John Calvin Commentary 1 Corinthians 4:19

"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." — 1 Corinthians 4:19 (ASV)

But I will come shortly. "They are mistaken," he says, "in becoming arrogant during my absence, as if this were to be for a long time, for in a short time they will perceive how vain their confidence has been." However, his aim is not so much to terrify them, as if he would thunder forth against them on his arrival, but rather he presses upon their consciences; for, however they might disguise it, they were aware that he was endowed with divine influence.

The clause, if the Lord will, intimates that we ought not to promise anything to others about the future, or decide for ourselves, without adding this limitation: insofar as the Lord will permit. Hence James with good reason derides the rashness of mankind (James 4:15) in planning what they are to do ten years afterwards, while they have no assurance of living even for a single hour. We are not, it is true, under a constant necessity to use such forms of expression, but it is the better way to accustom ourselves carefully to them, so that we may exercise our minds from time to time in this consideration—that all our plans must be subject to the will of God.

And I will know not the speech. By speech you must understand that empty talk in which the false apostles delighted, for they excelled in a certain skill and eloquence of speech, while they lacked the zeal and power of the Spirit. By the term power, he means that spiritual effectiveness with which those are endowed who earnestly proclaim the word of the Lord.

The meaning, therefore, is: "I will see whether they have so much reason to be puffed up; and I will not judge them by their mere outward talkativeness, in which they place all their glory, and on account of which they claim every honor for themselves.

If they wish to have any honor from me, they must demonstrate that power which distinguishes true servants of Christ from mere pretenders: otherwise I will despise them, along with all their show. Therefore, it is futile for them to trust in their eloquence, for I will consider it nothing more than smoke."