1 Corinthians 16:10

Now if Timotheus come, see that he may be with you without fear: for he worketh the work of the Lord, as I also do. NOW - rather, But. Timothy was not the bearer of the letter: for, it would not then be said, 'IF Timothy come.' He must have been sent by Paul from Ephesus before this letter was written, to accord with 1 Corinthians 4:17; yet the passage here implies that Paul did not expect him to arrive at Corinth until after the letter was received. He tells them how to treat him "if" he should arrive. Acts 19:21 clears up the difficulty: Timothy, when sent from Ephesus, where this letter was written, did not proceed direct to Corinth, but went first to Macedonia; thus though sent before the letter, he might not reach Corinth until after it was r...

10._But if Timothy come. _He speaks as if he were not as yet certain as to his coming. Now he charges them as to Timothy, so that he may be with them in safety — not as though he were in danger of his life among them, but because he would have enemies of Christ (166) to oppose him. He wishes, therefore, that they should carefully take heed that no injury be done to him. He adds the reason — for he _worketh the work of the Lord _Hence we infer, that the Church of Christ ought to be concerned for the preservation of the lives of ministers. And assuredly, it is reasonable, that, in proportion as an individual is endowed with superior gifts for the edification of believers, and applies himself to it the more strenuously, his life ought to be so much dearer to us. The clause — _as I also do, _is made use of, either to express his _excellence, _or simply to point out the similarity as to

10-12 Timothy came to do the work of the Lord. Therefore to vex his spirit, would be to grieve the Holy Spirit; to despise him, would be to despise Him that sent him. Those who work the work of the Lord, should be treated with tenderness and respect. Faithful ministers will not be jealous of each other. It becomes the ministers of the gospel to show concern for each other's reputation and usefulness....

Verse 1 Corinthians 16:10. _NOW, IF TIMOTHEUS COME_] Of Timothy we have heard before, 1 Corinthians 4:17. And we learn, from Acts 19:22, that Paul sent him with _Erastus_ from Ephesus to Macedonia. It is evident, therefore, in opposition to the very exceptionable _subscription_ at the end of this epistle, that the epistle itself was _not_ sent by Timothy, as there stated. _THAT HE MAY BE WITH YOU WITHOUT FEAR_] That he may be treated well, and not perplexed and harassed with your divisions and jealousies; for _he worketh the work of the Lord_-he is Divinely appointed, as I also am....

NOW IF TIMOTHEUS COME - Paul had sent Timothy to them (see the note at 1 Corinthians 4:17), but as he had many churches to visit, it was not absolutely certain that he would go to Corinth. MAY BE WITH YOU WITHOUT FEAR - Let him be received kindly and affectionately. Timothy was then a young man; Acts 16:1; 1 Timothy 4:12. There might be some danger that he might feel himself embarrassed among the rich, the frivilous, and the great. Paul, therefore, asks them to encourage him, to receive him kindly, and not to embarrass him. Perhaps, also, there may be some reference to the false teachers whom Timothy might be called on to oppose. They wer

EXPOSITION 1 CORINTHIANS 16:1 _Directions and arrangements._ 1 CORINTHIANS 16:1 NOW CONCERNING THE COLLECTION FOR THE SAINTS. "The saints" are here the poor Christians at Jerusalem (Romans 15:26). The subject weighed much on St. Paul's mind. First, there was real need for their charity, for at Jerusalem there was as sharp a contrast between the lots of the rich and poor as there is in London, and the "poor saints," being the poorest of the poor (James 2:5), must have often been in deep distress. Not many years before this time, in

NOW IF TIMOTHEUS COME,.... The apostle had sent him already, as appears from 1 Corinthians 4:17 and he was now gone from him; but whether he might not be prevented by unforeseen incidents in his journey, he could not say; and therefore speaks cautiously of his coming; from whence it is evident, that this epistle was not sent by Timothy, as the subscription to it suggests. SEE THAT HE MAY BE WITH YOU WITHOUT FEAR; should he come to them, the apostle desires they would take care of him, that he might be safe and secure from enemies of every sort, of which there were many at Corinth; who, as they were of a malignant disposition to him, would use a disciple of his ill: and these were not only, or so much, infidels and profane sinners, but false teachers, and the factions under them, and especially they of the circumcision. For he worketh the work of

2. EXHORTATIONS AND CONCLUSION. CHAPTER 16 _ 1. Concerning Collections. (1 Corinthians 16:1)_ 2. Ministry. (1 Corinthians 16:5) 3. Greetings. (1 Corinthians 16:19) First, in concluding this Epistle, he writes them about collections for the Saints. The same directions, he had given to the assemblies in Galatia. The collection for the Saints was to be taken on the first day of the week in connection with the remembrance of Him who had said, “it is more blessed to give than to receive.” He did not want to have any collections when he came, His presence might have influenced them in some way and he wanted to avoid this. How different is the collecti

1 CORINTHIANS 16. VARIOUS BUSINESS AND PERSONAL MATTERS. SALUTATION. First (1 Corinthians 16:1) he gives instructions as to the collection for the poor Christians at Jerusalem (2 Corinthians 8 f.*, Romans 15:25; Acts 24:17, p. 771). The Church had apparently consulted him on the matter. We have no information as to the injunctions given to the Galatian churches. Every Sunday something should be laid by at home for the purpose. This is the first indication we have of any special importance being attached to Sunday. The term the Lord's day (Revelation 1:10) had not apparently as yet come into use. The term Day of the Sun, w

With regard to the collection for the people of Christ, do you too follow the instructions which I gave to the Churches of Galatia. Every first day of the week each of you must put by and save up whatever his prosperity demands, so that there may be no need to take collections when I arrive. Whenever I arrive, I will send whoever you approve by letter to take your gifts to Jerusalem. If it is fitting for me to go, too, they will travel with me. I will come to you after I have passed through Macedonia. Possibly I may stay with you, or I may even spend the winter with you so that you may speed me on my way wherever I go. I do not want to see you now in the passing, for I hope to stay some time with you, if the Lord permits it. I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost, for a great and effective door stands open to me, although my opponents are many. If Timothy comes, see that he may be able t...