1. Corinthians 16:16-24

1. Corinthians 16:16-24 - Be subjective to and honor… greetings. Anathema.

Paul Charged them to stand firm and do all with Love and that seems to sum-up Paul’s encouragement to the Corinthians – Paul addresses many issues – but they all seem to stem from a low or misunderstood underrating of what Jesus Christ love is and does.

Paul will point out a few more things: Honer the servants devoted to serve the saints:

Household of Stephanus - Frist converts /chapter 1:16. Baptism - Devoted to service of the saints. (Short on Paul’s view on saints, identity in Christ)

Be subjective to these and fellow labor and every worker. (As Paul did). Instead of elevating rich people popular people, speakers they like or sexually immorality or philosophical knowledge, Paul asks them to honor and be subjective to the ones that went before them and made a way and had been serving the saints /believers before they even got to know Jesus. To subject to them, humble and see what great service they have brought to the fellowship. And them Paul adds to behave like that towards all the people that labor and works alongside the people of God for the glory of Jesus. (That would again include Timothy, and Apollos and other workers Paul and his team). Also being able to spot false teachers and not submit to them and not to honor them and not to submit to people serving them self and not the saints. 

A good word also today, who do we honor? Who do we subject ourself to? And why? God? Goodly leaders? Husband /wife, parents’ teachers’ and police? And why? (Christ in us.)

Paul express joy and rejoicing that Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus, came and refreshed Paul’s spirt as they had done to the Corinthians, and because they could not all come see Paul, he rejoices that they came to encourage and bring news. (We can all use encuargemt and a friend that refreshed our spirt) - do you have friends like that? Are you a friend like that – they also came and visited Paul where he was ministering, they saw, the likely helped and encouraged Paul and his team.  (Who encourages you – and who do you encourage?) And do you honor and express thankfulness to people like Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus? (Are there People that in your life has done that? That you could encourage and thank people back home that served you? Paul does honor them Publicly in this letter also for the work they have committed themselves to). Do I do that? Because Paul tells us to do that.

Paul shares greetings from all the churches in Asia, (see map red part) the Roman province of Asia. Ephesus, and more. And also, from Aquilla and Pisca (Pricilla), and the church gathering in their house, (wealthy people). They send heaty greetings in the Lord, and then all the brothers send greetings. (different kind of greetings and depth of emotion and longing behind it).

Greet one another with a holy kiss, - I her draw the cultural card, - my own or theirs, well I am not sure, this I have only seen in other countries that are warmer that Denmark, - French, Spain, Italy, communists, - this is very fare from the culture I grew up in – hugs? Today? What cultures hugs, shakes hands? What is okay, shows care and compassion on the people. (Here I am knowingly biased because of my cultural background – it was not good during covid, - and spread of germs, and what did it look like?) What does a family that loves one another, greeting look like?  PPT

Paul then takes the pen himself ((cf. Gal. 6:11; Col. 4:18; 2 Thess. 3:17; Philem. 19).

His first statement is not read very often in churches; If anyone has no love for let him be accursed, - how does that statement sit with you? And with me? (My wife and me are different) I don’t have a great problem with Paul’s statement, - some might have – I think the kissing part is harder for me, - what? Well I think this is a logical statement by Paul,  He has written a letter that is about this love for Jesus Christ, that we and they can see in that God has sent Jesus. The people that reject that is accursed, and have chosen darkness instead of light, now Paul life is now spend sharing this good news with all that will hear, Paul has endured many things, - I think what might be hardest for Paul is the people that are in the churches that have no love for Jesus Christ, but have come to hurt and disturbed the churches – may the false teachers and self-motivated be accrued. Paul’s focus it not to pray for the world by for the churches he also knows and teaches that what God does in Jesus is only for the ones that Love Jesus, and loves God this is back to the great commandment love the Lord your God with everything, and your neighbor as yourself.

Paul asks for the Lord Jesus to come back. Manatha.

And then writes a blessing and personal greeting and prayer. The grace (unmerited favor) of the Lord Jesus be with you. My love (agape) be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Someone commentated; that Paul wrote this letter with great love for the people in Corinth, and that is also what I have experienced reading the letter, there is much correction and rebuke but it is done because Paul loves the Corinthians and speaks the truth in love to them, that they might not hurt one another and rebel against God, but instead, love one another in Christ Jesus. The same call that went out long ago love the Lord your God, with all of who you are, and your neighbor as yourself. Most of us know this is an impossible task, to muster up our strength to do. We can’t do all the things Paul wrote either, but in Christ Jesus, and by the power of God, the Holy Spirt in us, as we understand, who Jesus Christ is, we can love Him, as we understand we have been love, and God, by the Holy Spirt. If we have no love for Jesus Christ, we don’t know, God. – The remedy is to know God. Experience God, understand Jesus Christ and his work, - prayerful everyday, as we lay our chose to die to our self and take up our cross and follow Jesus. We will not do that if we have no love for God, and we will not if we don’t love others because of what Jesus Christ has done.

This life for lived for Jesus Christ, is not possible to muster up on own, it has come from a new creation a changed mind and life, and one controlled by the Holy Spirt, - As we because of our love for Jesus Christ, live our life to his glory, by the Holy Spirt to the praise of God. And for the good of others.