1 Corinthians 16:17 - Printer Friendly

ESV: I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus, because they have made up for your absence,

NIV: I was glad when Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus arrived, because they have supplied what was lacking from you.

NASB: I rejoice over the coming of Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus, because they have supplied what was lacking on your part.

CSB: I am delighted to have Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus present, because these men have made up for your absence.

NLT: I am very glad that Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus have come here. They have been providing the help you weren’t here to give me.

KJV: I am glad of the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus: for that which was lacking on your part they have supplied.

NKJV: I am glad about the coming of Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus, for what was lacking on your part they supplied.

In the previous two verses, Paul commended the household of Stephanas for their devoted service to all the Christians in Corinth. He also told the Corinthian believers to submit themselves to servant leaders such as the Stephanas household, along with others who work hard to serve the church.

The reason for mentioning Stephanas in this part of the letter now becomes clear. Stephanas was one of three Corinthian men who came to visit Paul in Ephesus. These included Fortunatus and Achaicus. It's possible that the three of them brought a letter from Corinth to Paul containing some of the questions Paul has responded to in this letter (1 Corinthians 7:1). It's also possible that these three returned to Corinth with this letter from Paul; another possibility is that Timothy was the one who brought it to them (1 Corinthians 16:10).

Paul writes that the arrival of these three men makes up for the absence of the rest of the Corinthians. By this he seems to mean that he has truly been missing the Corinthians after moving away, and spending time with these visitors from there has helped with that sadness at being separated from them.

First Corinthians 16:12–18 contains some of Paul's last-minute instructions to the Corinthians at the close of his letter. He tells them Apollos will not be coming to visit them right away. He urges them to be on guard and stand firm in the faith, likely against false teachers. They must be strong but also do everything in love. Finally, Paul tells them to submit and give recognition to people like those of Stephanas's household. These devoted servant-leaders were the first Christians in Corinth and have greatly encouraged him by coming to see him in Ephesus.

Having finished the main teaching parts of his letter, Paul wraps up with some matters of business. He tells the Corinthians how to gather funds for a special contribution. He describes his travel plans, including his plan to arrive there before winter. He warns them to treat Timothy well and commends a delegation from Corinth that have come to see him. He concludes with greetings from other believers, along with a curse and a blessing. He curses those who do not love the Lord—here apparently meaning false teachers—and prays the grace of the Lord on everyone else.

First Corinthians 16 concludes Paul's long letter to the church in Corinth with several business matters. He instructs them on how to prepare a special contribution for needy Christians in Jerusalem. He describes his plan to visit them in person after wrapping up his ministry in Ephesus and stopping by churches in Macedonia. He reveals that Timothy is coming to them more quickly and that Apollos is not. Finally, he commends a delegation from Corinth that has come to see him. His final words in the letter are a declaration of love for all of them.

First Corinthians is one of the more practical books of the New Testament. Paul writes to a church immersed in a city associated with trade, but also with corruption and immorality. These believers are struggling to properly apply spiritual gifts and to resist the ungodly practices of the surrounding culture. Paul's letter gives instructions for real-life concerns such as marriage and spirituality. He also deals with the importance of unity and gives one of the Bible's more well-known descriptions of love in chapter 13.