[The fraternal communism of the Jerusalem church (Acts 2:44-45; Acts 4:36-37; Acts 5:1), together with the political troubles, famines (Acts 11:28-30) and persecutions (Acts 8:1-4), all tended to impoverish the church in Judæa. To relieve this poverty and to bring about a more cordial feeling betwee... [ Continue Reading ]
Upon the first day of the week let each one of you lay by him in store, as he may prosper, that no collections be made when I come. [The word "thesaurizoon," translated "in store," means, literally, "put into the treasury;" and the phrase "par' heauto," translated "by him," may be taken as the neute... [ Continue Reading ]
And when I arrive, whomsoever ye shall approve, them will I send with letters to carry your bounty unto Jerusalem :... [ Continue Reading ]
and if it be meet for me to go also, they shall go with me. [Paul does not ask to be made custodian of the offering. He directs the church to appoint its own messengers to carry it, thus raising himself above all suspicion of misappropriation, and giving the church a new incentive to make a liberal... [ Continue Reading ]
But I will come unto you, when I shall have passed through Macedonia; for I [purpose to] _pass through Macedonia_;... [ Continue Reading ]
ut with you it may be that I shall abide, or even winter, that ye may set me forward on my journey whithersoever I go.... [ Continue Reading ]
For I do not wish to see you now by the way [merely as I pass through]; _for I hope to tarry a while with you, if the Lord permit_. [James 4:15; Acts 18:21; Hebrews 6:3; 1 Corinthians 4:19]... [ Continue Reading ]
But I will tarry at Ephesus until Pentecost;... [ Continue Reading ]
for a great door [the common metaphor expressing opportunity-- Acts 14:27; 2 Corinthians 2:12; Colossians 4:3; Revelation 3:8; Hosea 2:15] _and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries_. [For this success and the adversaries which it aroused see Acts 19:1-20. For the riot which it... [ Continue Reading ]
Now if Timothy come, see that he be with you without fear; for he worketh the work of the Lord, as I also do [1 Corinthians 14:17]:... [ Continue Reading ]
let no man therefore despise him [1 Timothy 4:12]. _But set him forward on his journey in peace, that he may come unto me: for I expect him with the brethren._ [Timothy, as we have seen, went the long route by way of Macedonia, no doubt visiting the churches as he journeyed. Soon after his departure... [ Continue Reading ]
But as touching Apollos the brother, I besought him much to come unto you with the brethren [with Titus, etc.]: _and it was not at all his will to come now; but he will come when he shall have opportunity_ [Apollos first comes to our notice at Ephesus (Acts 18:24-28) whence he went to Corinth just b... [ Continue Reading ]
Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.... [ Continue Reading ]
Let all that ye do be done in love. [In these brief, nervous phrases, Paul sums up the burden of his entire Epistle. The Corinthians were to be wakeful and not asleep (1 Corinthians 11:30; 1 Corinthians 15:33). They were to be steadfast, manly and strong (1 Corinthians 15:2; 1 Corinthians 15:58); th... [ Continue Reading ]
Now I beseech you, brethren _(ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia_ [i. e., my first converts in Greece-- 1 Corinthians 1:16], _and that they have set themselves to minister unto the saints)_,... [ Continue Reading ]
that ye also be in subjection unto such, and to every one that helpeth in the work and laboreth. [The apostle asks the Corinthians to be subject to their truly religious teachers, and picks out the family of Stephanas as a sample. This family was the first converted, and, consequently, probably the... [ Continue Reading ]
And I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus: for that which was lacking on your part they supplied.... [ Continue Reading ]
For they refreshed my spirit and yours: acknowledge ye therefore them that are such. [These were the messengers which bore the Corinthian letter to Paul. Of them we know nothing more. What Paul says of them here was probably written to keep the Corinthians from showing resentment toward them for hav... [ Continue Reading ]
The churches of Asia salute you. [These were the churches in the Roman province of Asia, of which Ephesus was the capital. Seven churches of this province are mentioned in the opening Chapter s of the Book of Revelation. They were in the western coast lands of Asia Minor.] _Aquila and Priscilla salu... [ Continue Reading ]
All the brethren [in Ephesus] _salute you. Salute one another with a holy kiss_. [See commentary on Thessalonians, page 27. "He rightly enjoins the kiss of peace upon those who were in danger of being rent to pieces by schisms."--Grotius.]... [ Continue Reading ]
The salutation of me Paul with mine own hand. [All of Paul's letters save Galatians appear to have been written by an amanuensis (Galatians 6:11). Inspired Scripture was too important to be wanting in authenticity, or to be subjected to suspicion as forgery.]... [ Continue Reading ]
If any man loveth not the Lord, let him be anathema. Maranatha. [Literally, "Let him be devoted to destruction. O Lord, come!" They were the words with which the Jews began their greatest excommunication. Here Paul pronounces a curse against the man who, professing to be a Christian, had really no l... [ Continue Reading ]
The grace [the reverse of the anathema] _of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you_.... [ Continue Reading ]
My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen. [The apostle closes with this thought, lest any should misconstrue his letter. Though it contained severe rebukes, it was dictated by love, and not by hatred.]... [ Continue Reading ]