~9 min read
Ps Paul Cheng
1 Corinthians 16:15-24
“…because we are part of God’s family…”
Dear Bethelites,
We all understand what it's like to feel unwanted, unloved, ostracised by work colleagues and classmates, or excluded from group chats and other activities. There is a sense in which all of us want to feel accepted and loved. Sometimes, we have been hurt and rejected by the world, and when we return home, we feel the warmth and love within our families. But what about our spiritual family, the church? Do we feel the warmth and love within the covenant family? We ought to show love and care for one another because we are part of God’s family.
As the Apostle Paul came to the end of 1 Corinthians, he demonstrated a loving affection for the brethren. 1 Corinthians 16:15, I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfuits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,).
What does it mean to be the firstfruits of Achaia? Achaia was the southern province of Greece where Athens and Corinth were located. It means that Stephanas and his family were the first people to come to know the Lord in the Corinthian church (c.f. 1 Corinthians 1:16). They were the pioneer members of the Corinthian church.
One of the clearest evidence of someone who is born again is that he or she would serve the Lord. Paul used an interesting phrase to describe the services of Stephanas and his family, they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints.
The word addicted is often projected in a bad sense, e.g. addicted to drugs, alcohol or gambling. Here, it is used in a good sense, which means to be devoted, or to stick to it no matter what happens. To immerse oneself into doing something again and again, so much so that it is like an addiction, a pattern of life. And what were they addicted to? The ministry of the saints (ministry is diakonia, same word for deacons)! In other words, they were serving the other believers.
Whenever we think of the word addicted like in the case of drug-addiction, we think of an overpowering desire and compulsion, a growing tolerance, and a dependence, for and to the drug. When we import all these meanings into our services, there is this overpowering desire and compulsion to serve the Lord, this tolerance in that we have the patience, strength and endurance to do the work, and this dependence on the Lord as we serve Him. What a wonderful way to describe the believers that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints!
1 Corinthians 16:16, That ye submit yourselves unto such, and to every one that helpeth with us, and laboureth.
Most likely, they were serving in some leadership roles, and the Corinthians were to submit themselves to these men not just because they were leaders, but most importantly, because of their devoted commitment to the ministry. That was why Paul went on to say, not only to Stephanas and his house, but to every one that helpeth, and laboureth with us.
A spiritually healthy church is one in which the leaders are devoted to serving the Lord, and the members can see that kind of devotion, and they are willing to come under their leadership. That is the kind of church we want for Bethel!
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.
They could be the three people who brought the letter from Corinth to Paul. Paul had ministered to the Corinthians for a while, and then he left Corinth to go over to Ephesus. If you remember the Corinthians had many questions, and so they wrote the letter to Paul, and it could be Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus, who had delivered it to Paul who was glad to receive it. Paul did not elaborate on his lack, therefore probably, he was referring to the fellowship of the Corinthians. It was his spiritual needs rather than physical needs because Paul went on to say, For they have refreshed my spirit and yours: therefore acknowledge ye them that are such (1 Corinthians 16:18).
To refresh is to give rest, it is to comfort and strengthen someone. We can refresh others with our words. When people are hurt, we use our words to heal their wounds. When people are sorrowful, we use our words to comfort them. When people are discouraged, we use our words to lift them up. At other times, we can refresh others by not saying anything, for our mere presence is the best encouragement and strength. Do you remember Job and his three friends? It would have been better for his friends to just keep quiet and sit beside him, rather than for them to open their mouths and say all the wrong things which were so hurtful.
Notice the little phrase and yours. The Corinthians wanted to visit and encourage Paul, but they could not, and therefore, they sent representatives. When these three brethren fulfilled their responsibilities to encourage Paul, the Corinthians themselves were refreshed. Can you see the love they have for one another? “We cannot go, but if you can go on our behalf, praise the Lord. And when you have accomplished what you are supposed to do, we are refreshed and strengthened.” Indeed, love for the brethren is so contagious!
Especially when the pastor has become old and weak, that is the time he needs the most encouragement. Listen to the words of the Apostle Paul when he was near the end of his life. He said to Timothy, Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me: For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry (2 Timothy 4:9-11). Can you see how Paul felt the special need for encouragement, support, fellowship and companionship, especially toward the end of his life?
1 Corinthians 16:19-21, The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house. All the brethren greet you. Greet ye one another with an holy kiss. The salutation of me Paul with mine own hand.
The words, salute, greet and salutation appeared a total of five times in these three verses. They come from the same Greek word (aspazomai or aspasmos) and they mean the same thing. The churches of Asia were those churches in Asia Minor, and they knew about the Corinthians, and they were genuinely concerned for them. Therefore, they sent their warm greetings.
Previously, Aquila and Priscilla were in Corinth, and they knew the Corinthians personally. This couple was totally devoted to serving the Lord (addicted to the ministry). They served at Ephesus, and while they were there, they helped Apollos to better understand the truth of the gospel, which means they were very knowledgeable of the holy scriptures. When Paul wrote his letter to the Romans, he greeted the brethren at Rome, and he included Aquila and Priscilla, which means they were there in Rome as well (c.f. Romans 16:3). So, this couple were in Corinth, Rome, Ephesus, which means they were all over the place, moving from one place to another to serve the Lord. And here, we were told that they even used their house as the church. This tells us that they not only served the Lord zealously, but they also gave to the Lord sacrificially.
