1 Corinthians 4:20

Tyndale New Testament

for ye kyngdome of God is not in wordes but in power.

Parallel Translations

Simplified Cowboy Version
God's outfit ain't about big talk, but a big walk. Big talkers rely on their power, but cowboys rely on God's power.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
For the kingdom of God does not consist in words but in power.

Legacy Standard Bible
For the kingdom of God does not consist in words but in power.

Bible in Basic English
For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power.

Darby Translation
For the kingdom of God [is] not in word, but in power.

Christian Standard Bible®
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.

World English Bible
For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
For the kingdom of God is not in speech, but in power.

Weymouth's New Testament
For Apostolic authority is not a thing of words, but of power.

King James Version (1611)
For the kingdome of God is not in word, but in power.

Literal Translation
For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
For the kyngdome of God is not i wordes, but in power.

Mace New Testament (1729)
for the gospel dispensation does not consist in talk, but in power.

Amplified Bible
For the kingdom of God is not based on talk but on power.

American Standard Version
For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.

Revised Standard Version
For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power.

Update Bible Version
For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.

Webster's Bible Translation
For the kingdom of God [is] not in word, but in power.

Young's Literal Translation
for not in word is the reign of God, but in power?

New Century Version
because the kingdom of God is present not in talk but in power.

New English Translation
For the kingdom of God is demonstrated not in idle talk but with power.

Berean Standard Bible
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.

Contemporary English Version
God's kingdom isn't just a lot of words. It is power.

Complete Jewish Bible
For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of words but of power.

English Standard Version
For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power.

Geneva Bible (1587)
For the kingdome of God is not in worde, but in power.

George Lamsa Translation
For the kingdom of God is not in the word, but in power.

Hebrew Names Version
For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.

International Standard Version
for the kingdom of God isn't just talk but power.1 Corinthians 2:4; 1 Thessalonians 1:5;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
For the kingdom of Aloha is not in word, but in power.

Murdock Translation
for the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.

New King James Version
For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power.

New Living Translation
For the Kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk; it is living by God's power.

New Life Bible
The holy nation of God is not made up of words. It is made up of power.

English Revised Version
For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.

New Revised Standard
For the kingdom of God depends not on talk but on power.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
For, not in speech, is the kingdom of God, but, in power.

Douay-Rheims Bible
For the kingdom of God is not in speech, but in power.

King James Version
For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.

Lexham English Bible
For the kingdom of God is not with talk, but with power.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
For the kyngdome of God is not in worde, but in power.

Easy-to-Read Version
God's kingdom is not seen in talk but in power.

New American Standard Bible
For the kingdom of God is not in words, but in power.

Good News Translation
For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of words but of power.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
For the rewme of God is not in word, but in vertu.

Contextual Overview

¹⁷ For this cause have I sent vnto you Timotheus which is my deare sonne and faithfull in the Lorde which shall put you in remembrauce of my wayes which I have in Christ eve as I teache every where in all congregacios. ¹⁸ Some swell as though I wolde come no more at you. ¹⁹ But I will come to you shortely yf God will: and will knowe not ye wordes of the which swell but ye power: ²⁰ for ye kyngdome of God is not in wordes but in power. ²¹ What will ye? Shall I come vnto you with a rodde or els in love and in the sprete of mekenes?

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

1 Corinthians 1:24, 1 Corinthians 2:4, Romans 1:16, Romans 14:17, Romans 15:19, 2 Corinthians 10:4, 2 Corinthians 10:5, 1 Thessalonians 1:5

Reciprocal: 2 Corinthians 10:11 - such

Cross-References

John 8:44
Ye are of youre father the devyll and the lustes of youre father ye will folowe. He was a murtherer from the beginnynge and aboode not in the trueth because ther is no trueth in him. When he speaketh a lye then speaketh he of his awne. For he is a lyar and the father therof.

Hebrews 11:9
By fayth he removed into the londe yt was promysed him as into a straunge countre and dwelt in tabernacles: and so dyd Isaac and Iacob heyres with him of the same promes.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

For the kingdom of God,.... By "the kingdom of God" is not meant the kingdom of heaven, or the ultimate glory and happiness of the saints; though that is a kingdom prepared by God, which he gives to his children, calls them to by his grace, and will give them an abundant entrance into, when time shall be no more with them; and though that is not attained to "in", or "by word", by mere talk and profession; not everyone that says Lord, Lord, shall enter into it; or that professes the name of Christ, and prophesies in it; but "in" or "by power"; through the power of God, beginning, carrying on, and finishing a work of grace upon the soul, and keeping it, through faith, unto salvation: nor the kingdom of grace, or that internal principle of grace in the soul, which reigns, and by which Christ reigns there, and by which the saints appear to be kings as well as priests unto God: though this also does not lie "in word", in a profession of faith, in talking about love, and in making pretensions to the knowledge of divine things; nor merely in deeds, and outward actions, in bodily exercise, in a form of godliness, and a round of religion, and a show of righteousness;

but in power: in internal powerful godliness; for true godliness is a powerful thing; faith is powerful, and so is love; and so is prayer, and preaching; and so is all religion, internal and external, where there is the life and truth of grace, and that in exercise. But I rather think the Gospel is here meant, often in Scripture called the kingdom of God, and the doctrines of it, the mysteries of the kingdom; because it is a message from the King of kings; the means of setting up the kingdom or grace in the heart; its subjects are things concerning the kingdom of God; it is what has brought life and immortality, or an immortal life to light; and gives the best account of the invisible glories of the heavenly state, and points out the saints' meetness for it, and title to it; declaring that except a man is born again, and has a better righteousness than his own, even that of Christ's, he shall neither see nor enter into the kingdom of heaven. Now the Gospel is not in "word"; though it lies in the word of God, the Scriptures of truth: and treats of the essential word of God, the Lord Jesus Christ; and cannot be preached without words, even the words of men; yet is not to be preached with wisdom of words, with enticing words of man's wisdom, or in the words which man's wisdom teacheth; nor does the efficacy of it lie in, or depend upon the words of the preacher, or on mere moral persuasion: for whenever it is effectual, it comes not "in word only, but also in power"; 1 Thessalonians 1:5 and by "power" is meant, not a power of working miracles the first preachers of the Gospel had, and by which it was greatly confirmed; nor a godly life and conversation which that enforced upon, and engaged both ministers and people to; but the powerful efficacy of the Spirit, attending the preaching of the Gospel to the quickening of dead sinners, the enlightening of blind eyes, and unstopping of deaf ears; the softening of hard hearts, the delivering of persons from the slavery of sin and Satan, the transforming and renewing of them both inwardly and outwardly; and to the comforting, enlivening, strengthening, and establishing of the saints; all which can never be ascribed to the persuasive language of men, but to the power of God; and which is the more apparent when it is observed what mean and despicable instruments in the eyes of men are made use of: what the doctrines are that are preached, not being of man, nor agreeably to his carnal reason, but esteemed foolishness by him; and the manner in which they are propagated, not in a carnal way, by outward force, but by the foolishness of preaching: and the opposition made to it both by the enmity of man's heart unto it, by the men of the world, and by Satan and his principalities and powers.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

For the kingdom of God - The reign of God in the church (see the note at Matthew 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 1 Corinthians 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.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 20. 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.