1 Corinthians 16:19-24

Applebury's Comments

Paul's Closing Words (19-24)

Text

1 Corinthians 16:19-24. The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Prisca salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house. 20 All the brethren salute you. Salute one another with a holy kiss.

21 The salutation of me Paul with mine own hand. 22 If any man loveth not the Lord, let him be anathema. Maranatha. 23 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you. 24 My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Commentary

The churches of Asia.Paul had opened the epistle with a reference to the saints who call upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ in every place (1 Corinthians 1:2). In sending greetings from Ephesus and the churches of the other cities of Asia, Paul was showing the brethren at Corinth something of the meaning of fellowship in the churches of the saints. Corinth was not alone; what he taught them, he had taught in all the churches (1 Corinthians 11:16; 1 Corinthians 14:33).

Aquila and Prisca.This is the couple with whom Paul labored when he first came to Corinth (Acts 18:1-4). They sailed with him when he left Corinth and came to Ephesus where Paul left them (Acts 18:18-19). They were responsible for having expounded the way of God more accurately to Apollos (Acts 18:26). It is fitting that he should include their greeting to the church at Corinth. When he wrote to the church at Rome, he sent his own greetings to them for they had moved back to that city. He called them his fellow-workers in Christ Jesus and mentioned the fact that they had laid down their own neck for his life (Romans 16:3-4).

the church that is in their house.This phrase is in the Roman letter also (Romans 16:5). It gives some insight into the effort of this faithful couple to promote the gospel wherever they lived. In the absence of church buildings, the church gathered in their house. The church did not always meet in homes. Paul started his preaching in many cities in the synagogues of the Jews. At Ephesus, he separated the disciples and reasoned daily in the school of Tyrannus (Acts 19:9-10). The place of meeting seems to have been a matter of expediency; the church was the temple of God where the Spirit of God dwelt (1 Corinthians 3:16-17).

Salute one another with a holy kiss.This was the custom of Paul's day. Our culture suggests the handshake. The principle of friendly greeting between Christians is that which matters. Only such as deny the teaching of Christ are to be denied this greeting (2 John 1:9-10).

The salutation of me Paul with mine own hand.This the mark of genuineness in Paul's epistles. See 2 Thessalonians 3:17; Galatians 6:11.

If any man love not the Lord.We cannot be sure that he had in mind any specific individual. This is a general warning similar to the one in the Galatian letter (Galatians 1:8-9). He had already warned them about evil companionships (1 Corinthians 15:33). Anathema means accursed or devoted to destruction. Paul was careful not to lend approval to the enemies of the Lord. See 1 Corinthians 5:11; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Philippians 3:17-19.

Maranatha.This Aramaic word must have been something like a watchword to the early Christian. Paul did not translate it for the Corinthians. This shows they knew what it meant: Our Lord Come! How much have we lost by letting this word drop from our vocabulary? It is like the prayer of John at the close of Revelation: Come, Lord Jesus (Revelation 22:20).

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you.The epistle closes as it began with a prayer for God's unmerited favor to be with His people.

My love be with you all in Christ Jesus.This affectionate, personal, Christian word was to assure the church to whom he had written in serious words about problems that beset them that the apostle loved all his brethren in the Lord. Amen.

Summary

Paul had been deeply concerned over the problems that had confronted the church at Corinth. He had written to them as the inspired apostle of Christ to give authoritative directives for the correction of the sinful practices that had been allowed to develop in the church. He had advised them as one who was worthy to be trusted. He had admonished them as a father would have done. It is in the closing chapter of the epistle, however, that we get a deeper insight into his personal feeling for all the brethren at Corinth as well as his fellow-workers elsewhere.
His concern for the suffering saints in Judea comes first in the brief statement about matters that lie close to his heart. He had already given instruction to the churches in Galatia about the collection for the saints. He had sent his co-laborers to tell the Macedonians to be ready to help those in need. He was depending also on the Corinthians to prove their love for the brethren in Judea.
He asked each one to have a part in this effort. Each one was to set aside an amount on the first day of every week as he might prosper. This was to avoid gathering up the funds after Paul arrived.
Paul was careful in handling the funds of the Lord. The brethren were to appoint those who were to carry their bounty to Jerusalem. Paul would send letters of introduction to the brethren in Jerusalem, or, if it seemed best, he would have the brethren travel with him.
He was planning to come to Corinth after going through Macedonia, where he would encourage the brethren to help in the offerings. He hoped to spend the winter at Corinth, if the Lord permitted. He was planning to remain in Ephesus until Pentecost, for a great door of opportunity to further the cause of the gospel was open to him and there were many adversaries.
Perhaps in no place are we to see the respect, admiration and love which Paul had for his fellow-workers in the Lord than in his remarks about Timothy, the young man who had been his traveling companion in so many places and who was soon to come to Corinth on a mission for him. He was eager to have the brethren receive Timothy in a manner that would allow him to be with them without fear. No one was to despise him. They were to help him on his journey which would bring him back to Paul.
Paul had been urging Apollos to make the trip to Corinth, but he was not ready to do so. But as soon as he had opportunity he would visit them.
Suddenly, it seems, there flashed upon the mind of Paul the vision of the church at Corinth going forth as an army to fight the good fight of the faith. He could see them ready to press the battle to victory. He issues orders for the battle: Watch ye. Stand fast in the faith. Quit you like men. Be strong. But this is no ordinary fight and he adds, Let all that ye do be done in love.
He called their attention to the house of Stephanas as an example for them to follow. It is important to line up with the right kind of people. These were among the first converts at Corinth. They had set for themselves the goal of serving the saints. The visit of Stephanas, Fortunatos, and Achaicus had refreshed him. He was confident that the whole church had been blessed in sending these to see him.
It was time to close the epistle. Greetings from the churches in Asia and from Aquila and Prisca and the church in their house are written. All the brethren are sending greetings. Then he adds, Greet one another with a holy kiss.
Now he is signing the letter as he sends his own greetings. But once again he is reminded of those who had caused so much trouble in the church and he hastily writes, If any man love not the Lord, let him be anathema.
The mention of the love of the Lord may have prompted him to add this watchword of the early church, MaranathaOur Lord, come. Then he added, The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Still he could not close the letter without this last word, My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.