13 Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. 14 Let all that you do be done with love. 15 I urge you, brethren—you know the household of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves to the ministry of the saints—16 that you also submit to such, and to everyone who works and labors with us. 17 I am glad about the coming of Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus, for what was lacking on your part they supplied. 18 For they refreshed my spirit and yours. Therefore acknowledge such men. 19 The churches of Asia greet you. Aquila and Priscilla greet you heartily in the Lord, with the church that is in their house. 20 All the brethren greet you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. 21 The salutation with my own hand—Paul’s. 22 If anyone does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be accursed. O Lord, come! 23 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. 24 My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.
Commentary
Vs. 13-14 13 Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. 14 Let all that you do be done with love.
In concluding his epistle the Apostle Paul's exhortation to us all here is that we watch. For Jesus Himself warns us all to watch, both ourselves while we wait on His return (see Matt 24:42-44; Mark 13:35-37; Luke 12:40; 21:34-36), as well to watch out for false prophets, false teachers, false brethren and the dangerous doctrines and practices they will seek to sow into the faith (Matt 24:4-26, vs. 11, 24; Acts 20:25-31, vs. 29-31; 2 Cor 11:3-4, 12-15; Gal. 1:8-9; 2 Tim 3:12-15, vs. 13; Col. 2:8-10; 2 Peter 2:1-3; 1 John 4:1-3; Jude 5-18; Rev. 2:18-29 etc.). Thus we are to always watch and not be caught off guard by either the Lord's return (1 Thess 5:1-8), or by the very real spiritual dangers and dangerous people (wolves in sheep's clothing) that we all will encounter as we seek to follow the Lord home in grace and truth (Matt 7:15-20; 2 Cor 10:5; 2 Tim 3:1-9; Heb 13:9; Jude 3). Therefore the Apostle Paul says to us all, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong..., in the Lord and the power of His might (Eph. 6:10), ...let all that you do be done in love (vs. 14).
Because if it were just a matter of being brave or strong in the faith then that would not distinguish us from the unbelieving, the ungodly, the immoral, the unregenerate (of which we all once were, Col. 1:21-23). For these can also be bold to defend what they "believe" in. No what distinguishes a born-again child of God is not their willingness to stand up for what we believe in, that's a given, rather it's how we stand up for it. Thus love must govern us all. For love is the first fruit of the Spirit of God (Gal 5:22-23), and love is always the mark of God working in and through our persons and lives (consider 1 John 3:10; 4:8, 20). Therefore we are to let all that we do be done in love, because love is the true mark of God's Presence in us, and His Spirit working through us, and amongst us all.
Because if it were just a matter of being brave or strong in the faith then that would not distinguish us from the unbelieving, the ungodly, the immoral, the unregenerate (of which we all once were, Col. 1:21-23). For these can also be bold to defend what they "believe" in. No what distinguishes a born-again child of God is not their willingness to stand up for what we believe in, that's a given, rather it's how we stand up for it. Thus love must govern us all. For love is the first fruit of the Spirit of God (Gal 5:22-23), and love is always the mark of God working in and through our persons and lives (consider 1 John 3:10; 4:8, 20). Therefore we are to let all that we do be done in love, because love is the true mark of God's Presence in us, and His Spirit working through us, and amongst us all.
Vs. 15-16 15 I urge you, brethren—you know the household of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves to the ministry of the saints—16 that you also submit to such, and to everyone who works and labors with us.
The Apostle Paul Paul now commends to the Corinthians the household of Stephanas. Now these were brethren who had devoted themselves to the ministry of the saints. That is they were ministering to believers wherever, whenever, and likely in whatever ways they could. Now the Apostle Paul says of them that they were the firstfruits (i.e the first believers of Achaia, see 1:16) the Roman Province entailing the southern region of Greece, too which the Corinthians belonged. And so it is the Apostle Paul strongly commends Stephanas and his household to the Corinthians, urging them too submit to such faithful servants of God, "and to everyone who works and labors with us" (vs. 16).
Vs. 17-18 17 I am glad about the coming of Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus, for what was lacking on your part they supplied. 18 For they refreshed my spirit and yours. Therefore acknowledge such men.
