View 1st Corinthians 16 in the note window.
1: The saints - A more solemn and a more affecting word,
than if he had said, the poor.
2: Let every one - Not the rich only: let him also that
hath little, gladly give of that little. According as he hath
been prospered - Increasing his alms as God increases his
substance. According to this lowest rule of Christian
prudence, if a man when he has or gains one pound give a tenth
to God, when he has or gains an hundred he will give the tenth
of this also. And yet I show unto you a more excellent way.
He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. Stint yourself to
no proportion at all. But lend to God all you can.
4: They shall go with me - To remove any possible suspicion.
5: I pass through Macedonia - I purpose going that way.
7: I will not see you now - Not till I have been in Macedonia.
8: I will stay at Ephesus - Where he was at this time.
9: A great door - As to the number of hearers. And
effectual - As to the effects wrought upon them. And there are
many adversaries - As there must always be where Satan's kingdom
shakes. This was another reason for his staying there.
10: Without fear - Of any one's despising him for his
youth. For he worketh the work of the Lord - The true ground of
reverence to pastors. Those who do so, none ought to despise.
11: I look for him with the brethren - That accompany him.
12: I besought him much - To come to you. With the
brethren - Who were then going to Corinth. Yet he was by no
means willing to come now - Perhaps lest his coming should
increase the divisions among them.
13: To conclude. Watch ye - Against all your seen and
unseen enemies. Stand fast in the faith - Seeing and trusting
him that is invisible. Acquit yourselves like men - With courage
and patience. Be strong - To do and suffer all his will.
15: The first fruits of Achaia - The first converts in
that province.
16: That ye also - In your turn. Submit to such - So
repaying their free service. And to every one that worketh
with us and laboureth - That labours in the gospel either with
or without a fellow - labourer.
17: I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas, and
Fortunatus, and Achaiacus - Who were now returned to Corinth
but the joy which their arrival had occasioned remained still
in his heart. They have supplied what was wanting on your
part - They have performed the offices of love, which you could
not, by reason of your absence.
18: For they have refreshed my spirit and yours - Inasmuch
as you share in my comfort. Such therefore acknowledge - With
suitable love and respect.
19: Aquila and Priscilla had formerly made some abode
at Corinth, and there St. Paul's acquaintance with them began,(Ac 18:1,2).
21: With my own hand - What precedes having been wrote by
an amanuensis.
22: If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ - If any be
an enemy to his person, offices, doctrines, or commands. Let
him be Anathema. Maran - atha - Anathema signifies a thing devoted
to destruction. It seems to have been customary with the Jews
of that age, when they had pronounced any man an Anathema, to
add the Syriac expression, Maran - atha, that is, "The Lord
cometh;" namely, to execute vengeance upon him. This weighty
sentence the apostle chose to write with his own hand; and to
insert it between his salutation and solemn benediction, that
it might be the more attentively regarded.
