1 Corinthians 16

NOw concerning the collection for the Saints The business of relieving the poor Members of the Church, is a moral Duty, a Sacrifice with which God is well pleased; our Faith must work by this Love. The Apostle, in several Epistles, was very sollicitous about this: he mentioneth it Rom. 15.26. Gal. 2.10. as well as in this Epistle. Besides, that our Saviour had foretold, That the state of the Church would be such, that they should have the poor always with them. Agabus, Acts 11.28. had prophesied of a Famine, which (some think) raged at this time; and besides, the Persecution at Ierusalem had scattered the Brethren abroad, and being out of their Country and imployments, they could not but be at a loss for a livelihood; and so need the charitable contribution of other Churches under better circumstances, as they were at this time in Greece. The Churches of Galatia and Macedonia had been very liberal this way; and the Apostle, by their Example, quickens the Churches both at Rome and Corinth, Rom 15.26. 2 Cor. 8.4., as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye As to this he had (as he says) given order to the Churches of Galatia, which, it is thought, he did in his journey through Galatia, Acts 16.6. and he ordereth the Church at Corinth to follow that Order, which followeth..

Upon the first day of the week From hence both divers of the Ancients, and very many late Divines, argue for the change of the Sabbath from the seventh day of the week to the first. It is plain from hence, that the Gospel-Churches were wont to assemble upon that day, (nor do we read in Scripture of any Assembly of Christians for religious Worship on any other day.) On this day the Apostle orders Collections for the poor Saints to be made, accordingly as God had prospered any in their imployments; he directeth that they should every one lay by him something, not doing what he did with any oftentation, but having it ready when it should be called for: this he calls a Treasuring, (so it is in the Greek) treasuring; monies laid by for charitable uses are Treasures, both with respect to those for whom they are laid up, and also for our selves; for he that giveth to the poor, layeth up for himself Treasures in Heaven., let every one of you lay by him in store, as God has prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come He would have no gatherings when he came, either to avoid the scandal of his being chargeable to them, or that he would have no delay; but when he came, it might be in a readiness to be presently sent away..

And when I come, whomsoever you shall approve by your letters, them will I send to bring your liberality to Jerusalem The word here translated Liberality, is the same which signifieth Grace; their Charity is called by that Name, either because it flowed from their free Love towards their poor Brethren, (though living at a great distance from them;) or because their sense of the free Love and Grace of God to them, was that which moved them to that charitable act, 2 Cor. 8.9..

And if it be meet that I go also, they shall go with me To incourage them to the freer and more liberal Contribution, he promiseth them himself to go along with those that carried it, (if it were thought meet.).

Now I will come unto you, when I shall pass through Macedonia: For I do pass through Macedonia Whether Paul, according to this promise, did go to Corinth, some question; because of what we read, 2 Cor. 1.15, 16. But others think, that he speaketh there of another journey which he intended thither; and that he did go in a fulfilling of this promise, because we read, Acts 19. that he went into Achaia, and spent there a considerable time; during which, it is very probable that he did not omit to visit the Church of Corinth..

And it may be that I will abide, yea, and winter with you, that you may bring me on my journey whithersoever I go He did stay in Macedonia three months, Acts 20.3. but it is believed some things hindered him, that he did not winter at Corinth. It was the custom for some Members of the Gospel-Churches, to accompany the Apostles some part of their way when they went from them to any other places, Acts 15.3. & 17.15. & 20.38. in token of their kindness and respect to them..

For I will not see you now by the way, but I trust to tarry a while with you, if the Lord permit I will not see you in my passage into Macedonia, for then I shall have no time to stay long with you; and I hope to gain a time when I shall stay longer with you; but all this must be understood with submission to Gods Will, who can hinder, and order my journies, and determine my purposes as he pleaseth. Iames teaches us, when we declare our resolutions to go to this or that place, to add, If God will; and our Apostle observeth that Rule, Rom. 1.10..

But I will tarry at Ephesus until Pentecost He altered this resolution afterward; for, Acts 20.16. be hasted, if it were possible, to get to Ierusalem by Pentecost. Pentecost was a Jewish Feast, and not named here as a Feast then celebrated by Christians, but as a known period of time; for the Jews computing time from their Festivals, Christians who lived amongst them, and had some of them been converted from their Religion, computed also their time from the Jewish Festivals..