The Apostle Paul now mentions three men who had come to him from the Corinthians, Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus. Some believe these brought the Apostle Paul a first hand account of all that was going on in Corinth, and thus were likely the bearers of this epistle back to them. Given that their names are of Latin origin this may be so, since Corinth was not only of Greek origins, it had first been conquered and then resettled by the Romans in 146 B.C. Now as to what was lacking on the Corinthians part that these men supplied is only up for speculation. Yet it readily appears that these men were of a ministry comfort to the Apostle Paul, as well as the Corinthians themselves, for Paul says of them, that they comforted his spirit and theirs. Therefore the Apostle Paul says that such men should be acknowledged by them, and by us all, for the good works that they have done, and do.
Vs. 19 "The churches of Asia greet you. Aquila and Priscilla greet you heartily in the Lord, with the church that is in their house."
The Apostle Paul now forwards greetings to the Corinthians from the churches of Asia (the region which entails the western part of Modern day Turkey), where the Apostle Paul was then ministering the Gospel too in Ephesus at the time of his writing this epistle. Apparently Aquila and Priscilla were still with him there at this time, and so Paul forwards their hearty greetings in the Lord to them. Now these were a dynamic couple, believers whom the Apostle Paul had reached for Christ when he left Athens and first came to Corinth, and so it is they too had a real effective and fruitful ministry in their home as they ministered the Gospel to believers, often ministering to them and discipling them one on one, just as they first did with Apollos (see Acts 18).
Vs. 20 "All the brethren greet you. Greet one another with a holy kiss."
From forwarding the personal and heartfelt greetings of Aquila and Priscilla, the Apostle Paul now forwards the greetings of all the brethren in Ephesus to them all. Now such a spirit of hospitality and affection for each other is rudimentary to true Gospel living, and is to be what bind us all in love. And so it is that this welcoming spirit and affection extended itself to greeting one another with a holy kiss. Now this practice of greeting one another by kissing the cheek is still widely practiced in certain countries in Europe and in my country Canada in the predominately French speaking Province of Quebec. In ancient Rome and Greece it was a given that you would do this, and so there is no cultural precedent being set here by the Apostle Paul when he says to do this. Instead by doing this one is saying by that cultures custom I receive you. Now that same sort of greeting can also be communicated by a hand sake with a warm and welcoming smile. Therefore I don't think anyone should overtly stress the Apostle Paul's word here on doing this. If they did I would really question their motives for doing so. Because if it is not a culture norm or practice to do so where you reside then there is no point in making people feel uncomfortable by commanding them now to do so.
Vs. 21 "The salutation with my own hand—Paul’s."
The Apostle Paul now signs, and thus signs off on his epistle, his doing so adds a personal touch to it. Paul's doing so also authenticates it to the Corinthians, and all who would be the end recipients of it.
Vs. 22 "If anyone does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be accursed. O Lord, come!"
When one believes in the Lord Jesus Christ, God's Spirit not only transforms us from spiritual death to eternal life, but He also fills us with love for Him, His Son and all His children. Therefore to not love the Lord Jesus Christ is too not belong to Him (1 John 4:8). Thus the Apostle Paul's word here is directed against all false brethren who profess faith in Christ and yet only use Christ's Name, the Gospel, or God's people for their own gain (see Gal 1:6-10, vs. 8-9). Therefore they are all accursed, fully condemned, because they have not believed in the Name of the only begotten Son of God (John 3:18). Now the Apostle Paul's cry, "O Lord Come" is every believers heartfelt cry to see the Lord Jesus Christ, true love face to face. And thus no more have to walk or live in this hateful, violent, degenerate world, which is only at war with Him, and all of us who belong to Him (John 15:18-25).
Vs. 23 "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you."
The Apostle Paul now commends the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ to us all. For it is only grace which keeps us in a right relationship with God and each other. Extending grace then to each other is to mark every one of us who have also received it from the Lord (Eph. 4:32; Col. 3:13).
Vs. 24 "My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen."
The Apostle Paul had been through much with the Corinthians, and yet for all of their failings one thing would not fail and that was his love for them. May the same be said of us towards each other.
Scripture Quotations
The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982.
Additional Resources Consulted
Lowery, D. K. (1985). 1 Corinthians. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 548). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
Hindson, E. E., & Kroll, W. M. (Eds.). (1994). KJV Bible Commentary (p. 2332). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
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