Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

1 Corinthians 4:18-19

ὡς μὴ ἐρχομένου δὲ μου πρὸς ὑμᾶς ἐφυσιώθησάν τινες : “Some however have been puffed up, under the idea that I am not coming to (visit) you”. The contrastive δὲ points to a group of inflated persons (cf. 1 Corinthians 4:6; 1 Corinthians 5:2; 1 Corinthians 8:2) hostile to Paul's “ways”. The wish was father to the thought, which was suggested to “some” by the fact of Timothy's coming. They bore themselves more insolently as not fearing correction; or did they imagine that Paul is afraid of them! Amongst these, presumably, were mischievous teachers (1 Corinthians 3:11-17) who had swelled into importance in Paul's absence, partisans who magnified others to his damage and talked as though the Church could now fairly dispense with him (1 Corinthians 4:3; 1 Corinthians 4:6; 1 Corinthians 4:8; 1 Corinthians 4:15). On ὡς with ptp [775], see Bn [776] § 440 f., or Goodwin's Syntax, or Grammar, ad rem; cf. note on ὡς μὴ λαβών, 1 Corinthians 4:7, also 2 Corinthians 5:20; 2 Peter 1:3 : “because (as they suppose) I am not coming”. The aor [777] ἐφυσιώθησαν points to the moment when they heard, to their relief, of Timothy's coming. δὲ is postponed in the order of the sentence to avoid separating the closely linked opening words (Wr [778], pp. 698 f.) “But (despite their presumption) I shall come speedily, if the Lord will”. They say, “He is not coming; he sends Tim. instead!” he replies, “Come I will, and that soon” (see 1 Corinthians 16:8, and note). ἐὰν ὁ Κύριος θελήσῃ (see parls.), varied to ἐπιτρέψῃ in 1 Corinthians 16:7; the aor [779] sbj [780] refers the “willing” to the (indeterminate) time of the visit. “The Lord” is Christ; that θέλω and θέλημα (see note on 1 Corinthians 12:11) are elsewhere referred by P. to God (Mr [781]) is no sufficient reason for diverting ὁ Κύρ. from its distinctive sense (cf. 1 Corinthians 4:17 above, and note on 1 Corinthians 1:31). Christ determines the movements of His servants (1 Corinthians 4:1; cf. 1 Thessalonians 3:11; Acts 16:7; Acts 18:9, etc.).

[775] participle

[776] E. Burton's Syntax of the Moods and Tenses in the N.T. (1894).

[777] aorist tense.

[778] Winer-Moulton's Grammar of N.T. Greek (8th ed., 1877).

[779] aorist tense.

[780] subjunctive mood.

[781] Meyer's Critical and Exegetical Commentary (Eng. Trans.).

“And I shall know (take cognisance of) not the word of those that are puffed up (pf. pass [782] ptp [783], of settled state), but their power.” “ γνώσομαι : verbum judiciale; paternam ostendit potestatem” (Bg [784]). High-flown pretensions P. ignores; he will test their “power,” and estimate each man (he is thinking mainly of the ἐποικοδομοῦντες of chap. 3) by what he can do, not say. The “power” in question is that belonging to “the kingdom of God” (1Co 1:18; 1 Corinthians 1:24; 1 Corinthians 2:4).

[782] passive voice.

[783] participle

[784] Bengel's Gnomon Novi Testamenti.

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Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

1 Corinthians 4:18-19

Old Testament

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