2 Corinthians 1:16

And to pass by you into Macedonia, and to come again out of Macedonia unto you, and of you to be brought on my way toward Judaea.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(16) To be brought on my way.—The change of word is significant. He did not intend merely to go from Corinth to Judaea. He expected the Corinthians to further his intentions, to help him on, to escort him solemnly to the ship in which he was to sail, perhaps to accompany him to Asia. (Comp. the use of the word in Acts 15:3; Acts 20:38, “accompanied”; 21:5; Romans 15:24; 1Corinthians 16:6-11.) The wish had been stated in 1Corinthians 16:6, but without more than a hint (1Corinthians 16:4), that his destination might be Jerusalem,

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

1:15-24 The apostle clears himself from the charge of levity and inconstancy, in not coming to Corinth. Good men should be careful to keep the reputation of sincerity and constancy; they should not resolve, but on careful thought; and they will not change unless for weighty reasons. Nothing can render God's promises more certain: his giving them through Christ, assures us they are his promises; as the wonders God wrought in the life, resurrection, and ascension of his Son, confirm faith. The Holy Spirit makes Christians firm in the faith of the gospel: the quickening of the Spirit is an earnest of everlasting life; and the comforts of the Spirit are an earnest of everlasting joy. The apostle desired to spare the blame he feared would be unavoidable, if he had gone to Corinth before he learned what effect his former letter produced. Our strength and ability are owing to faith; and our comfort and joy must flow from faith. The holy tempers and gracious fruits which attend faith, secure from delusion in so important a matter.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

And to pass by you - Through δι ̓ di' you; that is, through your city, or province; or to take them, as we say, in his way. His design was to pass through Corinth and Achaia on his journey. This was not the direct way from Ephesus to Macedonia. An inspection of a map will show at one view that the direct way was that which he concluded finally to take - that by Troas. Yet he had designed to go out of his way in order to make them a visit; and intended also, perhaps, to make them also a longer visit on his return. The former part of the plan he had been induced to abandon.

Into Macedonia - A part of Greece having Thrace on the north, Thessaly south, Epirus west and the AEgean Sea east; see the note, Acts 16:9.

And of you to be brought on my way - By you; see the note, 1 Corinthians 16:6.

Toward Judea - His object in going to Judea was to convey the collection for the poor saints which he had been at so much pains to collect throughout the churches of the Gentiles; see the notes, Romans 15:25-26; compare 1 Corinthians 16:3-4.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

16. This intention of visiting them on the way to Macedonia, as well as after having passed through it, must have reached the ears of the Corinthians in some way or other—perhaps in the lost Epistle (1Co 4:18; 5:9). The sense comes out more clearly in the Greek order, "By you to pass into Macedonia, and from Macedonia to come again unto you."

Matthew Poole's Commentary

He had purposed to take Corinth in his way unto Macedonia, and after he had finished his business in Macedonia, his resolutions were to have come back to Corinth, and to stay with them some time, hoping to have some of their company some part of the way toward Judea: but it seems, though he thus purposed, yet God had otherwise ordered his motions.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And to pass by you into Macedonia,.... It was his first intention and determination to have come first to Corinth, and then to Macedonia, to have took this city in his way thither; which was an argument of his love to them, and his great desire to see them; since he might have gone, as he did, a nearer way to Macedonia, than by Corinth:

and to come again out of Macedonia to you; when he had gone through that, and done his business there unto the Corinthians; and after some stay with them,

of you to be brought on my way towards Judea; where he intended to go, with the collections he had made for the poor saints at Jerusalem, in the several churches in Asia; but though this was his first resolution, which he had signified either by letter, or messengers, yet he afterwards changed his mind, for some reasons within himself; it may be, having heard some things disagreeable of them, which he thought more convenient to acquaint them with in an epistle first, and to try what effect that would have upon them, before he came in person: that he changed his mind, appears from the former epistle, 1 Corinthians 16:5, where he says, "I will come unto you, when I shall pass through Macedonia"; and upon this account it is he excuses and vindicates himself in the following verse.

Geneva Study Bible

And to pass by you into Macedonia, and to come again out of Macedonia unto you, and of you to be brought on my way toward Judaea.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Expositor's Greek Testament

2 Corinthians 1:16. προπεμφθῆναι: “to be set forward on my journey”. The practice of speeding fellow-Christians on their journeys, of “seeing them off” in safety, is often mentioned in Acts, and is inculcated more than once as a duty by St. Paul (see reff.).

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

16. to pass by you into Macedonia] It was probably when this resolution (which may have been announced in the lost Epistle, see 1 Corinthians 5:9) was given up, that the mission of Timothy referred to in 1 Corinthians 4:17, and in Acts 19:22 was substituted, and as still more urgent necessity arose, that of Titus, ch. 2 Corinthians 8:16-24, 2 Corinthians 12:17-18.

and of you to be brought on my way toward Judæa] The exact opposite of this was what actually took place. St Paul went through Macedonia on his way to Corinth, and returned through Macedonia, and was brought on his way toward Judæa by the Macedonian Churches. The word translated ‘brought on my way’ is used of the pecuniary and other assistance given by the Churches towards the journeys of the brethren. See Acts 15:3; Acts 20:38; Acts 21:5; Romans 15:24; 1 Corinthians 16:6; 1 Corinthians 16:11; Titus 3:13; 3 John 1:6, and note on 1 Corinthians 16:6.

Bengel's Gnomen

2 Corinthians 1:16. Προπεμφθῆναι, to be brought on my way) to commit myself to you to be escorted [conducted] forward.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 16. - To be brought on my way (see note on 1 Corinthians 16:6) toward Judaea (1 Corinthians 16:4-6). 2 Corinthians 1:16