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Timothy: I Corinthians 16:12-24
Final Instructions and Greetings

Dear God, my Beloved Father, I respectfully offer my praise and gratitude to You. You are the Almighty God and my Father in Heaven. Today, I feel heavy-hearted to learn that there are still some people in the Church who believe in You only with their intellect. They genuinely believe in You, but their actions in life are driven by natural reactions and human emotions. They do not seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit. As a result, their lives lack the joy and blessings they should have. I beseech You, Father, to have mercy on them and correct them. The day of Christ’s arrival is approaching, yet their lives have not reflected the glory of God. I thank You, Father. Now, I pray to Christ to empower me anew. I pray to the Holy Spirit to lead me into all the truth of God’s Eternal Living Word. I thank Christ and the Holy Spirit.

Father, I would like to present my reflection on I Corinthians 16:12-24 as follows:

12 As touching our brother Apollos, I greatly desired him to come unto you with the brethren: but his will was not at all to come at this time; but he will come when he shall have convenient time.

Verse 12: I understand that the Apostle Paul is concerned about the spiritual condition of the people of God in Corinth. Therefore, he desires that while he is not present, Apollos and his companions go to Corinth to teach and build up the Church. Previously, Apollos had come and taught the Church in Corinth. However, Apollos did not come at Paul’s invitation. Perhaps at that time, the situation among the people of God in Corinth was divided into different groups, some claiming to follow Paul and others claiming to follow Apollos, and this issue had not been completely resolved. Therefore, Apollos did not want to go to Corinth during that time.

13 Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.

Verse 13: I understand that the Apostle Paul advises the people of God to have four qualities in their Christian life. These are: to be watchful; to stand firm in faith; to be courageous; and to be strong. Being watchful enables one to stand firm in faith. Standing firm in faith allows for courage. Having courage leads to strength. Being watchful means maintaining a close relationship with God, constantly meditating on His Word, comparing all things with His Word, and acting according to His Word. Standing firm in faith is possible because of the intimate fellowship with God, which allows understanding of His will and His Word, comprehending the meaning and purpose of events in one’s life, and receiving direct guidance from the Lord in making decisions. Having courage comes from knowing that if God is for us, no one and nothing can be against us. Becoming strong is a result of realizing that everything we do is through the power of God.

14 Let all your things be done with charity.

Verse 14: I understand that the Apostle Paul reminds the people of God that the foundation of everything they do, including faith and trust, is love. Every thought, word, and action of the people of God is a fruit of love. For love is the nature of those who are born again in Christ. That love comes from God, enabling the people of God to truly love as God loves, as Christ loves, and as the Holy Spirit loves. Therefore, the worship, honor, and service of the people of God to the Almighty God originate from their love for God. The actions of the people of God, both towards themselves and towards others, also stem from love. To love oneself as God loves oneself. To love others as oneself.

15 I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,)

16 That ye submit yourselves unto such, and to every one that helpeth with us, and laboureth.

Verse 15 and 16: I understand that when the Apostle Paul read these lines to the scribe, Stephanas and other representatives of the Corinthian Church had come to meet him in Ephesus. He reminds the people of God in Corinth to remember that the household of Stephanas was the first family in Achaia to believe in the Gospel. The entire household of Stephanas worked together with Paul to build the Church in Corinth. Perhaps Stephanas was also the first elder in the Church in Corinth. Paul wants the people of God in Corinth to emulate the example of the household of Stephanas and to submit to them and to all those who labor diligently in serving the Church. God has used them alongside Paul in establishing the Church.

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

18 For they have refreshed my spirit and yours: therefore acknowledge ye them that are such.

Verse 17 and 18: I understand that after the Corinthian Church received Paul’s letter, the one he sent to them before I Corinthians, they sent someone with a reply to Ephesus to deliver the letter to Paul. It is likely that all three individuals mentioned, Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus, were elders in the Church. Paul was delighted to receive a firsthand report from these individuals. Their report would supplement any gaps or deficiencies in the letter from the Church. In fact, firsthand reports always provide more complete information than written letters. Just hearing a direct report about the Corinthian Church brought joy and renewed spirit to Paul. When they return to the Church, they will directly report to the congregation what they have heard and seen from Paul. This will also bring renewed spiritual freshness to the people of God in Corinth. Paul advises the people of God in Corinth to recognize those who have labored and suffered to serve as a vital link between him and the Church. I understand that this recognition implies acknowledging their hard work and the dangers they have faced on their journey. I am grateful to You, Father, that today the Church has the means of communication through the Internet, which is fast and convenient. Even though we may be on different sides of the world, we can still see each other’s faces and hear each other’s voices.

