Paul’s Personal Plans 1 Corinthians 16:5 Now I will come to you when I pass through Macedonia (for I am passing through Macedonia). At the end of a 3 year stay in Ephesus, Paul wrote his letter and probably gave it to Timothy to deliver (v. 10). Paul originally planned to follow Timothy a short while after (4:19), visiting Corinth on the way to and from Macedonia (2Co 1:15, 16). He had to change his plan and visit only after a longer stay in Ephesus (v. 8), then on to Corinth after Macedonia, to stay for a while (vv. 6, 7). 1 Corinthians 16:6 And it may be that I will remain, or even spend the winter with you, that you may send me on my journey, wherever I go. :7 For I do not wish to see you now on the way; but I hope to stay a while with you, if the Lord permits. :8 But I will tarry in Ephesus until Pentecost. Paul might stay with the believers in Corinth for the winter. Then they would help him continue his journey. He won't see them on his way to Macedonia this time. However, he hopes to stay with them later if God allows. Before leaving Macedonia, Paul plans to stay in Ephesus until Pentecost. We know this letter was written from Ephesus because of verse 8. 1 Corinthians 16:9 For a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries. Paul saw a great chance to serve Christ in Ephesus at that time. But he also knew he had many enemies there. This verse shows us something that is always true about serving God: there are always opportunities to help, but there is also always an enemy trying to cause problems and stop us in any way they can. Closing 1 Corinthians 16:10 And if Timothy comes, see that he may be with you without fear; for he does the work of the Lord, as I also do. The apostle adds a word concerning Timothy. If this devoted young servant of the Lord came to Corinth, they should receive him without fear. Perhaps this means that Timothy was naturally of a timid disposition, and that they should not do anything to intensify this tendency. Perhaps, on the other hand, it means that he should be able to come to them without any fear of not being accepted as a servant of the Lord. 1 Corinthians 16:11 Therefore let no one despise him. But send him on his journey in peace, that he may come to me; for I am waiting for him with the brethren. Because Timothy has served Christ faithfully, no one should look down on him. Instead, they should help him continue his journey peacefully so he can return to Paul when the time is right. Paul was looking forward to seeing Timothy and the other believers again. 1 Corinthians 16:12 Now concerning our brother Apollos, I strongly urged him to come to you with the brethren, but he was quite unwilling to come at this time; however, he will come when he has a convenient time. Now concerning … brother Apollos, Paul had strongly urged him to visit Corinth with the brethren. Apollos did not feel that this was God’s will for him at the time, but he indicated that he would go to Corinth when he had the opportunity. Verse 12 is valuable to us in showing the loving spirit that prevailed among the servants of the Lord. It has been beautifully described as “unjealous love and respect.” This also reveals the freedom each servant of the Lord possessed to be guided directly by the Lord, without being dictated to by any other source. Even the Apostle Paul himself was not authorized to make Apollos go. All he could do was “strongly urge him.” 1 Corinthians 16:13 Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. Philippians 1:27 Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel, 1 Timothy 6:20 O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge—:21 by professing it some have strayed concerning the faith. Grace be with you. Amen. Jude 3 Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. Jude 4 For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 16:14 Let all that you do be done with love. Finally, they are to be strong in the Lord. In all that they do, they are to manifest love. This will mean lives of devotion to God and to others. It will mean a giving of themselves. 1 Corinthians 16:15 I urge you, brethren—you know the household of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves to the ministry of the saints—