1 Corinthians 4:18 - Exposition

Are puffed up; rather, were puffed up; at the time that they made these disparaging comparisons of me with others. As though I would not come to you; rather, as though I were not coming to you. St. Paul was on the eve of starting for Macedonia on his way to visit them ( 1 Corinthians 16:5 ), but, owing to the grievous state of the Church, he subsequently changed his purpose ( 2 Corinthians 1:15 , 2 Corinthians 1:23 ). When he left them he had promised to return, "if God wilt" ( Acts 18:21 ). His many enemies and critics were likely to say, "He is afraid to come himself, and so he sends Timothy." They flattered themselves that he was alarmed by their culture and intellectualism.