1 Corinthians 16:5-12

May 19, 2019

Lord’s Day Worship

Sean Higgins

The sermon starts at 20:00 in the audio file.

Or, Who Is Helping Who?

Paul’s letter to the Corinthians is almost complete; he could virtually let his pen finish on autopilot. We’ve reached the point where most Bible readers practice their skimming skills, the kind of passage which includes the parts that are obviously more personal to the original writer/readers and more distant to us. All of the things that Paul mentions in 1 Corinthians 16:5-12 are micro-history. What he wrote about has almost no relevance for us other than knowing that that it happened.

But how he talks about his intentions, and how he talks about his work, and how he talks about God’s providence does have direct and macro-relevance.

In some ways these three paragraphs are like receiving a forward from a family member with a copy of their itinerary. Paul plans to visit them, he’s already sent Timothy to visit them, and he says Apollos is not coming to visit them, at least not anytime soon. Paul tells them as many details about his trip as he knows, including when he hopes to come, how long he plans to stay, and what he hopes to accomplish. Then he gives them a head’s up regarding two of his ministry co-workers, one of whom they were perhaps tempted to treat poorly and the other of whom they were perhaps tempted to put on a pedestal.

Reading about these past events gives us an idea about the way we should approach future events. It helps us look at the opportunities that God puts in front of us, and reminds us that He Himself is behind all the open doors.

Paul’s Travel Plans (verses 5-9)

Paul writes from Ephesus, almost a straight shot across the Aegean sea to the Peloponnese. By ship the trip might take a little over a week (almost 250 miles) in Paul’s day, but by foot around the sea through the region of Macedonia would be almost 900 miles and, of course, take much longer. The apostle had already planted churches throughout the region, so he had relationships and reasons to check in with those churches. But it doesn’t require much meditation on his travel plans to realize that, even with this letter, Paul is concerned about the Corinthians.

I will visit you after passing through Macedonia, for I intend to pass through Macedonia, and perhaps I will stay with you or even spend the winter so that you may help me on my journey, wherever I go. For I do not want to see you now just in passing. I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits.

He already told them that he was planning to visit them back in chapter 4 verse 19. Why does he want to see them?

In verse 6 he says that he wants them to help him on his journey, wherever that leads. The word help could be translated as “send” (NAS) and has the idea of assisting someone “with food, money, by arranging for companions, means of travel, etc.” (BAGD). So Paul sort of makes it sounds like he needs their help.

But who needed who’s (or whom’s) help? Paul’s eventual goal was Jerusalem, and he was closer to Jerusalem where he was in Ephesus. He wanted the Corinthians to make a collection for the needy in Jerusalem, but why not have the appointed transport group (16:3) rendezvous in Ephesus? Even the indefinite phrase wherever I go suggests that him getting their help was secondary to them getting his help.

This is why he said I hope to spend some time with you, maybe even spend the winter. Winter was not only cold, but often included “overcast skies and longer nights” that “made navigation uncertain” (Garland). That is a practical reason to stay for a while, but not the only practical purpose. A letter from Paul that answered some of their questions is good. Paul had numerous churches that he saw as his responsibility, so he didn’t ever buy a house and settle down in one location. He visited many places and wrote many [...]