I CORINTHIANS 16
FINAL WORDS
I Corinthians 16:5-24
S: Encouragement
C: Paul’s final words to the Corinthians
Pr: BE AN ENCOURAGEMENT TO EACH OTHER.
Type: First person
Context: Paul is writing out is final words to the Corinthians. Doing this method adds interest to a somewhat choppy ending.
Setting: Desk, chair, scroll, stylus
PA: How is the change to be observed?
Version: ESV
RMBC 29 May 05 AM
Sosthenes! Sosthenes! Where are you?
Let’s see…we have to finish this letter up.
I think I have covered everything they asked abut.
We just finished the resurrection.
We did marriage, food sacrificed to idols, the lawsuit, the Lord’s Supper, spiritual gifts, the Jerusalem relief fund.
I think we got it all.
Good thing too, since we are at the end of this scroll.
It is now time for the final words.
Where did Sosthenes go?
My name is Paul.
I have been described as a man with a large nose that is short, bow-legged, and bald.
So I am not much to look at – what can I say?
Anyway, Sosthenes is my writer of sorts.
I dictate, and he writes.
I have been writing a letter to the church in Corinth.
You could say I am their spiritual father.
When I came to Corinth to share the good news about Jesus, it would hardly be considered a fruitful place to start a church.
Prosperity, luxury, idolatry, sexual laxity – this was truly a cosmopolitan place.
And it is in this crazy place that the church explodes.
I have never seen such growth.
After I left, this church became a proud, self-sufficient and strong-willed people – with a lot of personal and spiritual problems.
They are believers, even though sometimes they don’t act like it.
Deep down, most of them love God and want to serve Him.
I guess Sosthenes is not coming today.
Well, I want to get this letter off, so I guess I will have to do it, even though Sosthenes’ handwriting is much better than my own.
Eleúsomai dé prós humás hótan Makedonían diélthoo Makedonían gár diérchomai prós humás dé tuchón paramenoó eé kaí paracheimásoo hína humeís me propémpseete hoú eán poreúoomai. Ou théloo gár humás árti en paródoo ideín elpízoo gár chrónon tiná epimeínai prós humás eán ho Kúrios epitrépsee
Oh, is that all Greek to you?
Don’t worry!
It’s all Greek to me as well!
I will visit you after passing through Macedonia, for I intend to pass through Macedonia, and perhaps I will stay with you or even spend the winter, so that you may help me on my journey, wherever I go. For I do not want to see you now just in passing. I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits.
I want to get back to Corinth.
But I know a quick visit won’t do.
I have to spend significant time with them.
So we will see how the Lord unfolds it.
I think it is important to keep looking and planning ahead.
But plans are not perfect.
They are always subject to the Lord’s revision.
So you have to remain flexible.
You have to keep in step with what the Lord desires.
Epimenoó dé en Efésoo héoos teés Penteekosteés thúra gár moi anéoogen megálee kaí energeés kaí antikeímenoi polloí
But I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost, for a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.
There is good opportunity that is happening here in Ephesus.
It is really quite unexpected.
It is not unlike Corinth.
It hardly seemed like a place where the church would grow.
There is organized idolatry and occult practitioners.
It is a city laden with superstition, sexual vice, racism, and demonism.
Yet I knew something good was going on because of the opposition.
You know you are making a difference when the work is being hindered.
This has become a battlefield for the eternity of souls.
It is a fight against Satan and his demons.
He is fighting a losing battle against our Lord.
Eán dé élthee Timótheos blépete hína afóboos géneetai prós humás tó gár érgon Kuríou ergázetai hoos kagoó. Meé-tis oún autón exoutheneésee. Propémpsate dé autón en eireénee hína élthee prós me ekdéchomai gár autón metá toón adelfoón
When Timothy comes, see that you put him at ease among you, for he is doing the work of the Lord, as I am. So let no one despise him. Help him on his way in peace, that he may return to me, for I am expecting him with the brothers.
I have already sent Timothy to the churches I have started.
He is a remarkable young man.
He loves the Lord.
He loves the good news.
I see a lot of me in him, and yet, we are nothing alike.
He is shy; I am bold.
He is caring and responsive, while I tend to be more dogmatic.
I am worried that the Corinthians will eat him alive.
They are a lively bunch there.
And they have strongly resisted my authority, so it is my hope they will not resist him as well.
He may be young, but he is a gifted teacher.
But he is a different personality.
I believe he may have just the right touch for these people.
Perí dé Apolloó toú adelfoú pollá parekálesa autón hína élthee prós humás metá toón adelfoón. kaí pántoos ouk eén théleema hína nún élthee. eleúsetai dé hótan eukaireésee
Now concerning our brother Apollos, I strongly urged him to visit you with the other brothers, but it was not at all his will to come now. He will come when he has opportunity.
Apollos…
This is a gifted man, and he has been nothing less than a wonderful teammate in the Lord’s work.
He is so eloquent.
He is a spellbinding speaker.
And He is “mighty in the Scriptures.”
I want him to go to Corinth, but he does not feel the time is right.
I respect his convictions, and he will go when he feels the Lord is providing the opportunity.
Now, some final words to these people.
Greegoreíte
Be watchful,
The Corinthians need to be vigilant.
If it is not obvious to them, it should be.
There are all kinds of enemies that are out there that are seeking to divide us.
