Doing God’s Work
16: 5-12
Doing God’s work DIG: Why did Paul go out of his way to explain his travel plans to the Corinthians? Why did Paul make his “painful visit?” Why didn’t he ever go back to Corinth for his extended visit? What was Timothy’s part in Paul’s work? Given what you have learned about the Corinthians, what might Timothy have had to fear when he visited them (16:10)?
REFLECT: What great and important door has been opened for you? What or who is your adversary? Who do you wish you could spend some time with ministering in the Lord? Are you a team worker in ministry? What is preventing you from doing so? Who do you need to have a “painful visit?” What can you learn about God’s will from the revisions of Paul’s travel plans?
A great and important door has opened for my work, and there are many opposing me.
I will visit you after I have gone through Macedonia. Paul begins his itinerary by telling the Corinthians that he is taking the overland route through Macedonia, the Roman province that included the cities of Philippi, Thessalonica, and Berea. Although these churches by and large seem to have maintained his teachings, it had been several years since he had visited them, so at that time he apparently planned to leave Ephesus after Shavu’ot (in the spring), travel through Macedonia during the summer and fall, and arrive in Corinth, where he would spend the winter before being sent on his way to Jerusalem. And I may stay with you or even spend the winter, so that you may help me continue my travels wherever I may go. For I don’t want to see you now, when I am only passing through; because I am hoping to spend some time with you, if the Lord allows it (16:5-7). However, Paul didn’t say he was coming for sure. He said he was “hoping to spend some time with them,” and qualified his statement with, “If the Lord allows it.”
Paul’s opposition, led by the false teachers (see the commentary on Second Corinthians Af – The Problem of the False Apostles), seized upon his change of travel plans to attack and accuse him of being untrustworthy (see the commentary on Second Corinthians An – God’s Seal of Approval). Therefore, Paul ended up making a brief, unscheduled visit directly across the Aegean Sea to Corinth, but one that was unsuccessful in reducing the level of opposition against him, especially from one particular individual (whom Paul does not name). He called the visit painful (see the commentary on Second Corinthians Ao – Paul’s Painful Visit). While there, he evidently told the Corinthians that he was planning to visit them on the way to Macedonia and then return to them again later on (Second Corinthians 1:15-16). When this didn’t pan out, some in Corinth added to their opposition by charging Paul with being double minded, saying “Yes,” when he didn’t really mean it. What seemingly changed his mind was the fact that the second visit was so painful that he needed to be certain that things had calmed down before he dared to come again – and it was left to Titus to bring the whole situation under control (Second Corinthians 2;12-13, 7:5-7, 13b-16).521
Dear Heavenly Father, Praise You that all Your promises are “yes in Yeshua” (second Corinthians 1:20). How wonderful that You can always be trusted. You have promised to never leave me: For God Himself has said, “I will never leave you or forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5c). That means that there will never be a time when You are not right by my side – no matter how far away from home I am, or how late into the night it is, nor even if You are dealing with a world crisis – You are ever-present and You will take the time to be with me. What a comforting thought.
Thank You for focusing on my eternal future when You guide me through problems and trials when I am doing Your work. It gives me relief to know that even though my struggles seem to last so long and are so hard – that there is a purpose to them. The purpose is to bring glory to You, so that the tested genuineness of [my] faith – more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire – may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Yeshua Messiah (First Peter 1:6c-7). Praise and thank You for being such a wise and loving father who always keeps His promises and who lovingly and wisely guides and purifies my life . In Yeshua’s holy name and power of His resurrection. Amen
But I will remain in Ephesus until Shavu‘ot (see the commentary on Leviticus, to see link click Ec – Hag Shavu’ot). Twenty-years earlier on that day God had poured out His Ruach on the Messianic Community in Jerusalem (see the commentary on Acts Al – The Ruach Ha’Kodesh Comes at Shavu’ot). Not every Jew in the Diaspora was able to go to Jerusalem for the appointed times (see the commentary on Deuteronomy Db – The Three Pilgrimage Festivals), and hence would have had some kind of synagogue service in their local communities to suffice. Paul directed the Corinthians to observe the Passover in the Diaspora context (5:7), and would seemingly have honored Shavu’ot in a similar way (16:8).522
Paul did inform the Corinthians how a significant difference was being made in Ephesus because a great and important door had opened for his work, and there were many people opposing him (see the commentary on Acts Ch – Idol-Makers Start a Riot in Ephesus). Consequently, First Corinthians 16:9 goes well with Revelation 3:8, Messiah’s message to the church of Philadelphia: See, I have placed before you an open door. This is true today for all who labor for the Lord. But it is also true today that there are many adversaries. Anyone who will stand for the Word of God will have many adversaries. However, ADONAI opens the door that no one can shut. Thank God for that!523
But for Paul, the situation got far worse before it got better. We get a glimpse into the suffering that he endured shortly after writing First Corinthians. In Second Corinthians 1:8-10, he wrote: For, brothers, we want you to know about the trials we have undergone in the province of Asia. The burden laid on us was so far beyond what we could bear that we even despaired of living through it. In our hearts we felt we were under sentence of death. However, this was to get us to rely not on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead! He rescued us from such deadly peril, and he will rescue us again! The one in whom we have placed our hope will indeed continue to rescue us.
