1 Corinthians 16:7

For I will not see you now by the way; but I trust to tarry a while with you, if the Lord permit.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(7) For I will not see you now by the way.—Here again is a reference to his changed intention. (See 1Corinthians 16:5.)

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

16:1-9 The good examples of other Christians and churches should rouse us. It is good to lay up in store for good uses. Those who are rich in this world, should be rich in good works, 1Ti 6:17,18. The diligent hand will not make rich, without the Divine blessing, Pr 10:4,22. And what more proper to stir us up to charity to the people and children of God, than to look at all we have as his gift? Works of mercy are real fruits of true love to God, and are therefore proper services on his own day. Ministers are doing their proper business, when putting forward, or helping works of charity. The heart of a Christian minister must be towards the people among whom he has laboured long, and with success. All our purposes must be made with submission to the Divine providence, Jas 4:15. Adversaries and opposition do not break the spirits of faithful and successful ministers, but warm their zeal, and inspire them with fresh courage. A faithful minister is more discouraged by the hardness of his hearers' hearts, and the backslidings of professors, than by the enemies' attempts.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

For I will not see you now by the way - On the way to Macedonia. Something had occurred to change his mind, and to induce him to go to Macedonia by another way.

But I trust to tarry a while with you - That is, on my return from Macedonia, 1 Corinthians 16:5. Greek, "I hope to remain with you a little while.

If the Lord permit - The apostle did not use the language of certainty and of confidence. He felt his dependence on God, and regarded all as under his direction; see the same form of expression in 1 Corinthians 4:19, and the note on that place.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

7. I will not see you now by the way—literally, "I do not wish to see you this time in passing"; that is, to pay you now what would have to be a merely passing visit as I did in the second visit (2Co 12:14). In contrast to "a while," that is, some time, as the Greek might better be translated.

but—The oldest manuscripts read "for."

Matthew Poole's Commentary

I will not see you in my passage into Macedonia, for then I shall have no time to stay long with you; and I hope to gain a time when I shall stay longer with you; but all this must be understood with submission to God’s will, who can hinder, and order my journeys, and determine my purposes, as he pleaseth. James teaches us, when we declare our resolutions to go to this or that place, to add:

If the Lord will; and our apostle observeth that rule, Romans 1:10.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

For I will not see you now by the way,.... Just to look upon them, and be gone, be like a wayfaring man that tarries but for a night:

but I trust to tarry a while with you; the whole winter season:

if the Lord permit; submitting all to the will of God, at whose sovereign disposal he always was, and at whose beck and command he desired to be, and to do nothing, or be any where, but what was agreeable to the will of God.

Geneva Study Bible

For I will not see you now by the way; but I trust to tarry a while with you, if the Lord permit.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Meyer's NT Commentary

1 Corinthians 16:7. For it is not my will to see you now in passing. Since he does not say πάλιν ἐν παρ., but ἄρτι ἐν παρ., no inference can be drawn from this passage to decide the question (see Introduction to 2 Cor. § 2) whether Paul had been already twice in Corinth before writing our Epistle to the Corinthians (in opposition to Schrader, Neander, Wieseler, Otto); but he says simply: it is not his will now to visit the Corinthians only as a passing traveller, which leaves it quite undecided whether he has already previously visited them once ἐν παρόδῳ (so, too, Hofmann) or not. In order rightly to understand the passage, observe that the ὑμᾶς, which is put first on that account, has the emphasis, in contrast to the Macedonians. The Corinthians, in the journey which he is now about to make, are to have the advantage over the Macedonians, whom he will only see in journeying through, 1 Corinthians 16:5.[106] According to Billroth and others, the thought is meant to be, that he will not now see them, as he had formerly intended, on his journey through (to Macedonia). But in that case he would have written: ἄρτι γὰρ οὐ θέλω κ.τ.λ. Regarding ἐν παρόδῳ, comp. Thuc. i. 126. 7, v. 4. 5, vii. 2. 3; Polyb. v. 68. 8; Lucian, D. Deor. xxiv. 2.

ἐλπίζω γὰρ κ.τ.λ.] ground of the οὐ θέλω κ.τ.λ.; for he hopes that the Lord will enable him to make a longer visit to the church than merely ἐν παρόδῳ, and upon the ground of this hope it is not his will, et.

ὁ κύριος] Christ, in whose service the apostle journeys and works (Acts 16:7; Acts 16:10).

ἐπιτρέψῃ] shall have allowed, i.e. shall have given signs of His approval. “Pia conditio,” Bengel. Comp. 1 Corinthians 4:19.

[106] This also against Otto, Pastoralb. p. 356 f.

Expositor's Greek Testament

1 Corinthians 16:7. “For I would not see you now, in passing; for (γὰρ) I hope to stay some length of time (χρόνον τινὰ) with you, if the Lord permit.” P. could have crossed by sea and taken Cor[2640] on his way to Mac. (cf. 2 Corinthians 1:15 f.); the Cor[2641] had requested his speedy coming, which might have been so arranged. But such a visit could only have been ἐν παρόδῳ (explaining the ἄρτι), “in the way-by,” as the summer must be devoted to Mac.; this flying visit would not be of service; there is much to be done at Cor[2642] (1 Corinthians 11:34, etc), and when the Ap. does come he means to stay “some time“. His recent short visit had been very unsatisfactory (see Introd., chap. 2).—For ἄρτι, see note on 1 Corinthians 4:2; it is in tacit contrast with the future, as in 1 Corinthians 13:12. For ἐπιμεῖναι, “to stay on” (in time)—distinguished from καταμένω, “to stay fixedly” (in place or condition: 6), see parls.—ἐὰν ὁ Κύρ. κ.τ.λ., see parls., also to 1 Corinthians 4:19,—pia conditio (Bg[2643]): Paul’s plans have been repeatedly overruled (Acts 16:6 f.; 1 Thessalonians 2:18). He says “if the Lord permit,” thinking of his visit as a pleasure; but “if the Lord will,” in the parl[2644] clause, 1 Corinthians 4:18 f., viewing it as a painful duty.

[2640] Corinth, Corinthian or Corinthians.

[2641] Corinth, Corinthian or Corinthians.

[2642] Corinth, Corinthian or Corinthians.

[2643] Bengel’s Gnomon Novi Testamenti.

[2644] parallel.

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

7. For I will not see you now by the way] See passages cited in note on 1 Corinthians 16:5, for the reason of this. St Paul feared that he might have to adopt some strong measures against those who resisted his authority, and he was very anxious to remain long enough at Corinth to obliterate every feeling of unkindness which those measures might be calculated to produce.

if the Lord permit] See James 4:15, and cf. ch. 1 Corinthians 4:19, and Hebrews 6:3.

Bengel's Gnomen

1 Corinthians 16:7. Ἄρτι, now) after so long delay heretofore.—ἐὰν ὁ Κύριος ἐπιτρέπῃ,[157] if the Lord permit) a pious qualification. The destinations of the saints have some degree of liberty, which the divine goodness in various ways both precedes and follows.

[157] The Germ. Ver., after the margin of 2d Ed. has the reading ἐπιτρέψῃ. The Gnomon in this passage follows the former decision.—E. B.

Ἐπιτρέψῃ is the reading of ABCfg Vulg. Ἐπιτρέπῃ is that of D (Λ) G; so Rec. Text.

1 Corinthians 16:7