Paul’s Travel Plans; the Charge Concerning Timothy and Apollos (1 Corinthians 16:5–12)

1 Cor. 16:5. Now I will come to you when I pass through Macedonia; for I am passing through Macedonia.

“I will come.” “He said the same thing before, but then with anger, adding: ‘and I will know not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power’ (1 Cor. 4:19); but now with more goodwill, so that they might desire his coming” (Saint Chrysostom). “I am passing through Macedonia”—he does not mean that he is now on the way, for he was writing from Ephesus and says right after: I will remain yet in Ephesus (1 Cor. 15:8); but that he has decided to go that way and has already made arrangements for it, having sent ahead holy Timothy, who was to reach Corinth as well (Acts 19:21 et seq.). So, he says, when I pass through Macedonia and visit the churches there, then I will come to you, allowing them to calculate for themselves when his arrival would be.

1 Cor. 16:6. But with you it may be that I will stay, or perhaps even winter, so that you may send me on my way, wherever I may go.

“It may be that I will stay,” τύχον, “perhaps.” “Lest they say: Why do you prefer the Macedonians to us? he says: But I will not merely pass through you, but I will stay with you. He was writing this in winter while in Ephesus. Therefore he says: I will remain in Ephesus until Pentecost, then I will go to Macedonia; passing through it during summer, I will come to you and perhaps will spend the winter with you. But why did he say ‘perhaps’ rather than definitively? Because Paul did not foresee everything, and because this was useful. Therefore he does not affirm it directly, so that, if it did not come to pass, he would have a justification in having spoken indefinitely then, and also in that the Spirit guided him according to His own authority, where He wished, not where Paul himself desired. ‘So that you may send me on my way, wherever I may go.’ And these are words of love and great goodwill” (Saint Chrysostom). He entrusts himself to their hospitality and care. You will refresh me with you, you will be my guides and protectors in further travels. He decides nothing in advance, but is ready to go where the finger of God points. And although he had already a plan to visit all these places, spend time in Jerusalem, and then set out for Rome (Acts 19:21), he did not regard its fulfillment as dependent on his own will, and therefore passed over it in silence.

1 Cor. 16:7. For I do not wish to see you now just in passing, but I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord will permit.

“I want,” he says, “not to visit you in passing, but to stay and live with you” (Saint Chrysostom). “He sufficiently comforted the Corinthians by promising to spend some time with them” (Theodoret). He wants to spend time with them, for, as appears from the epistle, many disorders had crept in among them; it was necessary both to correct their conduct and to change their way of thinking in many matters. For the correct this news brought joy and pleasure; but for the incorrect it should have begotten fear and anxiety. “Here he expresses his love and at the same time frightens sinners, though not directly but under the guise of friendly feeling” (Saint Chrysostom). By the words “if the Lord will permit,” the Apostle shows “that he intends to do nothing without God’s will, but desires that God’s hand should guide him.”

1 Cor. 16:8. But I will remain in Ephesus until Pentecost.

“It is not in vain that he speaks of all this with precision, but reveals everything to them as to friends, for it is the nature of friendship to declare the reason why one does not come, why one delays, and where one is” (Saint Chrysostom). This plan was scarcely fulfilled, for because of the uprising caused by Demetrius the silversmith, Saint Paul appears to have had to leave Ephesus somewhat earlier. But he spent the winter with them, as is evident from the fact that, having spent three months in Achaia, he kept the days of Unleavened Bread in Philippi on his return journey (Acts 20:6), and he hoped to arrive in Jerusalem by Pentecost (Acts 20:16).

1 Cor. 16:9. For a great door and effectual is opened to me, and there are many adversaries.

The work that had been prepared during the three years of residence began to bear fruit. Many began to be converted, but this same angered the opponents and stirred up an uprising. The work of God, however, could have been completed even without Paul, through his disciples and the overseers he had left; only Saint Paul himself had to depart. Saint Chrysostom says: “If the door is great, whence come ‘many adversaries’? From that very same thing: many are the opponents because great is the faith, because great and wide is the entrance. What does it mean: ‘a great door’? Many are ready to receive the faith; many are ready to come and be converted; wide is my entrance because souls that come readily receive the obedience of faith. The devil then breathed fiercely with great malice, seeing that many were departing from him. Therefore Paul had to remain there for two reasons: because the benefit was great and because the struggle was great. With such words he also encouraged the Corinthians, informing them that the word is everywhere at work and grows readily. And that there were many opponents—this too marks the success of Gospel preaching. The evil demon never rages so fiercely as when he sees that many of his vessels are being taken from him. Therefore we too, when we wish to accomplish something great and distinguished, should look not at the great labor the work presents, but at its benefit. And Paul, see, does not lose courage and does not flee because there are many opponents, but remains and strains his strength because the door was great. For this, as I have said, was a sign of the devil’s exposure. He cannot anger this evil beast, whoever has done something small and insignificant. Therefore do not be surprised when you see a righteous man accomplishing great struggles suffering many tribulations, for it would be necessary to be surprised at the opposite, that is, if the devil, having been often defeated, remained at peace and patiently endured the wounds inflicted upon him. It is not surprising if a serpent, receiving constant blows, rages and throws itself upon the striker. And the devil, crawling on the ground, rages against all more fiercely than any serpent and attacks, having set his sting like a scorpion.”

