1 Cor. 16 1 Cor. 16:1–4 Paul directeth the Corinthians how to proceed in their collections for the relief of the brethren at Jerusalem. 1 Cor. 16:5–9 He mentioneth his design of visiting them, 1 Cor. 16:10–12 and commendeth Timothy, who was coming to them. 1 Cor.

The business of relieving the poor members of the church, is a moral duty, a sacrifice with which God is well pleased, Phil. 4:18; our faith must work by this love. The apostle, in several Epistles, was very solicitous about this; he mentioneth it, Rom. 15:26, Gal. 2:10, as well as in this Epistle.

From hence both divers of the ancients, and very many late divines, argue for the change of the sabbath from the seventh day of the week to the first. It is plain from hence, that the gospel churches were wont to assemble upon that day; nor do we read in Scripture of any assembly of Christians for…

The word here translated liberality, is the same which signifieth grace; their charity is called by that name, either because it flowed from their free love towards their poor brethren, (though living at a great distance from them), or because their sense of the free love and grace of God to them,…

To encourage them to the more free and liberal contribution, he promiseth them himself to go along with those that carried it, if it were thought meet. Whether Paul, according to this promise, did go to Corinth, some question, because of what we read, 2 Cor. 1:15–16.

He did stay in Greece three months, Acts 20:3, but it is believed some things hindered him, that he did not winter at Corinth. It was the custom for some members of the gospel churches, to accompany the apostles some part of their way when they went from them to any other places, in token of their…

I will not see you in my passage into Macedonia, for then I shall have no time to stay long with you; and I hope to gain a time when I shall stay longer with you; but all this must be understood with submission to God’s will, who can hinder, and order my journeys, and determine my purposes, as he…

He altered this resolution afterward, for, Acts 20:16, he hasted, if it were possible, to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost. Pentecost was a Jewish feast, and not named here as a feast then celebrated by Christians, but as a known period of time; for the Jews computing time from their festivals,…

For God hath opened to me at Ephesus a great opportunity to preach the gospel, which I have reason to hope will also be effectual for the conversion of many souls.

He had told them, 1 Cor. 4:17, that he had sent Timothy unto them, whom he there calleth his beloved son, and faithful in the Lord. Here he bespeaketh his welcome and security.

Let no man therefore despise him; either because he is a very young man, 1 Tim. 4:12, or upon any other account. But conduct him forth in peace, that he may come unto me; but when he cometh away, show him the respect you use to show me, conduct him in his way.

Apollos (as may be seen, Acts 18:27) was known to them, and had been a preacher amongst them, and was grateful to many of them; he was an eloquent man, mighty in the Scriptures, instructed in the way of the Lord, and fervent in the spirit, Acts 18:24–28; he was one of those from whom some of this…

Watch ye: watching, in its usual acceptation, signifieth a forbearing of sleep; and that in order to some end. Sin is set out under the notion of sleep, Eph.

Charity (as hath been before discoursed) is a term comprehensive both of love to God, and to our neighbour; the failure of this in their divisions and contentions, and satisfying their own judgments and humours, without regard to the consciences of others, and having no regard to the profit of…

Of this Stephanas we read before, 1 Cor. 1:16; his family was one of those few families which Paul baptized: he is here called the first-fruits of Achaia, because (as it should seem) he was one of the first of all those who in that courtry received the gospel.

He adviseth them to reverence him, and all such as were helpers and labourers of that nature, and wrought with the apostles in the work of the gospel.

It should seem that this church had sent these three persons to Paul at this time (as most think) at Ephesus, to acquaint him with the state of their churches; these men supplied the want of that whole church’s coming, or they made a report to the apostle of the Corinthians more fully than they had…

He meaneth the Lesser Asia, in which was Ephesus; from whence it is more probable (according to the Arabic and Syriac opinion) that this Epistle was written, than from Philippi (according to the copy followed by our translaters).

This proveth no more, than that as it is in use with us to salute one another with a kiss when we meet; so it was in use in those times and countries to do the like, in token of love and friendship. It is called the kiss of charity, 1 Pet. 5:14.

These words are judged to signify to us, that though the former part of the Epistle was written out of Paul’s copy by some others, yet the three last verses were written by him with his own hand.

If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ: love is an affection of the heart, but discernible by overt acts: the meaning is: If any man, by any notorious acts, declareth that he loveth not the Lord Jesus, whether he be a hypocrite, owning the name of Christ, but living in a contempt of and…

That is: The Lord Jesus favour you, and bless you with all spiritual blessings: this is the apostle’s ordinary salutation, Rom. 16:24.

As I love you, so I desire to be again beloved of you in Christ sincerely. Or, I love you all in Christ, and for Christ’s sake; or, I wish that my love may abide in and with you.