I Corinthians 16:15-24: "Fellowship, Labor, and Love"
In the previous verse, Paul had written, "let all that you do be done in love", and he is now following up that thought to conclude his letter. His attention gets turned to how love should characterize the ministry in Corinth and he encourages them to devote themselves in love to the ministry.
Paul begins, "Now I urge you, brethren (you know the household of Stephanas, that they were the first fruits of Acahaia, and that they have devoted themselves to the ministry of the saints)". Because of Paul's persistent and faithful evangelism in southern Greece, he remembers his first converts in Achaia, who were now in the Corinthian church. After being frustrated and blasphemed by the Jews in the area, instead of giving up, Paul turned his attention to the Gentiles. It turned out that most of the Corinthian converts were Gentiles and that the household of Stephanas was the first in the area. Paul was encouraged to see that one of his first converts of the church, and one of the few in the assembly he had personally baptized had continued to faithfully devote themselves to the ministry. He wanted the Corinthians to see the faithfulness of this established family and to make sure the Corinthians not only appreciated them, but submitted themselves to help in the work. Paul writes, "that you also be in subjection to such men and to everyone who helps in the work and labors". MacArthur writes, "We are to submit ourselves not only to the appointed leaders in the church but to all those who faithfully do the Lord's work. All godly people are to be respected and submitted to . . . Paul wanted the selfish, unsubmissive Corinthians to submit to his model, just as he continually submitted to Christ's model. We are all called to submit ourselves to those who have proved their own submission to Christ. Who is that person to who we should submit? It is anyone who faithfully portrays and proclaims the Word of God or serves in His ministry, everyone who helps in the work and labors".
Next, Paul emphasizes the refreshing nature of fellowship. He writes, "And I rejoice over the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus; because they have supplied what was lacking on your part. For they have refreshed my spirit and yours". Paul rejoiced in being encouraged and edified by other believers. We ought to constantly desire the fellowship and encouragement of the local church, especially those close friends to which God has blessed us with. When fellow believers gather, they ought to be a refreshment to our souls. As much persecution, hard work, persistence, and toil that Paul put himself through, he was always looking forward to the refreshment his body and soul would receive by seeing other brothers in Christ. Because Paul was absent from the Corinthians and unable to see them face-to-face, Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus were able to provide him with refreshment, something a letter from the Corinthians was able to do. Paul longed to be with the Corinthians as he had mentioned earlier, however, he had other pressing issues that the Lord had provided him with and he was unable to see them. God was faithful, however, allowing for these close brothers to provide that refreshment that the Corinthians couldn't because they were not around.
Paul, being so encouraged by their visit, would have naturally been reminded to exhort the Corinthians to "acknowledge such men". Because of the many problems within the Corinthian church, Paul knew that if the congregation could put themselves under the submission of such Godly men, that they would be able to lead them out of many of the sins they were committing. He was encouraging them to make sure they were acknowledging, respecting, and imitating such men. MacArthur writes, "In God's pattern for church leadership, godly persons rise to the top by virtue of their godliness-their right belief, right living, and loving care for others. Such persons we are to acknowledge, respect and imitate. When we choose leaders simply because of their money, prestige, education, influence, or talents we follow the world's standards rather than God's". Paul was encouraging the Corinthians to submit to the Godly leadership of these men.
Paul begins to wind down the letter with some closing thoughts. "The churches in Asia greet you. Aquila and Prisca greet you heartily in the Lord, with the church that is in their house. All the brethren greet you". MacArthur explains, "It was not that the churches of Asia necessarily had sent formal greetings to the church in Corinth, but he is passing on genuine salutations. Those churches were honestly concerned for their fellow believers in Corinth, and their leaders had asked Paul to greet them when he had opportunity. Most of those involved were strangers to each other, but the love expressed was no less genuine because of that". Here we can see the common bond that unites believers. Although strangers here on earth, they know there is a eternal bond that they have in Christ, and care and hospitality should characterize our lives as believers. We are all one body and we should be looking out for one another. Aquila and Prisca were good friends of Paul's as he had previously stayed with them at their home when he first ministered to the Corinthians. These two had started a church that met in their own home. They were hospitable believers who Paul has recorded in the annals of biblical history to send their love and regards to the Corinthian believers as well. In fact, Paul makes sure they understand that "all the brethren" greet them. Here Paul is trying to help them see that they are part of the body of Christ. A body that must be unified and rid itself of sin. He wanted to encourage them with the love and regards of the brethren he had currently met with.
