1 Corinthians 16:17

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

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Benson Commentary

1 Corinthians 16:17-18. I am glad of the coming of Stephanas, &c. — This Stephanas is supposed by many to have been the son of Stephanas mentioned 1 Corinthians 16:15. He, with Fortunatus and Achaicus, are supposed to have been the messengers sent, by the sincere part of the Corinthian church, with the letter mentioned 1 Corinthians 7:1. For that which was lacking on your part they have supplied — They have performed the offices of love which you could not supply, by reason of your absence. For they have refreshed my spirit — By their obliging behaviour and edifying conversation, as I doubt not they have often refreshed yours, by their ministrations among you; or will refresh yours by informing you of my success in preaching the gospel.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

16:13-18 A Christian is always in danger, therefore should ever be on the watch. He should be fixed in the faith of the gospel, and never desert or give it up. By this faith alone he will be able to keep his ground in an hour of temptation. Christians should be careful that charity not only reigns in their hearts, but shines in their lives. There is a great difference between Christian firmness and feverish warmth and transport. The apostle gave particular directions as to some who served the cause of Christ among them. Those who serve the saints, those who desire the honour of the churches, and to remove reproaches from them, are to be thought much of, and loved. They should willingly acknowledge the worth of such, and all who laboured with or helped the apostle.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

I am glad of the coming - That is, I am glad that they have come to me at Ephesus. I rejoice that he who was converted by my ministry in Achaia, and who has so long shown himself to be a personal friend to me, and an aid in my work, came where Iam.

Stephanas - The same person evidently mentioned in the previous verses. Probably he, as one of the oldest and most respected members of the church, had been selected to carry the letter of the 1 Corinthians 1 1 Corinthians 7:1 to Paul, and to consult with him respecting the affairs of the church there.

Fortunatus and Achaieus - These persons are not referred to anywhere else in the New Testament. It appears that Fortunatus survived Paul, for he was subsequently the messenger of the church at Corinth to that at Rome, and bore back to the Corinthians the Epistle which Clement of Rome sent to them. See that epistle, Section 59.

For that which was lacking ... - The word which is used here, and rendered "that which was lacking" (ὑστέρημα husterēma), does not occur in the Classic writers. It means properly that which is missing, want, lack - Robinson. It may be used to denote a want or lack of any kind, whether of support, sustenance, aid, consolation, information, or counsel; see Luke 21:4; Philippians 2:30; 1 Thessalonians 3:10. What this was which the Corinthians had neglected or failed to furnish Paul, and which had been supplied by the presence of these persons, can be only a matter of conjecture; and different commentators have supposed different things. It might be a neglect to provide for his needs, or a defect of informing him about their affairs in the letter which they had sent him; or it might be that these persons had furnished, by their presence and conversation, those consolations and friendly offices which the church at Corinth would have rendered had they been all present; and Paul may mean to say, that he had enjoyed with them that friendly contact and Christian communion which he had desired with them, but which was lacking, that is, which he had not been permitted to enjoy by reason of his absence. This is the view which is given by Rosenmuller, Doddridge, Bloomfield; and as Paul does not seem here inclined to blame them, this view is most in accordance with the general strain of the passage.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

17. Fortunatus … Achaicus—probably of Stephanas' household.

that … lacking on your part—So far as you were unable yourselves to "refresh my spirit," in that you are absent from me, "they have supplied" by coming to me from you, and so supplying the means of intercourse between you and me. They seem to have carried this letter back; see the subscription below: hence the exhortations, 1Co 16:16, 18, as though they would be at Corinth when the Epistle arrived.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

Ver. 17,18. It should seem that this church had sent these three persons to Paul at this time (as most think) at Ephesus, to acquaint him with the state of their churches; these men supplied the want of that whole church’s coming, or they made a report to the apostle of the Corinthians more fully than they had done in their letters. He adds, that they had refreshed his spirit, not with bringing him any money, (for the apostle hath told us, 1 Corinthians 9:15, that he gloried in this, that he had preached the gospel to them freely, without being any charge to them), but by their visit, and the conference that he had had with them about the state of that church. The apostle addeth, that they had refreshed their spirits also; intimating, that their joy was his, and that what was a refreshing to him, ought also to be so to them; he therefore recommendeth these men, and such as they were, to be reverenced and respected by this church.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

I am glad of the coming of Stephanas, and Fortunatus, and Achaicus,.... Who very probably were those of the household of Chloe, mentioned in 1 Corinthians 1:11, who came either of their own accord, or were sent as messengers from the church at Corinth to the apostle; who was glad to see them, one of them being baptized by him, and perhaps all of them converted under his ministry: however, they were believers in Christ, if not ministers of the Gospel, which seems very probable.

For that which was lacking on your part they have supplied; which is not to be understood of their supplying him with money, in which the Corinthians had been deficient; for as he had never taken anything of them, he was determined he never would; see 2 Corinthians 11:7; but either of their presence which supplied the want of theirs, the apostle had been for some time greatly desirous of; or whereas they had been greatly wanting in sending him an account of the state of the church, and how things stood with them, these brethren greatly supplied that defect, by giving him a very particular account of their church affairs.

