E. Men like Stephanas (16:15–18)
E. Men like Stephanas (16:15–18)
15. It is always helpful to have a good example to follow. Paul has had much to say by way of blame, but he now finds some among the Corinthians he can hold up for admiration, namely the household of Stephanas. Paul has already mentioned that he baptized this household (1:16). Now we have the additional information that they were the ‘firstfruits’ (aparchē) of the province of Achaia. As this province included Athens, where Paul had some converts before he preached in Corinth (Acts 17:34), this raises a minor problem. It may be that the household of Stephanas was converted in some way before Paul preached at Athens (which would justify NIV’s the first converts). It may be that, while there were earlier conversions of individuals, this was the first household to be won. Or it may be that ‘firstfruits’ means those fruits that gave promise of the harvest to come. ‘To the Apostle’s mind the pledge of a future Church came not in Athens, but in Corinth’ (Edwards). They were shining examples of what Christians should be for they have devoted themselves to Christian service. Chrysostom comments, not ‘ “they minister,” but, “have set themselves:” this kind of life they have chosen altogether, this is their business in which they are always busy’ (Moffatt speaks of the verb as ‘a trade metaphor’ and points to its use by Plato of tradesmen who ‘set themselves to the business of serving the public’ by retailing farm produce). Stephanas and his family have taken as their particular responsibility, their piece of Christian service, the task of the service of the saints (the same as ‘God’s people’ in v. 1). They did not assume a place of leadership or prominence, but one of lowly service.
16. That is the Christian way, and Paul commends this example to the church at large. Christians should submit to such people. Paul speaks a good deal about Christians submitting themselves to one another (cf. Eph. 5:21), which he probably finds necessary because it is a natural human tendency, and specifically that of the Corinthians, to do the reverse. It may not be an accident that his verb (hypotassō) is a compound of the verb he has just used of the household of Stephanas setting themselves (tassō) to lowly service. And not only should they submit to Stephanas, but also to others who help and labour, and in fact to all helpful Christian souls. On the word labours (kopiaō, ‘labour to the point of weariness’) Edwards has the succinct comment, ‘Many work, a few toil.’
17. Stephanas and two other people otherwise quite unknown, Fortunatus and Achaicus, had recently reached Paul, and he lets us see something of his pleasure at the meeting (though it is uncertain whether we should understand parousia to mean ‘arrival’ or ‘presence’). He does not spell out the meaning of what was lacking from you, but it seems that Paul was feeling his separation from the Corinthians; ‘my lack of you’ is the sense of it. He had missed his Corinthian friends and this trio had ‘filled the gap of your absence’ (Héring). In their persons they had brought him ‘a little bit of Corinth’. Supplied (aneplērōsan) has the meaning ‘filled up’. The three had left no lack.
18. They had refreshed Paul’s spirit, where the verb is that used of our Lord’s giving rest to those who ‘labour and are heavy laden’ (Matt. 11:28). It seems to show that Paul had been restless without news from Corinth. But the coming of the three had been a real refreshment to his spirit. And yours is an interesting addition. Not only was it good for Paul to receive news from Corinth, but it was good for the Corinthians to have sent their messages to Paul. People like these three deserve recognition. Believers should know them for what they are and ascribe to them their true worth.