We can take comfort in the fact that someone as faithful as Paul was constantly embroiled in an ongoing spiritual battle. When he wrote to the church in Thessalonica he acknowledged: We wanted so much to come to you – I, Sha’ul, tried more than once – but the Adversary stopped us (First Thessalonians 2:18). So now, in Ephesus, Paul was making headway as he labored night and day for three years to establish a church in that influential city. But he was challenged by many adversaries. And we should expect the same.524 As someone once said, “If you have no opposition in the place where you serve, you’re serving in the wrong place.”
Paul was a team worker. Though he was an apostle and was privileged to receive great revelations from the Lord, he always worked closely with other believers in whatever he did. He was never an ecclesiastical superstar, lording over those “below” him. Timothy, along with Titus, was one of Paul’s special co-laborers, usually sent to the most difficult places. Timothy had been brought up in a godly home (Second Timothy 1:5), but it was Paul who had led the young man to Messiah. Paul usually referred to him as my own son in the faith (First Timothy 1:2). When John Mark left Paul and returned to Jerusalem, it was Timothy who was called to work as Paul’s assistant (see the commentary on Acts Bw – Timothy Joins Paul and Silas).
Timothy learned his lessons well and made great progress in his walk and ministry to the Lord (Philippians 2:20-22). Eventually, Timothy took Paul’s place at Ephesus, a most difficult place to minister. Replacing a giant in the faith is never easy! At one point, Timothy wanted to leave the city, but Paul encouraged him to stay (First Timothy 1:3).525
The advice Paul gave the Corinthians about Timothy would suggest that because of Timothy’s young age, he may have been particularly sensitive to criticism and opposition (1 Tim 4:12; 2 Tim 1:7). Not only that, when Timothy went to Corinth, he found himself thrown into a very tense, unstable situation. If the Corinthians listened to Paul’s letter then Timothy’s work there would not be too hard, but if – as was likely – they rejected Paul’s appeals, it was Timothy who would take the brunt of the flack. The most direct way for any of them who were offended by Paul’s remarks was to demonstrate their displeasure by attacking Timothy.526
Paul warned the Corinthians that when Timothy comes, see that he has nothing to be afraid of while he is with you. Timothy was God’s servant and a trusted and respected fellow worker of Paul’s, for he is doing the Lord’s work so let no one treat him with disrespect. Evidently this was a persistent problem for Timothy (First Timothy 4:12). Paul was an apostle and was Timothy’s father in the faith, yet he considered his young friend to be the Lord’s faithful worker, as I also am. They were equal in the faith, and because Timothy was doing the Lord’s work, he was worthy of honor and respect, just as was Paul. No one was to think little of him. On the contrary, help him on his way in peace, so that he will return to me, for the appointed brothers (16:3) and I are expecting him (16:10-11).527
Apollos was an eloquent Jew who was brought into the full understanding of the gospel by Priscilla and Aquila (see the commentary on Acts Cf – Priscilla and Aquila Teach Apollos). He had ministered with great power at Corinth, and there was a segment of the church that felt great attachment to him. Apollos never promoted any division within the body, for his great concern was solely to preach the gospel. In spite of the division, and the presence of the “Apollos fan club” within the church at Corinth (see Ak – Splits and Division in the Church at Corinth), Paul didn’t hesitate to encourage Apollos to return there for further ministry. As for brother Apollos, I strongly urged him to go and visit you along with the other brothers. It is clear that there was no envy on Paul’s part or sense of competition on the part of Apollos.528 Paul argued strenuously that the Church belongs to God through Messiah, and all of its workers, including the apostles, were merely servants. This final word about Apollos is living evidence that Paul was as good as his word. If Paul considered the church at Corinth his, the last person in the world he would want to return would have been Apollos.529
Although Paul strongly urged Apollos to visit Corinth, the gifted Alexandrian desired not to come at that time, but decided to stay on in Ephesus with Paul and not join Timothy in Corinth. This verse bears eloquent tribute to the fact that Paul conducted himself not as a master, but as a partner with others who labored in ministry doing God’s work. Paul didn’t have the authority to tell everyone what to do and where to go. Apollos didn’t feel he should go to Corinth at that time and Paul agreed with his decision. He would come when he had the opportunity (16:12). It was wonderful the way these different men worked together. That is a lesson for all of us.530
Leave A Comment