Paul continues, "Greet one another with a holy kiss". Again, trying to spur on the unity and love that the church should have amongst its members, Paul encourages the Corinthians to affection. MacArthur writes, "Paul was speaking of the genuine and spontaneous expression of brotherly or sisterly love, which in that day often was expressed by a kiss. A warm, affectionate handshake or an arm around the shoulder can express the same affection. In most of the church today the danger is in showing too little affection rather than too much".
Paul then closes this incredible letter with the following sentiments, "The greeting is in my own hand-Paul". The previous body of this letter had been dictated to a scribe, however, Paul wanted his readers to know that he had written the short post script to this letter with his own hand, to personalize and authenticate it for his readers. He then warns, "If anyone does not love the Lord, let him be accursed". Paul was trying to get the Corinthians to understand that if they did not have a love for God, they were not part of the body of Christ and were cursed with God's judgment until they repented and turned to Christ. As Paul had continually shown throughout his letter, love is what most characterizes the church, and if we do not have an affectionate love for God and for one another, we are not truly part of the church. He then writes, "Maranatha". MacArthur writes, "I believe that in this context maranatha, an Aramaic term meaning 'Our Lord, come,' is Paul's appeal for the Lord to come and take away those who are accursed, the nominal, false Christians who are always such a great threat to the true Church". On the positive side, to those who are truly of God, Paul writes, "The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen". Paul always finished his letters by reminding his readers that it is by the grace of God, which we received in Christ Jesus that we are saved. What a fitting reminder after such a "hard" letter to write.
Paul begins, "Now I urge you, brethren (you know the household of Stephanas, that they were the first fruits of Acahaia, and that they have devoted themselves to the ministry of the saints)". Because of Paul's persistent and faithful evangelism in southern Greece, he remembers his first converts in Achaia, who were now in the Corinthian church. After being frustrated and blasphemed by the Jews in the area, instead of giving up, Paul turned his attention to the Gentiles. It turned out that most of the Corinthian converts were Gentiles and that the household of Stephanas was the first in the area. Paul was encouraged to see that one of his first converts of the church, and one of the few in the assembly he had personally baptized had continued to faithfully devote themselves to the ministry. He wanted the Corinthians to see the faithfulness of this established family and to make sure the Corinthians not only appreciated them, but submitted themselves to help in the work. Paul writes, "that you also be in subjection to such men and to everyone who helps in the work and labors". MacArthur writes, "We are to submit ourselves not only to the appointed leaders in the church but to all those who faithfully do the Lord's work. All godly people are to be respected and submitted to . . . Paul wanted the selfish, unsubmissive Corinthians to submit to his model, just as he continually submitted to Christ's model. We are all called to submit ourselves to those who have proved their own submission to Christ. Who is that person to who we should submit? It is anyone who faithfully portrays and proclaims the Word of God or serves in His ministry, everyone who helps in the work and labors".
Next, Paul emphasizes the refreshing nature of fellowship. He writes, "And I rejoice over the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus; because they have supplied what was lacking on your part. For they have refreshed my spirit and yours". Paul rejoiced in being encouraged and edified by other believers. We ought to constantly desire the fellowship and encouragement of the local church, especially those close friends to which God has blessed us with. When fellow believers gather, they ought to be a refreshment to our souls. As much persecution, hard work, persistence, and toil that Paul put himself through, he was always looking forward to the refreshment his body and soul would receive by seeing other brothers in Christ. Because Paul was absent from the Corinthians and unable to see them face-to-face, Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus were able to provide him with refreshment, something a letter from the Corinthians was able to do. Paul longed to be with the Corinthians as he had mentioned earlier, however, he had other pressing issues that the Lord had provided him with and he was unable to see them. God was faithful, however, allowing for these close brothers to provide that refreshment that the Corinthians couldn't because they were not around.