3. An instruction concerning Timothy, with news of Apollos (1 Cor. 16:10–12)

1 Cor. 16:10. If Timothy comes, see that he be with you without fear; for he is doing the work of the Lord, as I am.

That he sent Saint Timothy to them, the Apostle had mentioned before (1 Cor. 4:17); now he gives them instructions in case of his arrival. When the epistle was written, Saint Timothy was no longer in Ephesus; he was on the way, traveling through Macedonia to Corinth. This is the very journey of his that is mentioned in the Book of Acts (1 Cor. 19:22). The instruction consists in that “he be with you without fear.” This may mean both that he should suffer no danger or harm—as if to say: protect him as you know, if anything should happen. But more directly it means that they themselves receive him with love and respect, that before them he should have no fear; therefore he says: πρὸς ὑμᾶς—in relation to you, before you. Saint Chrysostom says: “The Apostle forewarns them and says, ‘that he be with you without fear,’ that is, lest anyone shameless rise against him. For he may have to make a remark to them concerning what Paul had written, for which reason he was sent, as the Apostle expressed in the words: ‘I have sent Timothy to you… who will remind you of my ways’ (1 Cor. 4:17). So, lest they, relying on their status, on wealth, on protection from the people, and on worldly wisdom, should rise up against him, should insult him and lay snares for him, being vexed at his rebukes or at the admonitions of his teacher and wishing to take revenge on the latter through the former, the Apostle says: ‘that he be with you without fear.’”

Saint Timothy was sent as a result of news received from the household of Chloe, to learn the true state of affairs and probably to make necessary arrangements if needed. The epistle is written after his departure, occasioned by the arrival of actual messengers from Corinth with letters. These messengers confirmed that matters indeed required correction, and that Saint Timothy had arrangements to make. Saint Paul anticipated them. These messengers, who were sent with Paul’s epistle and departed by sea, were to arrive in Corinth long before Saint Timothy.

Theodoret understands these words generally, without reference to the content of the epistle, as if to say: “Receive him, serve him, that he may not experience any sorrow.”

“For he is doing the work of the Lord, as I am.” “Sufficient testimony to rouse even the idle to show service to a disciple” (Theodoret). He seeks not his own but God’s. “The Apostle wishes to instill in them confidence and respect for Timothy by the very work entrusted to him: ‘For he is doing the work of the Lord.’ Do not look at the fact that he is not rich, uneducated, and not old, but look at what is entrusted to him and what he is fulfilling. This takes the place of fame, wealth, age, and wisdom for him. Not content with this, he adds: ‘as I am’” (Saint Chrysostom). He will do what I have commanded him, my work; but my work is the work of the Lord, consequently so is his. The work of the Lord is the work of the salvation of men. The means to this are establishing the Gospel truth in hearts and introducing Christian order into life. This is what we both labor at: he by my direction, and I by the Lord’s commandment.

1 Cor. 16:11. Let no one despise him; but send him forward in peace that he may come to me, for I am expecting him with the brothers.

“Let no one despise him.” Since he is doing the work of the Lord, do not dare to despise him. “Do not look at his youthful age, but receive in him the Apostolic labors” (Theodoret). “Since he was young and to him alone was entrusted the correction of such a community, then this and that could be a reason for disdain toward him, the Apostle rightly forestalls them from despising him. And not only does he require this for him, but still greater honor: ‘send him forward,’ he says, ‘in peace,’ that is, safely, without quarrels and disputes, without enmity and hatred, but with obedience and concern for him as for a teacher. ‘That he may come to me.’ And by this he inspires them with fear, so that, knowing that he will report to the Apostle all that happens to him, they may be more meek; for this reason he adds: ‘for I am expecting him.’ But on the other hand, by this he also inspires confidence in Timothy, showing that he himself, intending to depart, awaits him, and at the same time testifies his love for them, showing what a useful man he has sent to them” (Saint Chrysostom).

“For I am expecting him with the brothers.” I am expecting him and the brothers who are sent with him and should return together. Or: I and the brothers who are with me are expecting him. There he is as head of the delegation, and here as a person dear to all. In both respects—an incentive to treat him with both respect and love. Saint Timothy was sent with Erastus.

1 Cor. 16:12. But concerning Apollos, the brother, I greatly desired that he come to you with the brothers, but his will was not at all to come now; but he will come when he shall have opportunity.

Concerning Apollos the Corinthians had written in the epistle, wishing to see him. The Apostle writes in reply: As for Apollos—the brother—I greatly urged him to come to you with the brothers. With which ones? Probably with the one sent from Corinth and now to return there. The point is not in that, but in the fact that I urged him much, I entreated him; but “his will was not at all to come now.” Whose will? Certainly Apollos’. Or circumstances hindered him, or business prevented him, for there is no indication that Gospel preaching was Apollos’ main work. Therefore he added: “but he will come when he shall have opportunity.” When he finishes his affairs, he will come. Saint Chrysostom says: “‘But concerning Apollos…’ This man, as is evident, was both educated and older than Timothy, therefore, lest they say, why did he not send this man to them but instead sent a young man, see how the Apostle also reassures them concerning him, calling him a brother and informing them that he greatly urged him to come to them. And so that they should not think that he preferred Timothy to him and therefore did not send him, and so as not to stir up greater envy in them, he says: ‘I greatly desired that he come.’ What? He did not agree and did not listen, but resisted and refused? Paul does not say this, but in order not to blame him and to justify himself, says: ‘his will was not at all to come now.’ Then, so that they should not say that this is merely an excuse and pretext, he adds: ‘but he will come to you when he shall have opportunity.’ Thus he both justified him and comforted those who wished to see him with hope of his coming.”