Paul’s Future Plans – Counsel Concerning Future Visits
1 Corinthians 16:5-12 (NLT)
Counsel concerning future visits
5 I am coming to visit you after I have been to Macedonia, for I am planning to travel through Macedonia. 6 Perhaps I will stay awhile with you, possibly all winter, and then you can send me on my way to my next destination. 7 This time I don’t want to make just a short visit and then go right on. I want to come and stay awhile, if the Lord will let me. 8 In the meantime, I will be staying here at Ephesus until the Festival of Pentecost. 9 There is a wide-open door for a great work here, although many oppose me.
10 When Timothy comes, don’t intimidate him. He is doing the Lord’s work, just as I am. 11 Don’t let anyone treat him with contempt. Send him on his way with your blessing when he returns to me. I expect him to come with the other believers.
12 Now about our brother Apollos—I urged him to visit you with the other believers, but he was not willing to go right now. He will see you later when he has the opportunity.
Examine the scriptures:
1 Corinthians 16:5-12 (NLT)
In the previous verses of this chapter, Paul gave the Corinthians instructions on how to collect money for the financially strapped church in Jerusalem.
Counsel concerning future visits
5 I am coming to visit you after I have been to Macedonia,
Paul was in Ephesus (3 years – Acts 20:31) when he wrote this letter to the Corinthians (v.8).
From Ephesus, Paul planned to travel through Macedonia.
Paul originally planned to visit Corinth before and after his trip to Macedonia.
1 Corinthians 4:19 (NLT)
19 But I will come—and soon—if the Lord lets me, and then I’ll find out whether these arrogant people just give pretentious speeches or whether they really have God’s power.
2 Corinthians 1:15-16 (NLT)
15 Since I was so sure of your understanding and trust, I wanted to give you a double blessing by visiting you twice— 16 first on my way to Macedonia and again when I returned from Macedonia. Then you could send me on my way to Judea.
- We make plans for ourselves, but God may have something else in store for us.
Proverbs 16:9 (NLT)
We can make our plans,
but the Lord determines our steps.
for I am planning to travel through Macedonia.
Note the different churches in Macedonia shown on the map.
Philippi
Berea
Thessalonica
Paul also collected money from these churches for the church in Jerusalem.
2 Corinthians 8:1-4 (NLT)
A Call to Generous Giving
1 Now I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, what God in his kindness has done through the churches in Macedonia. 2 They are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor. But they are also filled with abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity.
3 For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford, but far more. And they did it of their own free will. 4 They begged us again and again for the privilege of sharing in the gift for the believers in Jerusalem.
6 Perhaps I will stay awhile with you, possibly all winter, and then you can send me on my way to my next destination.
“You can send me.”
- Be willing to partner with others in their ministry.
7 This time I don’t want to make just a short visit and then go right on. I want to come and stay awhile, if the Lord will let me.
8 In the meantime, I will be staying here at Ephesus until the Festival of Pentecost.
The “Feast of Weeks” Leviticus 23:15-22
A grain harvest celebration that ended 50 days after Passover.
9 There is a wide-open door for a great work here (in Ephesus), although many oppose me.
- Great opportunity is often accompanied by great opposition.
2 Corinthians 1:8-10 (NLT)
8 We think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters, about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. 9 In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead. 10 And he did rescue us from mortal danger, and he will rescue us again. We have placed our confidence in him, and he will continue to rescue us.
10 When Timothy comes,
1 Corinthians 4:17 (NLT)
That’s why I have sent Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord. He will remind you of how I follow Christ Jesus, just as I teach in all the churches wherever I go.
Acts 19:22 (NLT)
He sent his two assistants, Timothy and Erastus, ahead to Macedonia while he stayed awhile longer in the province of Asia.
Timothy sometimes traveled in Paul’s place.
Philippians 2:19-24 (NLT)
Paul Commends Timothy
19 If the Lord Jesus is willing, I hope to send Timothy to you soon for a visit. Then he can cheer me up by telling me how you are getting along. 20 I have no one else like Timothy, who genuinely cares about your welfare. 21 All the others care only for themselves and not for what matters to Jesus Christ. 22 But you know how Timothy has proved himself. Like a son with his father, he has served with me in preaching the Good News. 23 I hope to send him to you just as soon as I find out what is going to happen to me here. 24 And I have confidence from the Lord that I myself will come to see you soon.
Timothy most likely delivered the 1 Corinthians letter at this time.
- Don’t try to do all the work yourself.
don’t intimidate him.
1 Timothy 4:12 (NLT)
Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.
- Don’t intimidate someone who appears to be weaker than you.
He is doing the Lord’s work, just as I am. 11 Don’t let anyone treat him with contempt.
- Don’t treat others with contempt.
- Respect the efforts of younger, less experienced people in ministry.
Send him on his way with your blessing when he returns to me. I expect him to come with the other believers.
- Be willing to partner with others in their ministry.
12 Now about our brother Apollos
An Old Testament saint and follower of John the Baptist.
Very knowledgeable in O T scripture.
Also instructed by Aquila and Priscilla.
Became a powerful Christian Preacher.
An eloquent speaker.
Profoundly influence the Corinthians on an earlier visit to Corinth.
—I urged him to visit you with the other believers, but he was not willing to go right now. He will see you later when he has the opportunity.
- Respect the wishes of your coworkers.