Paul, being so encouraged by their visit, would have naturally been reminded to exhort the Corinthians to "acknowledge such men". Because of the many problems within the Corinthian church, Paul knew that if the congregation could put themselves under the submission of such Godly men, that they would be able to lead them out of many of the sins they were committing. He was encouraging them to make sure they were acknowledging, respecting, and imitating such men. MacArthur writes, "In God's pattern for church leadership, godly persons rise to the top by virtue of their godliness-their right belief, right living, and loving care for others. Such persons we are to acknowledge, respect and imitate. When we choose leaders simply because of their money, prestige, education, influence, or talents we follow the world's standards rather than God's". Paul was encouraging the Corinthians to submit to the Godly leadership of these men.
Paul begins to wind down the letter with some closing thoughts. "The churches in Asia greet you. Aquila and Prisca greet you heartily in the Lord, with the church that is in their house. All the brethren greet you". MacArthur explains, "It was not that the churches of Asia necessarily had sent formal greetings to the church in Corinth, but he is passing on genuine salutations. Those churches were honestly concerned for their fellow believers in Corinth, and their leaders had asked Paul to greet them when he had opportunity. Most of those involved were strangers to each other, but the love expressed was no less genuine because of that". Here we can see the common bond that unites believers. Although strangers here on earth, they know there is a eternal bond that they have in Christ, and care and hospitality should characterize our lives as believers. We are all one body and we should be looking out for one another. Aquila and Prisca were good friends of Paul's as he had previously stayed with them at their home when he first ministered to the Corinthians. These two had started a church that met in their own home. They were hospitable believers who Paul has recorded in the annals of biblical history to send their love and regards to the Corinthian believers as well. In fact, Paul makes sure they understand that "all the brethren" greet them. Here Paul is trying to help them see that they are part of the body of Christ. A body that must be unified and rid itself of sin. He wanted to encourage them with the love and regards of the brethren he had currently met with.
Paul continues, "Greet one another with a holy kiss". Again, trying to spur on the unity and love that the church should have amongst its members, Paul encourages the Corinthians to affection. MacArthur writes, "Paul was speaking of the genuine and spontaneous expression of brotherly or sisterly love, which in that day often was expressed by a kiss. A warm, affectionate handshake or an arm around the shoulder can express the same affection. In most of the church today the danger is in showing too little affection rather than too much".
Paul then closes this incredible letter with the following sentiments, "The greeting is in my own hand-Paul". The previous body of this letter had been dictated to a scribe, however, Paul wanted his readers to know that he had written the short post script to this letter with his own hand, to personalize and authenticate it for his readers. He then warns, "If anyone does not love the Lord, let him be accursed". Paul was trying to get the Corinthians to understand that if they did not have a love for God, they were not part of the body of Christ and were cursed with God's judgment until they repented and turned to Christ. As Paul had continually shown throughout his letter, love is what most characterizes the church, and if we do not have an affectionate love for God and for one another, we are not truly part of the church. He then writes, "Maranatha". MacArthur writes, "I believe that in this context maranatha, an Aramaic term meaning 'Our Lord, come,' is Paul's appeal for the Lord to come and take away those who are accursed, the nominal, false Christians who are always such a great threat to the true Church". On the positive side, to those who are truly of God, Paul writes, "The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen". Paul always finished his letters by reminding his readers that it is by the grace of God, which we received in Christ Jesus that we are saved. What a fitting reminder after such a "hard" letter to write.
posted by amesfam | 7:49 AM
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