1 Corinthians 16

13. He shows that they ought to make their hopes of salvation to depend not on Apollos or any other teacher; that it rests with themselves. "Watch ye": for ye are slumbering. "Stand": for ye are like men tottering. "Quit you like men; be strong": for ye are effeminate ( 1 Corinthians 16:14 ). "Let all your things be done with charity" ( 1 Corinthians 8:1 , 13:1 ): not with strifes as at present [CHRYSOSTOM]. "In the faith" which was assailed by some ( 1 Corinthians 15:1 1 Corinthians 15:2 1 Corinthians 15:12-17 ).

15. first-fruits of Achaia--the first Achæan converts (compare Romans 16:5 ). The image is from the first-fruits offered to the Lord ( Leviticus 23:10 ; compare 1 Corinthians 15:20 ). The members of this family had been baptized by Paul himself ( 1 Corinthians 1:16 ).
addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints--Translate, "Set themselves, (that is, voluntarily) to minister unto the saints" (compare 2 Corinthians 8:4 ).

16. That ye--Translate, "That ye also," namely, in your turn . . . in return for their self-devotion [ALFORD].
helpeth with--them.
laboureth--by himself.

17. Fortunatus . . . Achaicus--probably of Stephanas' household.
that . . . lacking on your part--So far as you were unable yourselves to "refresh my spirit," in that you are absent from me, "they have supplied" by coming to me from you, and so supplying the means of intercourse between you and me. They seem to have carried this letter back; see the subscription below: hence the exhortations, 1 Corinthians 16:16 1 Corinthians 16:18 , as though they would be at Corinth when the Epistle arrived.

18. refreshed my spirit and yours--"yours" will be refreshed on receiving this letter, by knowing that "my spirit is refreshed" by their having come to me from you; and (perhaps) by the good report they gave of many of you ( 1 Corinthians 1:4-8 ); my refreshment of spirit redounds to yours, as being my disciples ( 2 Corinthians 7:13 ; compare Zechariah 6:8 ).
acknowledge--render them due acknowledgments by a kind reception of them: 1 Thessalonians 5:12 , "know" them in their true worth and treat them accordingly.

19. Asia--not all Asia Minor, but Lydian Asia only, of which Ephesus was the capital.
much--with especial affection.
Aquila . . . Priscilla--(Compare Acts 18:2 , Romans 16:3 Romans 16:4 ). Originally driven out of Italy by Claudius, they had come to Corinth (whence their salutation of the Corinthians is appropriate here), and then had removed with Paul from Corinth to Ephesus ( Acts 18:2 Acts 18:18 Acts 18:19 Acts 18:26 ); here, as at Rome subsequently, they set up a Church (or assembly of believers) at their house ( Romans 16:3 Romans 16:5 ). A pattern to Christian husbands and wives. Their Christian self-devoting love appears wherever they were ( Romans 16:3 Romans 16:4 ). Even the gifted Apollos, so highly admired at Corinth, owed much of his. knowledge to them ( Acts 18:24-26 ). In 1 Corinthians 16:20 , "All the brethren" (that is, the whole Church) seem to be distinguished from "the church that is in their house," which was but a partial and private assembly out of the general Church at Corinth. NEANDER thinks Romans 16:23 refers to "the whole Church" meeting at the house of Gaius (compare Colossians 4:15 ). "Synagogue" implies an assembly in general, without reference to the character or motives of its members. "Church," like the Hebrew Kahal, implies an assembly legally convened; as, for instance, the Jews met as a body politic to receive the law (hence Stephen calls it "the Church in the wilderness," Acts 7:38 ), and having a legal bond of union. Christ's followers when dispersed from one another cease to be a congregation (synagogue), but still are a Church, having the common bond of union to the same Head by the same faith and hope [VITRINGA, Synagogue and Temple]. From this we may explain Paul's entering "into every house and haling men and women": he would in searching for Christians go to their several "houses"' of prayer.
in the Lord--They pray for all blessings on you from the Lord, the source of every good [GROTIUS]. ALFORD explains, "in a Christian manner," as mindful of your common Lord. "In the Lord" seems to me to refer to their union together in Christ, their prayers for one another's good being in virtue of that union.

20. holy kiss--the token of the mutual love of Christians, especially at the Lord's Supper (compare Romans 16:16 , 1 Thessalonians 5:26 ), "in which all the dissensions of the Corinthians would be swallowed up" [BENGEL].

21. salutation . . . with mine own hand--He therefore dictated all the rest of the Epistle.

22. A solemn closing warning added in his own hand as in Ephesians 6:24 , Colossians 4:18 .
the Lord--who ought to be "loved" above Paul, Apollos, and all other teachers. Love to one another is to be in connection with love to Him above all. IGNATIUS [Epistle to the Romans, 7] writes of Christ, "My love, has been crucified" (compare Solomon 2:7 ).
Jesus Christ--omitted in the oldest manuscripts.
let him be Anathema--accursed with that curse which the Jews who call Jesus "accursed" ( 1 Corinthians 12:3 ) are bringing righteously on their own heads [BENGEL]. So far from "saluting" him, I bid him be accursed.
Maranatha--Syriac for, "the Lord cometh." A motto or watchword to urge them to preparedness for the Lord's coming; as in Philippians 4:5 , "The Lord is at hand."

23. The grace, &c.--This is the salutation meant in 1 Corinthians 16:21 ; and from which unbelievers ( 1 Corinthians 16:22 ; compare 2 John 1:10:11 ) are excluded [BENGEL].

24. My love, &c.--After having administered some severe rebukes, he closes with expressions of "love": his very rebukes were prompted by love, and therefore are altogether in harmony with the profession of love here made: it was love in Christ Jesus, and therefore embraced "all" who loved Him.

The subscription represents the Epistle as written from Philippi. 1 Corinthians 16:8 shows it was written at Ephesus. BENGEL conjectures that perhaps, however, it was sent from Philippi ( 1 Corinthians 16:5 ), because the deputies of the Corinthians had accompanied Paul thither. From Ephesus there was a road to Corinth above Philippi.