For a great door and effectual is opened to me For God has opened to me at Ephesus a great opportunity to preach the Gospel, which I have reason to hope will also be effectual for the Conversion of many Souls. What this door of hope was, whether God had let him know there were many Souls in that place prepared for receiving the Gospel; or that some eminent Persons for Authority or Learning, whom many were like to follow, were there already converted; or that he looked upon that famous City as like to be a place where many might be converted, is not told us., and there are many adversaries And (says the Apostle) there are many Adversaries, (as it will appear to those that read Acts 19, & 20.) therefore there was need of the presence of the Apostle himself, whose Authority might better stop their mouths, than the more inferior Pastors could. What would have affrighted others from going or staying there, this great Apostle mentions as an Argument to cause him to make haste to go thither, and to tarry there for some time..

Now if Timotheus come, see that he may be with you without fear He had told them, Chap. 4.17. That he had sent Timothy unto them, whom he there calleth his beloved Son, and faithful in the Lord. Here he bespeaketh his welcome and security. It is probable he had it in Commission from Paul to visit divers others Churches in his journey to them; and therefore he speaketh of his coming as uncertain, but chargeth them, that if he did come, they would take care of him, that he might not be exposed to danger or trouble from any Party amongst them.: for he worketh the work of the Lord, as I also do For (says he) he is a Minister of the Gospel, and ingaged in the same work of the Lord that I am..

Let no man therefore despise him Either, because he is a very young man, 1 Tim. 4.12, 13. or upon any other account.: but conduct him forth in peace, that he may come unto me But when he cometh away, show him the respect you use to show me, conduct him in his way.; for I look for him with the brethren For I have need of his help here, in carrying on the business of the Gospel; and therefore I with the Brethren here expect him; or I expect him with the rest of the Brethren, who are in like manner imployed abroad in carrying about the Gospel..

As touching our brother Apollos, I greatly desired him to come unto you with the brethren, but his will was not at all to come at this time: but he will come when he shall have a convenient time Apollos (as may be seen Acts 18.27.) was known to them, and had been a Preacher amongst them, and was grateful to many of them; he was an eloquent man, mighty in the Scriptures, instructed in the way of the Lord, and ervent in the Spirit, Acts 18.24, 25, 26, 27, 28. he was one of those from whom some of this Church denominated themselves, Chap. 3.4. For these reasons Paul would have persuaded him to go and visit this Church (which some think that he had left, because of those contentions and divisions, which were amongst them) but he had no mind to go at that time; though it is said, that he afterwards did return again to them, when Paul, by his Epistle, had quieted those divisions, and allayed their heats..

Watch ye Watching, in its usual acception, signifieth a forbearing of sleep; and that in order to some End. Sin is set out under the notion of Sleep, Eph. 5.14. so that spiritual watching signifies a diligent abstaining from sin, and from whatsoever may be to us a temptation to sin against God, in order to the perfecting of Holiness, and the obtaining life and immortality., stand fast in the faith Be steady in the profession of the Truth, and holding close to the Doctrine of Faith., quit you like men: be strong You are as Souldiers fighting against the World, the Flesh, and the Devil; do not behave your selves like children, whom the least opposition will terrifie and throw down; but like men, with a spiritual courage and fortitude, becoming such who have so good a Captain, and so good a Cause.

Let all your things be done with charity Charity (as has been before discoursed) is a term comprehensive both of Love to God, and to our Neighbour; the failure of this in their divisions and contentions, and satisfying their own judgments and humors, without regard to the Consciences of others, and having no regard to the profit of others, is that which the Apostle, in this Epistle, had once and again blamed in the Members of this Church; in the conclusion of his Epistle, he therefore again recommends to them the getting and exercising of this habit..

I beseech you, brethren, ye know the houshold of Stephanas, that it is the first-fruits of Achaia Of this Stephanas we read before Chap. 1.16. his Family was one of those few Families which Paul baptized: he is here called the First-fruits of Achaia, because (as it should seem) he was one of the first of all those who in that Country received the Gospel., and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the Saints He further says of him, That he had given up himself to the Ministry of the Saints, either in preaching the Gospel, or (which is more probable) in the proper imployment of a Deacon, in relieving such amongst the Saints (whether of that, or other Churches) that were in want..

