I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus; for that which was lacking on your part, they supplied.
Parallel Translations
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I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus; for that which was lacking on your part, they supplied.
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I am gladde of the comynge of Stephana Fortunatus and Achaicus: for that which was lackinge on youre parte they have supplied.
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I am glad of the comming of Stephanas, and Fortunatus, and Achaicus: for they haue supplied the want of you.
Cross-references (3)
Passages linked to 1 Corinthians 16:17 in the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, ordered by reader-vote popularity; verse text shown in World English Bible.
- 2 Corinthians 11:9 When I was present with you and was in need, I wasn’t a burden on anyone, for the brothers, when they came from Macedonia, supplied the measure of my need. In everything I kept myself from being burdensome to you, and I will continue to do so.
- Philippians 2:30 because for the work of Christ he came near to death, risking his life to supply that which was lacking in your service toward me.
- Philemon 1:13 whom I desired to keep with me, that on your behalf he might serve me in my chains for the Good News.
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this verse (20 sources)
Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.
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John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain 17 I am glad of the coming of Stephanas…
17 I am glad of the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus: for that which was lacking on your part they have supplied.
Ver. 17. They have supplied] viz. Your absence; for in them I take a short view of you all.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain It should seem that this church had sent these…
It should seem that this church had sent these three persons to Paul at this time (as most think) at Ephesus, to acquaint him with the state of their churches; these men supplied the want of that whole church’s coming, or they made a report to the apostle of the Corinthians more fully than they had done in their letters. He adds, that they had refreshed his spirit, not with bringing him any money, (for the apostle hath told us, 1Co 9:15, that he gloried in this, that he had preached the gospel to them freely, without being any charge to them), but by their visit, and the conference that he had had with them about the state of that church. The apostle addeth, that they had refreshed their spirits also; intimating, that their joy was his, and that what was a refreshing to him, ought also to be so to them; he therefore recommendeth these men, and such as they were, to be reverenced and respected by this church.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
William Burkitt 1703 · Public Domain It is very probable that the faithful in the…
It is very probable that the faithful in the church of Corinth did send these three persons, namely, Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus, to St. Paul, at this time at Ephesus, to acquaint him with the state of the church, the rents and scisms that were amongst them; and to desire the interposure of his authority, and the exercise of his apostolical power, in order to the healing of those unhappy breaches.
Now, says the apostle, I am glad of the coming of these men, whom you sent with your letters of inquiry to me; for that account of your affairs which was lacking on your parts in your letter, they have supplied: I am glad, I say, for they have refreshed my spirit with their presence and discourse, and will at their return refresh yours also; therefore acknowledge ye them that are such, own their services, and honour them for the same. There is a tribute of double honour, respect, and reverence, due and payable to such as labour in the church’s services even unto weariness, and are willing to spend and be spent in such services as they are capable of, for the benefit of the church in general, or any member thereof in particular.
William Burkitt's Expository Notes on the New Testament (1700–1703) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain The churches of Asia salute you,.... The Syriac version…
The churches of Asia salute you,.... The Syriac version renders it, "all" the churches. This shows, that this epistle was not written from Philippi, as the subscription to it attests, for then he would rather have said; the churches of Macedonia salute you, but at Ephesus, where he now was; see Co1 16:8; and this is the more confirmed, by the following salutation of Aquila and Priscilla, who it is plain from Act 18:18, were with the apostle at Ephesus:
Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord; Aquila was a Jew of Pontus, and Priscilla was his wife, who came from Italy, all Jews being obliged to depart from Rome, by the order of Claudius Caesar. These came to Corinth, where they met with the apostle; and being of the same occupation, stayed and wrought with him; and when he went from thence to Ephesus, accompanied him thither; see Act 18:3; wherefore having personal knowledge of the members of this church, through their stay with the apostle there, for the space of a year and a half, send their Christian salutations to them, with great affection and respect:
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with the church that is in their house: their family consisting of believers, and being kept in such good decorum, and employed daily in singing, praying, expounding, and conferring together about divine things, looked like a little church; and it may be that at certain times the principal members of the church at Ephesus met in their house for religious worship, and to consider and debate about the affairs of the church; and very likely as they were of the same occupation with the apostle, he himself dwelt here; and which might be the more an occasion of the church assembling here at times; and the Vulgate Latin version adds, "with whom also I lodge".