It seemed there were so many people who wanted to send their greetings and it was impossible for Paul to list all the names, therefore he had to note, all the brethren greet you.
Greet ye one another with an holy kiss — The practice of kissing one another on the forehead or cheek was common in the Old Testament times. Such kisses were in no way romantic or erotic. Oftentimes it was only between men and men, and between women and women. The New Testament church, which at first was made up of mainly Jews, carried on the traditional practice of kissing among relatives and close friends. New believers who embraced Christianity were rejected by their own biological families, they were then accepted into the church, the spiritual family, with a holy kiss. That is why it is important for Paul to command the believers to maintain this practice when they greet one another. Today, in our culture, we may not greet one another with a kiss, but perhaps, we would shake one another’s hands as a symbol of acceptance and affection.
One of the dangers of the church is that we allow strangers to remain as strangers. By that I mean, someone walks into the church as a stranger, and after two years, he is still a stranger in the church, while others are happily going about doing their own things. The saddest part is when that person leaves the church, no one knows he has left, for they cannot remember he has come in the first place. We must never let that happen in our church!
The salutation of me Paul with mine own hand — Most likely, Paul was dictating this letter, and someone was writing it down on his behalf. Apparently, it was believed that Paul had some problems with his eyes, and it was common for the people in those days to speak and someone else to write. Toward the end of the letter, he would sign off with his own name, similar to the way we sign our letters at the end with, “yours sincerely, and our names.”
Here, Paul signed off this letter with one of the strongest warnings. 1 Corinthians 16:22, If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha.
Christian love is not just about mutual love that one has for another. There is the horizontal aspect of love amongst the brethren, and more importantly, the vertical aspect of love for God. It is all because of God that we are one spiritual family.
The Corinthian church was a problematic church, and not everyone was a believer. There were people who caused trouble and division within the body of believers. They were the people Paul was talking about. If they love not the Lord Jesus Christ, were not willing to submit to the leadership, had no love for the brethren, and continued to remain in the church, they would surely cause trouble. Therefore, they had to be warned!
The strongest warning ever given was issued to these people, let him be Anathema Maranatha. Anathema means be accursed, and Marathana means the Lord comes. In a sense, Paul prayed for the Lord to come quickly, and take away those who were accursed, the false Christians, who were creating trouble in the church. The idea is “Lord, come quickly, and remove them before they cause more harm to your church.”
Some people may be thinking, “What about those people who believe in Christ, but they just do not love Him”? Well, the Bible does not think like the way they think, and God does not think like the way they think. The believer who is saved by the precious blood of Jesus Christ, he will love his Lord and Saviour with all his heart, with all his soul and with all his might, and he will grow in that love. As he learns more about His Saviour, he will love Him even more. There is no such thing as a believer who believes in Christ, and does not love Him.
We do understand that in the physical realm. When a husband says to his wife, “I know I am married to you. I believe in this marriage. I believe in this wedding ring. But I just do not love you.” Is that acceptable? No! So, why does anyone think that it is acceptable to God, to say that one believes in God but he just does not love Him? It is unacceptable!
Finally, like he had always done, Paul ended his letter with a benediction. A benediction is a prayer asking for divine blessing. 1 Corinthians 16:23-24, The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.
Throughout this letter, Paul had been very strong with the Corinthians, and he had rebuked them on many occasions. But when he closed this letter, he assured them of his love. Proverbs 27:6, Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful. The truth may hurt us sometimes, and prick our hearts, but it is good for us. A true friend will speak the truth to and about us, so that we will repent and be healed. But we have no better friend than the Lord Jesus Christ who is a perfect everlasting friend. He loves us so much that He died on the cross, shedding His precious blood to save us. And He wants to remind us through the book of Corinthians that we may be rebuked, convicted, reminded, touched and ministered, and become the people He wants us to be. All praise and glory to Him!
Shalom,
Pastor Paul Cheng
1 CORINTHIANS 16The Principles Of Giving (Part 3)The Principles Of Giving (Part 3)1 Corinthians 16:1-4
The Principles Of Giving (Part 2)The Principles Of Giving (Part 2)1 Corinthians 16:1-4
The Principles Of Giving (Part 1)The Principles Of Giving (Part 1)1 Corinthians 16:1-4
How Do We Do The Lord’s Work? (Part 1)How Do We Do The Lord’s Work? (Part 1)1 Corinthians 16:5-9
How Do We Do The Lord’s Work? (Part 2)How Do We Do The Lord’s Work? (Part 2)1 Corinthians 16:6-7
How Do We Do The Lord’s Work? (Part 3)How Do We Do The Lord’s Work? (Part 3)1 Corinthians 16:9-12
Stand Fast In The Faith (Part 3)Stand Fast In The Faith (Part 3)1 Corinthians 16:13-14
Stand Fast In The Faith (Part 2)Stand Fast In The Faith (Part 2)1 Corinthians 16:13-14
Stand Fast In The Faith (Part 1)Stand Fast In The Faith (Part 1)1 Corinthians 16:13-14
A Loving Affection For The BelieversA Loving Affection For The Believers1 Corinthians 16:15-24