John Calvin Commentary 1 Corinthians 4:21

"What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness?" — 1 Corinthians 4:21 (ASV)

What will you? The person who divided the Epistles into chapters should have made this the beginning of the fifth chapter. For having until now reproved the foolish pride of the Corinthians, their vain confidence, and their judgment, perverted and corrupted by ambition, he now mentions the vices with which they were infected, and for which they ought to be ashamed.

“You are puffed up, as though everything were on the best possible footing among you, but it would be better if you would with shame and sighing acknowledge the unhappiness of your condition. For if you persist, I will be forced to lay aside mildness and exercise a paternal severity toward you.”

However, there is even more emphasis in this threat, in which he gives them the freedom to choose. For he declares that it does not depend on him whether he will show himself agreeable and mild, but that it is their own fault that he is forced to use severity.

“It is for you,” he says, “to choose how you would have me. As for me, I am prepared to be mild, but if you go on as you have done until now, I will be forced to take up the rod.” He thus takes a stronger stance, after having claimed fatherly authority over them. For it would have been absurd to begin with this threat without first preparing the way with what he had said and making them ready to feel apprehension.

By the term rod, he means that severity with which a pastor should correct his people’s faults. He contrasts this with love, and the spirit of meekness—not as though the father hated the sons whom he chastises, for on the contrary, the chastisement proceeds from love, but because by sadness of countenance and harshness of words, he appears as though he were angry with his son.

To express myself more plainly—in short, a father always, whatever kind of look he may put on, regards his son with affection. He manifests that affection when he teaches him pleasantly and lovingly. However, when, displeased with his faults, he chastises him in rather sharp terms, or even with the rod, he takes on the appearance of someone who is angry.

Since love does not appear when severity of discipline is exercised, it is not without good reason that Paul here conjoins love with a spirit of meekness.

Some understand the term rod to mean excommunication—but, for my part, though I grant that excommunication is a part of that severity with which Paul threatens the Corinthians, I at the same time extend it further, to include all reproofs that are of a harsher kind.

Observe here what system a good pastor should follow. He should, of his own accord, be inclined to mildness, aiming to draw people to Christ rather than to drive them. This mildness, as far as it is in his power, he should maintain, and never resort to bitterness unless he is compelled to do so.

On the other hand, he must not spare the rod (Proverbs 13:24) when there is need for it. For while those who are teachable and agreeable should be dealt with mildly, sharpness is required in dealing with the refractory and stubborn.

We also see that the Word of God does not merely contain doctrine, but includes a mixture of bitter reproofs, so as to supply pastors with a rod. For it often happens, through the obstinacy of the people, that even those pastors who are naturally the mildest are forced to put on, as it were, a different demeanor and act with rigor and severity.