That ye submit your selves unto such, and to every one that helpeth with us, and laboureth He adviseth them to reverence him, and all such as were helpers and labourers of that nature, and wrought with the Apostles in the work of the Gospel..

I am glad of the coming of Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus: for that which was lacking on your part, they have supplied.

For they have refreshed my spirit and yours: therefore acknowledge ye them that are such It should seem that this Church had sent these three Persons to Paul at this time (as most think) at Ephesus, to acquaint him with the state of their Churches; these men supplied the want of that whole Churches coming, or they made a report to the Apostle of the Corinthians more fully, than they had done in their Letters. He adds, That they had refreshed his Spirit, not with bringing him any money, (for the Apostle has told us, Chap. 9.15. that he gloried in this, That he had preached the Gospel to them freely, without being any charge to them) but by their visit, and the Conference that he had had with them about the state of that Church. The Apostle addeth, That they had refreshed their Spirits also; intimating, that their joy was his, and that what was a refreshing to him, ought also to be so to them: he therefore recommendeth these men, and such as they were, to be reverenced and respected by this Church..

The churches of Asia salute you He meaneth the lesser Asi; in which was Ephesus; from whence it is more probable, (according to the Arabick and Syriack Opinion) that this Epistle was written, than from Philippi, (according to the Copy followed by our Translators) And that which further adds to that probability, is, That: Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord the Apostle mentioneth the Salutations of Aquila and Priscilla, as persons that were at that time with him; now that they lived at Ephesus, or at least went thither with Paul, and tarried there, appeareth from Acts 18.19. their saluting the Church of Corinth in the Lord, signifies their wishing them all spiritual blessings in, and from Christ., with the church that is in their house But what is meant by the Church in their house, which joyned with Paul in this Salutation, is not so plain: we read the like, Col. 4.15. of the Church in Nymphas his house; and in Philemon's house, v. 2. and the same again of this Aquila and Priscilla, Rom. 16.5. Some think that it signifieth no more, than that their whole Families had received the Christian Faith. Others think, that divers other Christians sojourned with them; others, that the Church was wont to meet in some room in their house: but the last is not probable, either that in those times the Church kept their Meetings in any one stated place, or that Christians then had such spacious houses as could afford a room large enough for the whole Church to meet in..

All the Brethren greet you: Greet you one another with an holy kiss This proveth no more, than that as it is in use with us, to salute one another with a kiss when we meet; so it was in use in those Times and Countries to do the like, in token of Love and Friendship. It is called the Kiss of Love, 1 Pet. 5.14. The Apostle requireth, that in these Salutations they should have chast and holy thoughts. This seemeth to be all meant by the Holy Kiss, mentioned Rom. 16.16. 2 Cor. 13.12. 1 Thess. 5.26. and here..

The salutation of me Paul with my own hand These words are judged to signifie to us, that though the former part of the Epistle was written out of Pauls Copy by some others; yet the three last verses were wrote by him with his own hand..

If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ Love is an affection of the heart, but discernable by overt acts; the meaning is, If any man, by any notorious acts, declareth that he loveth not the Lord Jesus, whether he be an Hypocrite owning the Name of Christ, but living in a contempt of, and disobedience to his Commandments; or an Apostate, who shows his want of love to Christ, by denying him in an hour of danger and persecution; or an open Enemy and Persecutor of Christ and his Gospel., let him be Anathema, Maran-atha Let him be accursed, let him be looked upon as a detestable and abominable person. Some tell us, That the Jews having three Excommunications, this word signifieth their highest degree, by which the person was given up to the Judgment and Vengeance of God: But others say, there is no such term to be found among them, and that the term Maran-atha signifies no more than, The Lord is come. Let the Jews and other vain persons say what they will, the Lord is come; and if any love him not, let him be looked on as a detestable person..

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you That is, the Lord Jesus favour you, and bless you with all spiritual Blessings; this is the Apostles ordinary Salutation, Rom. 16.24..

My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen As I love you, so I desire to be again beloved of you in Christ sincerely. Or I love you all in Christ, and for Christs sake; or I wish that my Love may abide in, and with you..

¶ The first epistle to the Corinthians was written from Philippi by Stephanas, and Fortunatus, and Achaicus, and Timotheus. These words are no part of Scripture; and (as was said before) it is much more probable, that this Epistle was wrote from Ephesus than from Philippi, though it might be sent by these, or some of these men named.