1 Corinthians 16:10Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The Apostle expressed this in the words, “For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church” (1 Cor 4:17).

Therefore, lest they rely on noble birth, wealth, popular support, and worldly wisdom and attack him, insult him, and plot against him, he says, “that he may be safe among you.”

They might have been indignant at his rebukes or at the teacher’s admonitions, and might have wished to avenge themselves on the latter in the person of the former.

Do not appeal, he says, to outsiders, pagans and unbelievers. I require this from you, for whom the whole epistle was written. He had inspired fear in them already at the beginning, in the introduction.

Therefore here also he says, “among you.” Then he inspires trust in Timothy by the very ministry itself: “for he does the work of the Lord.”

Do not look, he says, at the fact that he is not rich, not educated, and not old. Look at what has been entrusted to him and what he fulfills.

“For he does the work of the Lord.” This takes the place for him of noble birth, wealth, age, and wisdom. Not content with this, he adds, “as I also do.”

And above he had said, “For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ” (1 Cor 4:17).

The Apostle probably speaks about Apollos because the Corinthians wished to see him among them. The Apostle was not opposed to this, but Apollos himself could not come to the Corinthians because of his other affairs.

All these communications show how lovingly and amicably the Apostle converses with his spiritual children. He shares with them his joys, griefs, thoughts, and intentions.

Only the most ardent and devoted love speaks in this way. According to Saint John Chrysostom, “The Apostle reveals everything to the Corinthians as to friends.”

Concerning what was said about Apollos in particular, Chrysostom says, “Lest the Corinthians say that this is only an excuse and a pretext, he adds, ‘but he will come to you when he has opportunity.’

Thus he justified Apollos and also comforted those who wished to see him with the hope of his arrival.”

Saint Chrysostom says, “The Apostle warns them and says, ‘that he may be without fear among you,’ that is, so that no shameless person might rise against him.

For perhaps he had to admonish them about the things Paul wrote of, and for this reason he had been sent. The Apostle expressed this in the words, ‘I have sent Timothy to you, who will remind you of my ways’ (1 Cor 4:17).

Therefore, lest they rely on noble birth, wealth, popular support, and worldly wisdom and attack him, insult him, and plot against him, he says, ‘that he may be without fear among you.’

They might have been indignant at his rebukes or at the teacher’s admonitions, and might have wished to avenge themselves on the latter in the person of the former.”

Saint Timothy had been sent because of the reports received from Chloe’s household, in order to learn the true state of affairs. Probably he was also to make the necessary arrangements if there was need.

The epistle is written after his departure, on the occasion of the arrival of special envoys from Corinth with letters. These envoys confirmed that matters truly required correction, and that Saint Timothy had arrangements to make.

Saint Paul therefore forestalls them. These envoys, traveling by sea with Saint Paul’s epistle, would have arrived in Corinth much earlier than Saint Timothy.

Theodoret understands these words generally, without relation to the contents of the epistle, as if to say: “Receive him, serve him, let him experience no grief.”

“For he does the work of the Lord, as I also do.” “This is sufficient testimony to move even a lazy man to serve the disciple” (Theodoret).

He seeks not his own, but God’s. “The Apostle wishes to inspire in them trust and respect for Timothy by the very ministry itself: ‘for he does the work of the Lord.’

Do not look at the fact that he is not rich, not educated, and not old. Look at what has been entrusted to him and what he fulfills.

This takes the place for him of fame, wealth, age, and wisdom. Not content with this, he adds, ‘as I also do’” (Saint Chrysostom).

He will do what I commanded him, my work. But my work is the Lord’s work, and therefore so is his. The Lord’s work is the salvation of men.

The means to this are the establishment of Gospel truth in hearts and the introduction of Christian orders of life. This is what we both labor over: he by my instruction, and I by the Lord’s command.