Chapter 16:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Johnson
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Romans 2 Corinthians
1 Corinthians 16
Concise Complete
A collection for the poor at Jerusalem. (1-9)
Timothy and Apollos commended. (10-12) Exhortation to watchfulness in faith and
love. (13-18) Christian salutations. (19-24)
Verses 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,
proverbs 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,
james 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.
Verses
10-12 Timothy came to do the work of the Lord. Therefore to vex his spirit,
would be to grieve the Holy Spirit; to despise him, would be to despise Him that
sent him. Those who work the work of the Lord, should be treated with tenderness
and respect. Faithful ministers will not be jealous of each other. It becomes
the ministers of the gospel to show concern for each other's reputation and
usefulness.
Verses
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.
Verses
19-24 Christianity by no means destroys civility. Religion should promote a
courteous and obliging temper towards all. Those give a false idea of religion,
and reproach it, who would take encouragement from it to be sour and morose. And
Christian salutations are not mere empty compliments; but are real expressions
of good-will to others, and commend them to the Divine grace and blessing. Every
Christian family should be as a Christian church. Wherever two or three are
gathered together in the name of Christ, and he is among them, there is a
church. Here is a solemn warning. Many who have Christ's name much in their
mouths, have no true love to him in their hearts. None love him in truth, who do
not love his laws, and keep his commandments. Many are Christians in name, who
do not love Christ Jesus the Lord in sincerity. Such are separated from the
people of God, and the favour of God. Those who love not the Lord Jesus Christ,
must perish without remedy. Let us not rest in any religious profession where
there is not the love of Christ, earnest desires for his salvation, gratitude
for his mercies, and obedience to his commandments. The grace of our Lord Jesus
Christ has in it all that is good, for time and for eternity. To wish that our
friends may have this grace with them, is wishing them the utmost good. And this
we should wish all our friends and brethren in Christ. We can wish them nothing
greater, and we should wish them nothing less. True Christianity makes us wish
those whom we love, the blessings of both worlds; this is meant in wishing the
grace of Christ to be with them. The apostle had dealt plainly with the
Corinthians, and told them of their faults with just severity; but he parts in
love, and with a solemn profession of his love to them for Christ's sake. May
our love be with all who are in Christ Jesus. Let us try whether all things
appear worthless to us, when compared with Christ and his righteousness. Do we
allow ourselves in any known sin, or in the neglect of any known duty? By such
inquiries, faithfully made, we may judge of the state of our souls.
Chapter 16:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Johnson
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Romans 2 Corinthians
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Job
Psalm
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
Acts
Romans
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Galatians
Ephesians
Philippians
Colossians
1 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians
1 Timothy
2 Timothy
Titus
Philemon
Hebrews
James
1 Peter
2 Peter
1 John
2 John
3 John
Jude
Revelation
