1 Corinthians 16:15Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

One word is directed against deceivers: "Watch, stand fast." Another is against offenders: "Be courageous." A third is against those who stir up discord and strife: "Let all that you do be done with love." This love is the bond of perfection, the root and source of blessings.

What then does "let all that you do be done with love" mean? Whether one reproves, rules, obeys, learns, or teaches, all must be done with love. All the evils mentioned came from neglecting it.

If love had not been neglected, they would not have become proud and said, "I am of Paul," and, "I am of Apollos" (1 Cor 1:12). If it had been among them, they would not have gone to law before outsiders, that is, before pagans. Better still, they would not have gone to law at all.

If it had been among them, the fornicator would not have lived with his father's wife. They would not have despised weak brethren, nor had divisions, nor vaunted themselves over spiritual gifts. Therefore he also says: "Let all that you do be done with love. I beseech you, brethren, you know the household of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints" (1 Cor 16:14-15).

At the beginning of the epistle he already mentioned this, when he said: "I also baptized the household of Stephanas" (1 Cor 1:16). Now he calls it the firstfruits not of Corinth only, but of all Greece. It is no small honor to be the first to come to Christ.

Therefore, in the Epistle to the Romans, when praising certain persons for this, he said: "who were in Christ before me" (Rom 16:7). Here he did not say, "they were the first to believe," but, "they are the firstfruits." He shows that together with faith they displayed an excellent life as its fruit, and proved worthy in every respect.

Indeed, the firstfruits must be better than the rest of which they are the firstfruits. Paul testified this concerning them by that very expression. As I said, they not only believed sincerely, but also showed great piety in deed, lofty virtue, and zeal in works of mercy.

He proves their reverence not only by this, but also by saying that the whole household was filled with piety. Their zeal for good works he shows in the words that follow: "they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints." Do you hear what praise he gives to hospitality? He did not say, "they serve," but, "they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints." They chose such a life for themselves forever, and this is their care.

It received into its house without payment, and fed at its own expense, Christian pilgrims or those traveling on important business. What is especially worthy of honor is that it chose such a life for itself forever. Therefore, by these lofty traits, the household of Stephanas was more honorable than all in Achaia.

Yet probably even then it did not escape envy, gossip, and various evil slanders because of its virtue. It was condemned for hypocrisy and false piety. The same phenomenon is observed even now.

Let a man begin to be contrite over his sins, especially one who recently lived no better, purer, or holier than others. Let him begin to correct his life, withdraw from his former bad company, go more often to church, and practice other virtues. At once he will be called a hypocrite and empty saint, and will be branded with these names for a long time.

People will treat his conversations with various persons more maliciously. At times they are ready to eavesdrop on his words and observe his looks, movements, and visits. And what concern is he to anyone? Yet malice no longer distinguishes either means or the reasonableness of its attitude toward a person who has come to his senses and is working out his salvation.

The same was true of the household of Stephanas. Therefore the holy Apostle disposes the hearers and readers of the epistle toward love, and stirs up respect for the household of Stephanas.

You also should be respectful toward such people. Listen to their words. Imitate them and help them do good. Assist them both with monetary offerings and with bodily service. Have communion with them, for their labor will become easier if they have co-workers, and works of charity will extend to a greater number of people.

Obey such people and their invitations to charity. And not only them, but be respectful toward every person who helps them develop and strengthen hospitality and care for the needy. Show respect also to those who labor with the household of Stephanas in the field of public charity.

Poverty and sickness are two scourges of public life. Therefore they must also be removed among the people by common social effort. You who are healthy and wealthy, help the poor man and the sick man.

And thanks be to God, among us in Rus today societies arise one after another with charitable aims. They must be shown both respect and sympathy in deed. Do you know how grievous it is to see people indifferent to a common good work, such as the founding of a school, as though a school were needed only for those who establish it...

Or he says this because the faithful of that household surpassed those living in the other houses of Achaia by works of virtue. Therefore he said of them that they "appointed themselves," that is, devoted themselves to the service of the saints. By saints he means the faithful, whom he calls saints not only here but elsewhere, both because of the holiness of the Christian faith and because of the holiness of their life.

See with what great love he presents Stephanas and his household. "I beseech you," he says, since you know that those living in the house of Stephanas are first in Achaia in faith and virtue, and that they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints, show every obedience also.

He does not say "to them," but "to such as these," so that no one may think that out of partiality he commands obedience and honor to Stephanas and his household. Therefore he speaks generally: "and to every fellow worker and laborer."

Obey, he says, and serve not only Stephanas and his household, but all who are like them, and every person who helps and labors in works of virtue.

To give still greater importance to these persons, the Apostle speaks of his great pleasure in communion with them. This was especially because they represented in themselves all the true Christians of Corinth. Stephanas had been baptized by the Apostle Paul himself.

The Corinthians sent him to the Apostle as a particularly faithful man. Now, as the Apostle sends him back, he draws special attention to him. Evidently he does so so that they may have him as a presider. Such also were the commended Fortunatus and Achaicus, numbered among the seventy Apostles, whose commemoration is January 4.

"He proves that they are worthy of honor not only by this, but also by saying that the whole household was filled with piety. Their zeal for good works the Apostle shows in the words that follow: 'They have appointed themselves to the service of the saints.'

"Do you hear what praise he gives to their hospitality? He did not say, 'they serve,' but, 'they appointed themselves to service.' They chose such a life for themselves forever, and continually care for this" (St. Chrysostom).