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas, and Fortunatus,…
I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas, and Fortunatus, and Achaiacus - Who were now returned to Corinth but the joy which their arrival had occasioned remained still in his heart. They have supplied what was wanting on your part - They have performed the offices of love, which you could not, by reason of your absence.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain Verse 17. I am glad of the coming of…
Verse 17. I am glad of the coming of Stephanas, c.] It was by these that the Corinthians had sent that letter to the apostle, to answer which was a main part of the design of St. Paul in this epistle.
Fortunatus] This man is supposed to have survived St. Paul and to be the same mentioned by Clement in his epistle to the Corinthians, sec. 59, as the bearer of that epistle from Clement at Rome to the Christians at Corinth.
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For that which was lacking on your part] This may either refer to additional communications besides those contained in the letter which the Corinthians sent to the apostle-which additional circumstances were furnished by the persons above; and from them St. Paul had a fuller account of their spiritual state than was contained in the letter-or to some contributions on their part for the support of the apostle in his peregrinations and labours.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain 1Co 16:17-18. I am glad of the coming of…
1Co 16:17-18. I am glad of the coming of Stephanas, &c. — This Stephanas is supposed by many to have been the son of Stephanas mentioned 1Co 16:15. He, with Fortunatus and Achaicus, are supposed to have been the messengers sent, by the sincere part of the Corinthian church, with the letter mentioned 1Co 7:1. For that which was lacking on your part they have supplied — They have performed the offices of love which you could not supply, by reason of your absence. For they have refreshed my spirit — By their obliging behaviour and edifying conversation, as I doubt not they have often refreshed yours, by their ministrations among you; or will refresh yours by informing you of my success in preaching the gospel.
Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain I am glad of the coming - That is,…
I am glad of the coming - That is, I am glad that they have come to me at Ephesus. I rejoice that he who was converted by my ministry in Achaia, and who has so long shown himself to be a personal friend to me, and an aid in my work, came where I am.
Stephanas - The same person evidently mentioned in the previous verses. Probably he, as one of the oldest and most respected members of the church, had been selected to carry the letter of the Corinthians 1Co 7:1 to Paul, and to consult with him respecting the affairs of the church there.
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Fortunatus and Achaieus - These persons are not referred to anywhere else in the New Testament. It appears that Fortunatus survived Paul, for he was subsequently the messenger of the church at Corinth to that at Rome, and bore back to the Corinthians the Epistle which Clement of Rome sent to them. See that epistle, Section 59.
For that which was lacking ... - The word which is used here, and rendered “that which was lacking” (ὑστέρημα husterēma), does not occur in the Classic writers. It means properly that which is missing, want, lack - Robinson. It may be used to denote a want or lack of any kind, whether of support, sustenance, aid, consolation, information, or counsel; see Luk 21:4; Phi 2:30; 1Th 3:10. What this was which the Corinthians had neglected or failed to furnish Paul, and which had been supplied by the presence of these persons, can be only a matter of conjecture; and different commentators have supposed different things. It might be a neglect to provide for his needs, or a defect of informing him about their affairs in the letter which they had sent him; or it might be that these persons had furnished, by their presence and conversation, those consolations and friendly offices which the church at Corinth would have rendered had they been all present; and Paul may mean to say, that he had enjoyed with them that friendly contact and Christian communion which he had desired with them, but which was lacking, that is, which he had not been permitted to enjoy by reason of his absence. This is the view which is given by Rosenmuller, Doddridge, Bloomfield; and as Paul does not seem here inclined to blame them, this view is most in accordance with the general strain of the passage.
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain Which was wanting on your part, they have supplied,…
Which was wanting on your part, they have supplied, by informing me, and giving me a full account of all. (Witham)
George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain Fortunatus . . . Achaicus--probably of Stephanas' household.
Fortunatus . . . Achaicus--probably of Stephanas' household.
that . . . lacking on your part--So far as you were unable yourselves to "refresh my spirit," in that you are absent from me, "they have supplied" by coming to me from you, and so supplying the means of intercourse between you and me. They seem to have carried this letter back; see the subscription below: hence the exhortations, Co1 16:16, Co1 16:18, as though they would be at Corinth when the Epistle arrived.
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain 17. Coming of—The three who brought the letter from…
17. Coming of—The three who brought the letter from the Corinthians and reported to the apostle the true state of his Corinthian Church. Stanley thinks that this Stephanas was a slave in the household of Stephanas, bearing, according to custom, his master’s name.
