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The Lord is sovereign in this and it is the most effective way of Divine guidance,
much better than peculiar feelings and impressions that so many believers rely on to
know the Lord's will. We can look to Him to open those doors which are definitely in
His appointing and to close those which are not. Always our wills must be subordinate to
His, lest we force open the door ourselves and thus make our own pathway which can so
easily lead astray.
"Now if Timothy come, see that he be with you without fear; for he worketh the
work of the Lord, as I also do: let no man therefore despise him. But set him forward on
his journey in peace, that he may come unto me: for I expect him with the brethren"
(16: 10, 11 R.V.).
Before Paul's visit to Corinth, they could expect one from Timothy. According to
4: 17, Timothy had already been sent, but the reference here expresses doubt, "if
Timothy comes". This could be because of the perils which beset all travelers (see
II Cor. 11: 23), or it could have been for a reason that has not been expressed, and which
therefore we do not know. Nor can we be certain what the Apostle means by saying that
Timothy's stay with them should be `without fear', unless he was trying to shield his
assistant from unpleasant and threatening attitudes that some in the Corinthian church
could take. This opposition is made clear in the second epistle and constitutes one of the
chief problems Paul had with this church. Evidently there was some reason, fancied or
otherwise, that might have led the Corinthians to despise him, but Paul reminds them that
Timothy was as much the Lord's servant as he was himself and therefore they must
recognize this and finally send him on his way `in peace'. Christian assistance to
traveling brethren was an important and practical manifestation of Christian love and at a
time when there was much journeying to spread the Gospel far and wide, this was a real
necessity without which the work would have been much hindered.
In verse 11 it is not clear whether `the brothers' referred to were coming with
Timothy, or waiting for him with Paul, in which case they could have been Stephanas,
Fortunatus and Achaicus (verse 17). The Apostle now refers to Apollos and tells the
Corinthians that although he had begged him earnestly to go to them, Apollos could not
do so at the moment, but would take the opportunity when it occurred (12).
The last words and greetings in this epistle are now given:
"Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. Let all that ye do be
done in love" (16: 13, 14 R.V.).
The first four exhortations use military words. They are present imperatives
expressing actions that are to be continuous. "To watch", meant not only ordinary
vigilance, but the attitude that looked for the early coming of the Lord, a possibility in the
Acts period (3: 19-26, and see Mark 13: 35-37). They were to `stand fast' and not yield
(compare `unmoveable' 15: 58), to `play the man' and `be strong'. All must be done `in
love' which had been so vividly described in chapter 13::
"Now I beseech you, brethren (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits
of Achaia, and that they have set themselves to minister unto the saints), that ye also be in