Yes there was in reference to the secular world we live in but not in the “church”.
>>and thus they disciplined souls and threatened to use their spiritual rod of correction on false leadership and those disobedient to Scripture. (1Cor. 4:18-21)<<
You certainly read that differently than I do. Look at what Paul says.
1 Corinthians 4:17 For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church. 18 Now some are puffed up, as though I would not come to you. 19 But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power. 20 For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power. 21 What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?
The entire passage starting in the previous chapter is a dispute about who is supposed to be a leader or who has power and authority. He begins in Chapter 3 mentioning the contention that some say they believe one man is the leader and others say another man is leader. Then in Chapter 4 he begins with this.
1 Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
He calls them “stewards”, someone who is responsible for maintaining the purity of “the mysteries of God”. He’s not claiming authority over people but simply the responsibility of maintaining the purity of the Gospel. He then continues to show that they are not to think in terms of “authority” over people.
6 And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.
There was obviously a problem already with people trying to establish a hierarchy of “authority” over people. Paul was saying that’s not the way it’s supposed to be. He then tells who actually has the power.
20 For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.
The “authority” and “power” is not in the man or leader but in God. The “leadership” is only a “steward” of that “purity of the word” handed down from God. I believe the statement that you contend shows Paul believes gives them “authority” or “leadership” is actually a statement questioning whether the Corinthians actually want a hierarchy which is not authorized and contrary to what the church is to be or if they should come in “the spirit of love, and in the spirit of meekness” as Christ told them when He said “but with you it is not so” and told them that the greatest will be the least.
I believe that in Chapters 3 and 4 Paul is showing that the attitude that there are somehow “leaders” who have “authority” or “positions of power” is wrong. History has shown that the concept of “leadership” is not part of the church. The statement “power corrupts” has been proven over and over and Christ meant for that “power” to be His alone and any attempt of men to grasp any of that “power” is contrary to what He taught.
The responsibility to faithfully maintain and spread the pure message is in the “elected” elders who become stewards of the “message” if you will but not stewards of men.
The reproof was by one in authority, and its nature was not against leaders having such, which other quoted texts support, Scripturally exercised as the apostles exampled as sacrificial servants, but against thinking of men beyond what is written, leading to sectarianism, primarily cleaving to a leader or church at the expense of Christ according to what is written, which is the issue that should now be focused on here.