1 Corinthians 16

      13, 14. Watch ye. Be on the watch; a matter very needful in as gay and corrupt a city as Corinth. 14. Let all . . . be done in love. Compare chapter 13 . This would prevent the divisions which he had rebuked in 1 Corinthians 1:10 1 Corinthians 3:3 .

      15-20. I beseech you, brethren (ye know the house of Stephanas). Paul had baptized the household of Stephanas. See /Commentaries/PeoplesNewTestament/pnt.cgi?book=&chapter=000#_" They were his first converts at Corinth. 16. That ye submit yourselves to such. In view of the fact that they were devoted to the ministry. 17. I am glad of the coming of Stephanas. Stephanas is named in 1 Corinthians 1:16 1 Corinthians 16:15 . The other two are not named elsewhere. These three doubtless brought to Paul the letter referred to in 7:1 , and probably carried back the present letter. 19. The churches of Asia salute you. Of the Roman province of Asia, of which Ephesus was the capital. Seven of the churches of "Asia" are named in the Book of Revelation. Aquila and Priscilla salute you. We first meet this excellent pair at Corinth ( Acts 18:2 ); afterwards they had gone to Ephesus ( Acts 18:26 ). With the church in their house. The early church had no church buildings, and would be compelled to meet often in private houses. The house of Aquila and Priscilla was such a place of meeting. See note on Romans 16:23. 20. Greet ye one another with a holy kiss. See note on Romans 16:16.

      21-24. The salutation of me, Paul, with mine own hand. Paul's letters were written by an amanuensis ( Rom. 16:22 ), but he always added a salutation in his own hand as a proof of genuineness ( 2 Thess. 3:17 ). 2 Thess. 2:2 , implies that spurious letters were circulated. 22. If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema. That is, accursed. Maranatha. This means, "Our Lord cometh." It is likely that he means, "If any church member love not, etc." He is not speaking of the outside world.