Lacking on your part— All the service I need which you could not render me they supplied. This seems the natural meaning; but we are unable to say in what the lack consisted. But it very probably means the enjoyment of presence and society. The want of you in my heart they by their presence supplied. They were you in miniature for the time.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain 17. Fortunatus and Achaicus] Fortunatus is referred to by…
17. Fortunatus and Achaicus] Fortunatus is referred to by Clement as the bearer of his Epistle. See Introduction, Ch. iii. Nothing is known of Achaicus.
that which was lacking on your part] i.e. the void occasioned by your absence, not the pecuniary need of the Apostle as in 2Co_11:9 (cf. Php_2:30). For the Apostle there says that it is his boast, of which no man shall deprive him, that he has never cast any of the burden of his maintenance upon the Corinthian Church. See also ch. 9.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain Of the coming; rather, at the presence of. They…
Of the coming; rather, at the presence of. They were now with St. Paul in Ephesus. Fortunatus. A Christian of this name also carried the letter of St. Clement to Corinth. That which was lacking on your part. This sounds like a reproach in the Authorized Version, but is quite the reverse. It should be rendered, the void caused by your absence. The same word occurs in 2Co_8:13, 14 9:12 11:9, etc. The nearest parallel to the usage here is Php_2:30.
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Biblical Illustrator 1887 · Public Domain I am glad of the coming of Stephanas,… for…
1Co_16:17-18
I am glad of the coming of Stephanas,… for they have refreshed my spirit and yours.
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Spiritual refreshment
These three honoured members of the Corinthian Church came to consult the apostle on matters of faith and practice. But their visit was not simply official, for they were personally attached to Paul, and his grateful language is suggestive of the refreshment of spirit which is the result of Christian association.
I. The need of spiritual refreshment.
1. Work may weigh down the soul as well as the body.
2. Trials such as desertion, disappointment, may dispose to melancholy.
3. Living much alone is wearisome; the energies flag, the work suffers.
II. Its appointed agents. Letters and books are precious, but often inadequate. Living fellowship with those likeminded with ourselves has a peculiar power in restoring the equilibrium of the soul. Paul felt, as we do, it hard to work without the smiles and personal encouragements of his friends.
III. Its means. The presence of Christian friends is much, but the opening of their hearts, the inquiry concerning our successes and failures, are more.
IV. Its results.
1. Depression gives way to cheerfulness.
2. Weariness to vigour.
3. Sluggishness to vivacity.
4. Despondency to hope. (Prof. J. R. Thomson.)
The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
B. W. Johnson 1891 · Public Domain 17. I am glad of the coming of Stephanas.…
17. I am glad of the coming of Stephanas. Stephanas is named in 1 Cor. 1:16 and above in verse 15. The other two are not named elsewhere. These three doubtless brought to Paul the letter referred to in 7:1, and probably carried back the present letter.
B. W. Johnson's The People's New Testament with Notes (1889–1891) — public domain. Electronic text from the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (CCEL) ThML edition.
William B. Godbey 1900 · Public Domain 17. Doubtless Stephenas, Fortunatus and Achaicus, who had come…
17. Doubtless Stephenas, Fortunatus and Achaicus, who had come from Corinth to see him, and thus bring him word in reference to the state of the church, became the bearers of this epistle.
William B. Godbey, Commentary on the New Testament (1896–1900) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
J. W. McGarvey 1914 · Public Domain And I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas and…
And I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus: for that which was lacking on your part they supplied .
J. W. McGarvey (with Philip Y. Pendleton), Commentaries on the New Testament (The Fourfold Gospel, 1914; Acts; and the epistles) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
C. I. Scofield 1917 · Public Domain coming of
coming of
(Greek - παρουσία, personal presence).
The Scofield Reference Bible (1917 edition), notes by C. I. Scofield — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus
Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus
These men were either some of the first Corinthian believers or church elders who were co-workers with Paul.
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Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus
These are men's names. (See: How to Translate Names)
They have made up for your absence
"They made up for the fact that you were not here."
For they have refreshed my spirit
Paul is saying he was encouraged by their visit.
translationWords
joy
spirit
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 16:17 Together with Stephanas (see also 1:16; 16:15), Fortunatus…
16:17 Together with Stephanas (see also 1:16; 16:15), Fortunatus and Achaicus had apparently traveled from Corinth to visit Paul in Ephesus.
Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.