1 Corinthians 16 - Introduction

DIVISION VI. BUSINESS, NEWS, AND GREETINGS, 16. The Ap. has delivered his mind to the Cor [2592] upon the questions which prompted this great Ep. He had reserved to the last the profound and solemn problem of the Future Life, in its treatment of which the conceit of intellect and the moral levity that spoiled this powerful Greek Church found their most characteristic expression. To the defence and exposition of the Christian hope of the Resurrection of the Body P. has devoted in chap. 15. all his powers of dialectic and of theological construction, bringing his argument to the glorious conclusion with which, in § 56, the thought of the Ep. culminates. He has thus carried his readers far away from the Cor [2593] atmosphere of jealousy and debate, of sensuality and social corruption, infecting their Church, to seat them in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. There remain a few matters of personal interest, to be disposed of in two or three paragraphs concerning the collection for Jerusalem (1 Corinthians 16:1-4), his own and Timothy's intended visits, and the invitation declined by Apollos (1 Corinthians 16:5-12). These are followed by an energetic final exhortation, into which is woven a commendation of Stephanas and other Cor [2594] now with P. (1 Corinthians 16:13-18), and by the epistolary salutations which are full and animated, a word of severe warning being attached to his own affectionate greeting and autograph signature (1 Corinthians 16:19-24).

[2592] Corinth, Corinthian or Corinthians.

[2593] Corinth, Corinthian or Corinthians.

[2594] Corinth, Corinthian or Corinthians.