There are the false teachers.
There is Satan himself.
There is temptation and indifference.
They need to stay awake, and no longer allow themselves to fall into any moral or spiritual stupors.
Steékete en teé pístei
stand firm in the faith,
This church has been given the right teaching, but if you do not remain true to Christ, wrong belief will be followed by wrong behavior.
They must not lose the center of who they are.
They are about Jesus.
So it is with us all.
We need to remain true to Christ.
We are not to slip into wrong thinking, wrong belief, or wrong behavior.
Andrízesthe
act like men,
The Corinthians need to grow up, and keep growing.
Be a man – a man of God.
Be a woman – a woman of God.
They are not to be like children that fall for the newest thing that comes along.
They should be characterized by self-control, confidence and courage, walking in maturity.
We are not to give in to satanic opposition.
We are to be mature in doctrine, spiritual insight, emotional stability, and morality.
Krataioústhe
be strong.
We are not in this fight alone.
The Corinthians need to be strengthened by the Spirit and submit to Him.
Let Him power you up, because with God we can face anything.
Pánta humoón en agápee ginésthoo
Let all that you do be done in love.
Where would we be without love?
It is what keeps everything in balance.
It keeps our firmness from becoming hardness.
It keeps our strength from becoming domineering.
It keeps our right belief from becoming legalism.
When we love, we are like God.
Parakaloó dé humás adelfoí oídate teén oikían Stefaná hóti estín aparcheé teés Achaías kaí eis diakonían toís hagíois étaxan heautoús. hína kaí humeís hupotásseesthe toís toioútois kaí pantí toó sunergoúnti kaí kopioónti
Now I urge you, brothers — you know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints — be subject to such as these, and to every fellow worker and laborer.
Stephanas and his family were my first converts in that part of Greece.
And their conversion was so remarkable.
They immediately gave their whole lives to the Lord.
There was nothing piecemeal about it.
They began serving, and doing whatever they could to help grow the church.
This is who you should look for in leaders, for leadership follows from service.
It is not a matter of wealth or social standing.
It is not personality, degrees, or natural ability.
It is a heart that desires to serve.
These are the kind the church should submit to and respect faithfully.
Chaíroo dé epí teé parousía Stefaná kaí Fortounátou kaí Achaikoú hóti tó huméteron hustéreema hoútoi anepleéroosan. anépausan gár tó emón pneúma kaí tó humoón. Epiginoóskete oún toús toioútous
I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus, because they have made up for your absence, for they refreshed my spirit as well as yours. Give recognition to such men.
These three were the ones that delivered the questions from the church.
And though the letter was no great joy to read, these three refreshed me.
Their genuine love for the Lord and for me was just what I needed.
I think that is one of the greatest compliments that can be paid.
When someone says, “You are refreshing to be around,” it reflects true companionship and love.
Aspázontai humás hai ekkleesíai teés Asías Aspázetai humás en Kuríoo pollá Akúlas kaí Príska sún teé kat oíkon autoón ekkleesía. Aspázontai humás hoi adelfoí pántes.
The churches of Asia send you greetings. Aquila and Prisca, together with the church in their house, send you hearty greetings in the Lord. All the brothers send you greetings.
You know, it was in Corinth that met Aquila and Prisca.
It was by their help I was able to get set up and start the church.
In fact, it was these two that got Apollos on the right track doctrinally.
They took the time.
Their home was always open.
They have the gift of hospitality, and it is a gift that truly makes a difference for the kingdom.
Aspásasthe alleélous en fileémati hagíoo
Greet one another with a holy kiss.
It is important that believers have a certain affection for one another.
A kiss is how we express it.
Whatever works for you is fine.
You can try it now if you like…
Ho aspasmós teé emeé cheirí Paulou
I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand.
Though Sosthenes has written down most of this, I do want them to see that I have been a vital part of this letter.
It has really come from me.
I know many of them will recognize my handwriting.
Now for my final statements…
Eí-tis ou fileí tón Kúrion eétoo anáthema
If anyone has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed.
This is the first command, is it not?
To love the Lord our God…
If you do not believe, you are cursed, eternally.
Marana-tha
Our Lord, come!
Lord, we look forward to the day of Your coming, when You will set all things right!
Come, Lord Jesus!
Hee cháris toú Kuríou Ieesoú meth humoón
The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you.
Grace is the beginning and the ending of the gospel.
Grace – it is this that most fully expresses what God has done.
Grace – it is the expression of the power of God’s love.
Grace – we need it all the time…everyday…
Now…
Hee agápee mou metá pántoon humoón en Christoó Ieesoú
My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.
Well, please forgive me for leaving.
It is good to see that you are group that loves the Word of God as I do.
I truly hope that you are being an encouragement to one another.
We are so much stronger together for the sake of Christ.
So…
My love be with you all in Christ Jesus.
Amen.
BENEDICTION: [Counselors are ]
RESOURCES:
Blomberg, Craig, The NIV Application Commentary
MacArthur, John, I Corinthians
SermonCentral:
“The Prevailing Power of the Church,” Rick Stacy
“An International Church,” Christ Appleby
“Paul’s Final Thoughts,” Bill Burnett
“Resurrection Living,” A. Todd Coget
“Giving, Greetings, and Goodbyes,” Steve Zeisler
