \"the works,\" the corrupt works which he did.</p><p>Now why seekest thou not after \"the word?\" \"Not because I am wanting in word but because all our doings are in power.\" As therefore in war success is not for those who talk much but those who effect much; so also in this case, not speakers, but doers have the victory. \"Thou,\" saith he, \"art proud of this fine speaking. Well, if it were a contest and a time for orators, thou mightest reasonably be elated thereat: but if of Apostles preaching truth, and by signs confirming the same, why art thou puffed up for a thing superfluous and unreal, and to the present purpose utterly inefficient? For what could a display of words avail towards raising the dead, or expelling evil spirits, or working any other such deed of wonder? But these are what we want now, and by these our cause stands.\"<br/><i>— Homily on 1 Corinthians 14</i></p><p><b>Severian of Gabala</b>: Paul promises to come, so that the Corinthians can prepare themselves for correction. On the one hand he was forced by his irritation to say \"I shall come,\" but on the other hand he added \"if the Lord wills,\" because of his sense of dependence on God.<br/><i>— PAULINE COMMENTARY FROM THE GREEK CHURCH</i></p>","source_html_sha256":"dd2f412f3a34a301825fac02c4fd24266137456a4f95bd8f012335b1ea95c3e5","source_module":"ECF","source_row_id":347,"source_url":"https://www.sermonindex.net/commentary/ecf/","text_sha256":"5f342976b0260c0a478a0d9acc72ae4479c979b722c592811bba8b0c89cc80e9","translator":null,"work":null}