19 The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house.

20 All the brethren greet you. Greet ye one another with an holy kiss.

21 The salutation of me Paul with mine own hand.

Verse 19-21: I understand that the Apostle Paul conveys greetings from the Churches in Asia to the Corinthian Church. It is likely that Paul took several days to write this letter. During the time of this writing, the people of God and the elders from local Churches may have visited him daily. When they learned that he was writing a letter to the Corinthian Church, they requested that he convey their greetings. Aquila and Priscilla were residing in Ephesus at that time, and their home served as one of the meeting places for the Church in Ephesus. It is highly possible that Paul was temporarily staying at their house. They, along with the believers meeting in their home, also send greetings to the Corinthian Church. Everyone who is with Paul also sends greetings to the people of God in Corinth. Paul uses the phrase “Greet ye one another with an holy kiss” to imply that when believers greet one another, it should be done with sincere love from God. While it is not possible to physically include a “holy kiss” in a letter, it affirms that the greetings are genuine and rooted in the love of God. I understand that, due to his weak eyesight, Paul often relied on a scribe to write letters on his behalf. He would dictate the content of the letter, and the scribe would write it down. However, at the end of the letter, Paul would often personally write the greetings and sign his name. Except for the letter to the Galatian Church, which he wrote with his own hand, as he confirmed in Galatians 6:11: “Ye see how large a letter I have written unto you with mine own hand.”

22 If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha.

Verse 22: I understand that as the people of God, it is natural to believe in and love the Lord Jesus Christ. However, in reality, there are many who believe in the salvation of the Lord Jesus but do not love Him as much as they love their sinful desires. Therefore, they have a lifestyle that Paul calls “as the enemies of the cross of Christ.” These individuals are not true children of God because they do not sincerely repent of their sins. The Lord Jesus does not know them, even if they claim to do many things in the name of the Lord. Such people are deserving of anathema, which means being cut off from the fellowship of the Church and handed over to the judgment of God. I understand that “Anathema” means “devoted to destruction” and “Maranatha” means “Lord, come and judge”.

23 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Verse 23: I understand that Paul blesses the Corinthian Church with a concise but meaningful blessing. He prays and hopes that the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ will be with the Church. He uses the title “Lord Jesus Christ” to emphasize what the Lord Jesus has done for the Church in His role as the Christ. He is the Prophet of God, teaching about God, the salvation granted by God to humanity, and the Everlasting Kingdom of God. He is the High Priest of God, offering His own life as a sacrificial redemption for humanity. He intercedes on behalf of those who receive the grace of God’s salvation. He is the King, ruling over the Kingdom of God and reigning in the hearts of those who belong to God. These are the essential graces bestowed upon the Church by Christ. Additionally, Christ bestows upon the Church other abundant graces, such as the glory of His presence, healing of diseases, authority over demons in His name, the power to pray to God in His name, and His abiding presence until the end of time.

24 My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen. The first epistle to the Corinthians was written from Philippi by Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus and Timotheus.

Verse 24: I understand that the Apostle Paul expresses his heartfelt concern for the people of God in Corinth, letting them know that he deeply loves them. His statement, “My love be with you all in Christ Jesus,” means that he loves each individual in the Church with the love of Jesus Christ. It is a love willing to sacrifice one’s own life for the sake of those loved, and he constantly remembers them.

Father, I thank You for this lesson. I pray that You help me to always possess the love of God within me so that every thought, word, and action of mine may be a fruit of love. Please help me remain watchful, stand firm in faith, be courageous in the face of adversity, and live strong according to Your Word. I am grateful to You. Amen!

In the grace of Jesus Christ, my Lord.

Timothy Christian Huynh
06/08/2023