1 Corinthians 4:20
in 1 Corinthians 4For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.
KJV
For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.
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This verse in 1 Corinthians 4
Commentary
14 notes on this verseThat we must labour not with words, but with deeds. In Solomon, in Ecclesiasticus: "Be not hasty in thy tongue, and in thy deeds useless and remiss." And Paul, in the first to the Corinthians: "The kingdom of God is not in word, but in power." Also to the Romans: "Not the hearers of the law are righteous before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified." Also in the Gospel according to Matthew: "He who shall do and teach so, shall be called greatest in the kingdom of heaven."
This site's exposition
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk
on 1 Corinthians 4:20-21
Verse 20 gives Paul's measure: in the kingdom of God power is what counts. The closing question leaves the manner of his visit to them, with a rod, or in love and with a gentle spirit.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers5 voices
It is not smooth talk that reveals the presence of the kingdom of God, but power. When there is power in the words, then the kingdom is present in them.
Let us not deceive ourselves with a false security, believing that a nonresponsive faith lacking good works can deliver us against the day of judgment.
A commentator
Theodoret of CyrusCOMMENTARY ON THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS 191 · Written before 458.
proposed
It is not enough to preach the kingdom of God in order to be saved; one must also behave in a way which is worthy of the kingdom.
For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power; as if he said that the word of the kingdom of heaven surpasses all words, and that some are in vain puffed up while endeavouring to establish themselves by word. For that word …
"For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power." By signs, saith he, not by fine speaking, we have prevailed: and that our teaching is divine and really announces the Kingdom of Heaven we give the greater proof, namely, our signs which we work by the power of the Spirit. If those who are now puffed up desire to be some great ones; as soon as I am come, let them shew whether they have any such power. And let me not find them sheltering themselves behind a pomp of words: for that kind of art is nothing to us.
7 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church2 voices
The Corinthians, relying on eloquence, despised Paul as an unlearned man; therefore he says: I will look not at your eloquence, for it is not what is needed, but at the "power" manifested in signs. For the Kingdom of God was preached and established not …
Thirdly, he assigns the reason, saying: The Kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in virtue; "Not everyone that says to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he that does the will of my Father (Matt 7:21).
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
For the kingdom of God,....
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
For the kingdom of God - The religion of the Lord Jesus is not in word - in human eloquence, excellence of speech, or even in doctrines; but in power, εν δυναμει, in the mighty energy of the Holy Spirit; enlightening, quickening, converting, and sanctifying believers; and all his genuine apostles are enabled, on all necessary occasions, to demonstrate the truth of their calling by miracles; for this the original word often means.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
kingdom of God is not in word--Translate, as in 1Co 4:19, to which the reference is "speech." Not empty "speeches," but the manifest "power" of the Spirit attests the presence of "the kingdom of God" (the reign of the Gospel spiritually), in a church or in an individual (compare 1Co 2:1, 4;
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase+unbalanced-parens
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
For the kingdom of God - The reign of God in the church (see the note at Mat 3:2); meaning here, probably, the power or authority which was to be exercised in the government and discipline of the church. Or it may refer to the manner in which the church had been established. “It has not been set up by empty boasting; by pompous pretensions; by confident assertions. Such empty boasts would do little in the great work of founding, governing, and preserving the church and unless people have some higher powers than this they are not qualified to be religious teachers and guides.” But in power - (1) In the miraculous power by which the church was established - the power of the Saviour and of the apostles in working miracles. (2) In the power of the Holy Spirit in the gift of tongues, and in his influence on the heart in converting people; see the note at 1Co 1:18. (3) In the continual power which is needful to protect, defend, and govern the church. Unless teachers showed that they had such power, they were not qualified for their office.
Modern Voices1 voice
A commentator
Robert HendersonApostolic Leader Says We Must Be Ready to Raise the Dead (Charisma News) (2022)
proposed
The Bible tells us that the kingdom of God is not a philosophy, but a power.
The words behind it
11 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| οὐ | ou | Not | G3756 → | 1664 times |
| γὰρ | gar | for | G1063 → | 1039 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| λόγῳ | logo | word | G3056 → | 329 times |
| ἡ | he | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| βασιλεία | basileia | kingdom | G932 → | 162 times |
| τοῦ | tou | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| θεοῦ | theou | of God [is] | G2316 → | 1312 times |
| ἀλλ᾽ | all᾽ | but | G235 → | 635 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| δυνάμει.¶ | dunamei | power. | G1411 → | 119 times |
οὐNot
ouG3756 →1664 times
γὰρfor
garG1063 →1039 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
λόγῳword
logoG3056 →329 times
ἡthe
heG3588 →19766 times
βασιλείαkingdom
basileiaG932 →162 times
τοῦ<the>
touG3588 →19766 times
θεοῦof God [is]
theouG2316 →1312 times
ἀλλ᾽but
all᾽G235 →635 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
δυνάμει.¶power.
dunameiG1411 →119 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Romans 1:16I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, then to the Greek.
it leads to
- Mark 8:38
If anyone is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in His Father’s glory with the…
- 2 Timothy 1:8
So do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, or of me, His prisoner. Instead, join me in suffering for the gospel by the power of God.
- 1 Peter 4:16
But if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but glorify God that you bear that name.
- 2 Timothy 1:12
For this reason, even though I suffer as I do, I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have…
- Psalms 40:9–10
I proclaim righteousness in the great assembly; behold, I do not seal my lips, as You, O LORD, do know.
- Mark 8:38
Through
Romans 14:17For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.
it leads to
- Matthew 6:33
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.
- Romans 15:13
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
- 1 Corinthians 8:8
But food does not bring us closer to God: We are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do.
- Matthew 6:33
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About 1 Corinthians
This page draws on 15 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Caesarius of Arles, SERMON 209.3; Charles Hodge, An Exposition of the First Epistle to the Corinthians; Cosmas Indicopleustes, The Christian Topography, Book 7; Cyprian, Treatise XII Three Books of Testimonies Against the Jews; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Calvin, Commentary on the Epistles of Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians; John Chrysostom, Homily on 1 Corinthians 14; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Origen of Alexandria, COMMENTARY ON 1 CORINTHIANS 2.22.6-8; Robert Henderson, Apostolic Leader Says We Must Be Ready to Raise the Dead (Charisma News); Theodoret of Cyrus, COMMENTARY ON THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS 191; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 1 Corinthians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on 1 Corinthians.