Geneva Study Bible

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

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Meyer's NT Commentary

1 Corinthians 16:17-18. Regarding Fortunatus (probably not different from the person named in Clem. 1 Cor. 59) and Achaicus no particulars are known. They are not to be included (as de Wette would have it) in the family of Stephanas, which has been spoken of already. Grotius holds them to be Chloe’s people; but see on 1 Corinthians 1:11.

ὅτι τὸ ὑμέτερον ὑστέρημα αὐτοὶ ἀνεπλ.] because they for their part have supplied your lack (your absence). Comp. on Php 2:30. Ὑμέτ. is thus taken objectively (comp. 1 Corinthians 15:31): the lack of your presence; and ὑμέτ. and αὐτοί (see the critical remarks) have the emphasis. Observe how courteously the expression: the want of you (of your presence), is chosen. Hofmann, on the contrary, misses this delicate touch by taking it as: what was lacking in you, in this respect, namely, that you could not appear with me in person. With still less delicacy Grotius, who adduces in his support 2 Corinthians 9:12 : “quod vos omnes facere oportuit, id illi fecerunt; certiorem me fecere de vestris morbis.” He is followed by Rückert, who founds wrongly upon Php 2:30 : “what should have been done by you, that have they done,” inasmuch, namely, as they had given him joy, which had not been done by the Corinthians. But we must not decide here by passages from other Epistles, since linguistically both renderings alike may be correct, but simply by the connection, according to which the men as ambassadors from the Corinthians were the compensation to the apostle for the lack of the presence of the latter. Comp. Chrysosto.

ἀνέπαυσαν γὰρ κ.τ.λ.] reason assigned for the preceding τὸ ὑστέρημα αὐτ. ἀνεπλ.[110] Regarding the phrase, comp. 2 Corinthians 7:13; Philemon 1:7; Philemon 1:20.

ΚΑῚ ΤῸ ὙΜῶΝ] for they have refreshed (by their arrival here, and the communications and assurances connected therewith, comp. 2 Corinthians 7:13) my spirit and yours. The latter, inasmuch as they had come not in their own name, but as representatives of the whole church; their meeting therefore with Paul could not but be refreshing to the consciousness of the whole church. As they by their presence provided for Paul the joy of ἀνάπαυσις, so they provided it also for the church, which through them had entered into this fellowship with the apostle, and thus owed to them the refreshment which it could not but experience in the consciousness of this living intercourse of love with Paul brought about through these men. Comp. Chrysostom: οὐ Παύλῳ μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἐκείνοις αὐτοὺς χαρισαμένους δείκνυσι τῷ τὴν πόλιν ἅπασαν ἐν αὐτοῖς περιφέρειν. Paul thus expresses not simply reciprocity in general,—that which is presupposed where there is good-will (de Wette),—but the relation implied in the representation of the church by their delegates,—a relation, therefore, which for the latter, in virtue of their acceptance of the embassage, was one of merit. There lies here, also, in the addition of this second pronoun, a tender delicacy (comp. on 1 Corinthians 1:2), which the readers acquainted with the manner of the apostle could well appreciate. Grotius makes the reference to be to the assurances of Paul’s love which those men had brought with them to the Corinthians. But τὸ ὑμῶν also, like ΤῸ ἘΜῸΝ ΠΝΕῦΜΑ, must refer to the time of the presence of the delegates with Pau.

ἘΠΙΓΙΝΏΣΚΕΤΕ] Attention to the compound verb: recognise them rightly (comp. on 1 Corinthians 13:12), should of itself have sufficed to prevent alterations of the sense of the word (such as: prize them highly, so Theophylact, Grotius, Flatt, Neander, and others). The high esteem is the consequence of the ἐπιγιν.

τοὺς τοιούτους] as in 1 Corinthians 16:16.

[110] Had Paul and his readers met together in person, this would have been refreshing for both parties (comp. Romans 1:12); and this refreshment of both parties had now taken place through those delegates.

