1 Corinthians 16:7Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Here he expresses his love and at the same time frightens the sinners, though not directly, but under the guise of friendly affection.

By the word “stay” he frightens those who were sinning. He adds, “if the Lord permits,” because the matter was uncertain. For he did not know whether this would be permitted him by the Spirit. The Spirit led him wherever He Himself willed. While in Ephesus, he intended to go from there to Macedonia, pass through it, and then go to them. By many arguments he proves his affection for them. He does so both by not wishing to see them merely in passing, and by desiring that they send him on his way.

Knowing that he still had many things to do in Corinth, he does not wish to see them only in passing. In order not to grieve them, he promises the Corinthians that he will remain with them for some time.

The Apostle intends to do nothing without God’s signal, but desires that God’s right hand govern him. Meanwhile, he sufficiently comforted the Corinthians by what he said, promising to remain with them for some time. He also makes known why he will not come soon.

Then he promises to undertake a journey to Corinth after completing his affairs in Ephesus, where he hopes to remain until Pentecost. He intends to choose the road through Macedonia (1 Cor 16:5-9).

In the Apostle’s notice about visiting the Corinthians, this is especially worthy of note: he promises not to be with them in passing, as with the Romans, but would like the Lord to allow him even to winter with them.

So close did he consider the Corinthians to himself. So highly did he value staying with them, as with his own children.

There was a great deal of time from Pentecost, which he wished to spend in Ephesus, until the Corinthian winter. The journey was not very far, though it was difficult, for he wished to go overland through Macedonia.

Yet the Apostle Paul did not happen to spend Pentecost in Ephesus. The wide door of preaching of which he spoke, having in view the readiness of many to receive Christianity, opened before him earlier.

“I wish,” he says, “not to visit you merely in passing, but to stop and live with you” (Saint Chrysostom). “He sufficiently consoled the Corinthians by promising to remain with them for some time” (Theodoret).

He wishes to stay because, as is clear from the epistle, many disorders had crept in among them. Their conduct had to be corrected, and their manner of thinking had to be changed in many things.

For the upright this news brought joy and gladness. In those who were not upright, it had to produce fear and anxiety.

“Here he expresses his love and at the same time frightens sinners, though not directly, but under the form of friendly affection” (Saint Chrysostom).

By the words, “if the Lord permits,” the Apostle shows “that he intends to do nothing without a divine indication, but desires the right hand of God to govern him.”