Expositor's Greek Testament

1 Corinthians 16:17-18. “But I rejoice at the presence (or coming) of Stephanas, and Fortunatus, and Achaïcus.” The stress lying on παρουσίᾳ explains the introductory δέ: “You must show respect to such men, when they reach home; but I am glad that just now they are here”.—Fortunatus (Lat. name, and common) and Achaïcus (Gr[2684], and rare) are Stephanas’ companions in the deputation; the three will speedily return to Cor[2685] Since P. thus commends them at the end of his Ep., written in reply to the Letter they had brought from Cor[2686], perhaps they were to be its bearers also. On Stephanas, see 1 Corinthians 1:16. The two latter names are also h.ll. in N.T.; a Fortunatus appears in Clement’s list of emissaries from Rom. to Cor[2687] (ad Cor. § 65). Ed[2688] supposes all three to be slaves (Achaïcus, at least, resembles a slave-name), and identifies them with οἱ τ. Χλοῆς of 1 Corinthians 1:11; but this does not comport with the position given to Stephanas in 1 Corinthians 16:15 f.; see, further, note on 1 Corinthians 1:11. (“I rejoice at their presence), because the (or my) lack of you these have filled up”. ὑμέτερον represents the objective gen[2689] (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:31): the presence of the three with P. could not make up any lack in Cor[2690], but it made up to P. for the absence of the Cor., supplying him, representatively, with their desired society. El[2691] and others read the poss. pron[2692] subjectively—“what you were lacking in (i.e., your want of access) towards me”: this constr[2693] is consistent with the usage of ὑστέρημα (see parls.); but the former suits better the antithesis to παρουσία (Ed[2694]), and Paul’s fine courtesy.—“For they refreshed my spirit—and yours.” ἀναπαύω (see parls.) describes the restful effect of friendly converse and sympathy. Paul adds καὶ ὑμῶν, realising that the comfort of heart received by himself will react upon his friends at Cor[2695]: the Cor[2696] will be cheered to know that their fellowship, in the persons of S., [2697]., and A., has so greatly cheered him at a time of weariness and heavy trial (cf. 2 Corinthians 2:3; 2 Corinthians 7:3).

[2684] Greek, or Grotius’ Annotationes in N.T.

[2685] Corinth, Corinthian or Corinthians.

[2686] Corinth, Corinthian or Corinthians.

[2687] Corinth, Corinthian or Corinthians.

[2688] T. C. Edwards’ Commentary on the First Ep. to the Corinthians.2

[2689] genitive case.

[2690] Corinth, Corinthian or Corinthians.

[2691] C. J. Ellicott’s St. Paul’s First Epistle to the Corinthians.

[2692] pronoun.

[2693] construction.

[2694] T. C. Edwards’ Commentary on the First Ep. to the Corinthians.2

[2695] Corinth, Corinthian or Corinthians.

[2696] Corinth, Corinthian or Corinthians.

[2697] Codex Augiensis (sæc. ix.), a Græco-Latin MS., at Trinity College, Cambridge, edited by Scrivener in 1859. Its Greek text is almost identical with that of , and it is therefore not cited save where it differs from that MS. Its Latin version, f, presents the Vulgate text with some modifications.

1 Corinthians 16:18 b repeats in another form the advice of 1 Corinthians 16:16 : “Acknowledge (know well) then such men as these”. For τοὺς τοιούτους, see parls., and 1 Corinthians 16:16.—ἐπιγινώσκω (see parls.) denotes strictly accurate knowledge, of persons or things; but knowledge of personal qualities implies corresponding regard to and treatment of those who possess such qualities: cf. 1 Thessalonians 5:12 f.

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

17. Fortunatus and Achaicus] Fortunatus is referred to by Clement as the bearer of his Epistle. See Introduction, Ch. iii. Nothing is known of Achaicus.

that which was lacking on your part] i.e. the void occasioned by your absence, not the pecuniary need of the Apostle as in 2 Corinthians 11:9 (cf. Php 2:30). For the Apostle there says that it is his boast, of which no man shall deprive him, that he has never cast any of the burden of his maintenance upon the Corinthian Church. See also ch. 9.

Bengel's Gnomen

1 Corinthians 16:17. Χαίρω, I rejoice) Paul in respect of God, gives thanks, when he might have said, I rejoice; ch. 1 Corinthians 1:14, but when he writes to men, he says, I rejoice or I rejoiced, instead of I give thanks; Php 4:10; Philemon 1:7 : comp. Acts 10:33; 3 John 1:3. Now again the deputies of the Corinthians had departed; and yet he says in the present tense, I rejoice; for a pleasant remembrance of them remained, and the present is supposed to accord with the time of the reading of the epistle at Corinth.—Στεφανᾶ, of Stephanas) This person seems to have been the son of that Stephanas, whose house is mentioned, but not himself at 1 Corinthians 16:15.—ὑστέρημα, [that which was lacking] the deficiency) So far as you had been awanting to me, and were not yourselves able to refresh me in my absence.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 17. - Of the coming; rather, at the presence of. They were now with St. Paul in Ephesus. Fortunatus. A Christian of this name also carried the letter of St. Clement to Corinth. That which was lacking on your part. This sounds like a reproach in the Authorized Version, but is quite the reverse. It should be rendered, the void caused by your absence. The same word occurs in 2 Corinthians 8:13, 14; 2 Corinthians 9:12; 2 Corinthians 11:9, etc. The nearest parallel to the usage here is Philippians 2:30. 1 Corinthians 16:17

Vincent's Word Studies

That which was lacking on your part (τὸ ὑμέτερο ὑστέρημα)

Or the (i.e. my) lack of you. The Greek will bear either rendering. Compare Philippians 2:30; 2 Corinthians 8:14; 2 Corinthians 9:12. The latter is preferable. Edwards, somewhat naively says: "I do not see what could be lacking on the part of the Corinthians which Stephanas and his two friends could supply at Ephesus."