Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Corinthians 16:8
But I will tarry at Ephesus until Pentecost.
8. But I will tarry at Ephesus until Pentecost ] The narrative in the Acts agrees most minutely with this passage. We there find that St Paul had formed his plan of visiting Greece some time before he carried it into effect (Act 19:21); that he sent Timothy to Macedonia, whence it was intended that he should proceed to Corinth (Act 19:22, cf. 1Co 16:10 of this chapter, and ch. 1Co 4:7), and that ‘many adversaries’ arose who hindered the Apostle from following him. Cf. 1Co 16:9, and Act 19:23-41.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
But I will tarry at Ephesus – This passage proves that this letter was written from Ephesus. It is by such indications as this usually that we are able to determine the place where the Epistles were written. In regard to the situation of Ephesus, see the note on Act 18:19.
Until Pentecost – This was a Jewish festival occurring fifty days after the Passover, and hence called the Pentecost. See the note at Act 2:1. As there were Jews at Corinth, and doubtless in the church, they would understand the time which Paul referred to; and as he was a Jew, he naturally used their mode of reckoning time where it would be understood. Doubtless the great festivals of the Jews were well known among most of the cities of Greece, as there were Jews in them all who were scrupulous in their observances. It is no improbable supposition, also, that Christians everywhere regarded this day with deep interest, as being the day on which the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles and on the people of Jerusalem, Acts 2.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 8. I will tarry at Ephesus] And it is very probable that he did so; and that all these journeys were taken as he himself had projected. See note on 1Co 16:5.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
He altered this resolution afterward, for, Act 20:16, he hasted, if it were possible, to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost. Pentecost was a Jewish feast, and not named here as a feast then celebrated by Christians, but as a known period of time; for the Jews computing time from their festivals, Christians who lived amongst them, and had some of them been converted from their religion, computed also their time from the Jewish festivals.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
8. at Ephesuswhence Paulwrites this Epistle. Compare 1Co16:19, “Asia,” wherein Ephesus was.
until PentecostHeseems to have stayed as he here purposes: for just when the tumultwhich drove him away broke out, he was already intending to leaveEphesus (Act 19:21; Act 19:22).Combined with 1Co 5:7; 1Co 5:8,this verse fixes the date of this Epistle to a few weeks beforePentecost, and very soon after the Passover.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
But I will tarry at Ephesus till Pentecost. The feast of weeks, or of harvest, which was fifty days from the passover;
[See comments on Ac 2:1] which though abrogated at the death of Christ, was observed by the Jews, and is mentioned by the apostle, not as a festival that the Christians were obliged to regard, or did regard, but as pointing out the time he intended to stay at Ephesus: and we elsewhere read, that he was greatly desirous of being at Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost, Ac 20:16 not to keep it, but because there would then be abundance of people from all parts there, to whom he should have an opportunity of preaching the Gospel.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Until Pentecost ( ). He writes them in the spring before pentecost. Apparently the uproar by Demetrius hurried Paul away from Ephesus (Ac 20:1).
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
1) “But I will tarry at Ephesus” (epimeno de en Epheso) “But I will remain, continue, or abide in Ephesus.” From Ephesus in Asia Minor this letter was being completed. Though the Corinth brethren felt that he should come to them at once, though he cared for them much, he felt that he had unfinished work in Ephesus.
2) “Until Pentecost.” (heos tes pentekostes) “Until the (time of) Pentecost.” The fiftieth day from the 16th Nisan in the Passover feast. Paul felt that the opportunities of his labors still bound him to Ephesus.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
8. I will remain. From this statement I have argued above, that this epistle was sent from Ephesus, rather than from Philippi. For the probability is, that the Apostle speaks of the place in which he was at the time, and not of a place, in going to which he would require to make a long circuit; and farther, in passing through Macedonia, (163) it would have been necessary to leave Corinth when already in the neighborhood of it, and cross the sea in order to reach Ephesus. He accordingly tells them beforehand that he will remain at Ephesus until Pentecost, adding the reason — in order that they may wait for him the more patiently. Erasmus has preferred to render it — until the fiftieth day, influenced by frivolous conjectures rather than by any solid argument. He objects, that there was as yet no day of Pentecost appointed among Christians, as it is now celebrated; and this I grant. He says, that it ought not to be understood as referring to the Jewish solemnity, because in various instances he annuls and condemns the superstitious observance of days. (Gal 4:10; Rom 14:5; Col 2:16.) I do not concede to him, however, that Paul celebrated that day at Ephesus from being influenced by a superstitious regard to the day, but because there would be a larger assembly at that time, and he hoped that, in that way, an opportunity would be presented to him of propagating the gospel. Thus, when he was hastening forward to Jerusalem, he assigned as the reason of his haste, that he might arrive there at Pentecost, (Act 20:16😉 but while others presented themselves there for the purpose of sacrificing according to the ritual of the law, he himself had another object in view — that his ministry might be the more useful in proportion to the largeness of the attendance. It were, however, an excessively poor meaning to understand Paul here as simply specifying fifty days. Besides, when he expressly says τὴν πεντηκοστήν (the Pentecost,) he cannot but be understood as speaking of a particular day. As to this festival, see Lev 23:16
(163) “ En passant de Philippes par Macedone;” — “In passing from Philippi through Macedonia.”
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(8) But I will tarry at Ephesus.In this and the following verse the Apostle returns to his immediate plans at Ephesus. It was probably now about Easter-time (see 1Co. 16:7), and the hostility of enemies increases. (See Act. 19:9-23.) That must be subdued. A door has been opened wide for the effectual spread of the gospel (Act. 19:20). Of that the Apostle must avail himself. Therefore he will remain where he is until Pentecost. Duty to be done, and danger to be faced in the doing of it, were to such a man as St. Paul sufficient indications as to where he ought to be found.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
8. Until Pentecost Erasmus and other commentators were sorely puzzled with this honourable mention of a Jewish feast to Gentile Christian readers. Of course, however, Gentile Christians were sufficiently associated with Jews in the Church to know the two principal feasts of passover and pentecost. Both had acquired a powerful Christian character from the crucifixion at the former and the gift of tongues at the latter. But in fact Paul mentions pentecost here as a date rather than an institution. So we speak of Christmas and holidays. The present verse conclusively shows that the epistle was written from Ephesus.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘But I will tarry at Ephesus until Pentecost, for a great door and effectual is opened to me, and there are many adversaries.’
On the other hand things were going so well at Ephesus, in spite of the opposition there, that he felt that he must stay there until Pentecost. There was a huge opening there, and they were being very effective through the power of God. He wanted them to understand that his visit was being delayed for good reason. He was not his own master. Perhaps too there is the hint here to the Corinthians of how God is with him and working through him, proof of the evidence of His Apostleship.
‘Until Pentecost.’ The Jews celebrated Pentecost in late May or early June, so Paul probably wrote 1 Corinthians in the spring of the year (compare 1Co 5:7; 1Co 15:20). The fact that he refers to Pentecost demonstrates that he expected the Corinthians to have some awareness of Jewish feasts, especially those connected with great past events for the church, such as Pentecost when the Holy Spirit so vividly revealed Himself to the early disciples, and through them to Jews of many nations who became Christians forming the first infant church (Acts 2).
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
1Co 16:8. But I will tarry at Ephesus, &c. This is a plain intimation that St. Paul was now at Ephesus, and, consequently, that the inscription added at the end of the epistle, which tells us it was written from Philippi, is very far from being authentic. It should be remembered, that no credit is to be given to any of these additions, which have been very presumptuously made, and very imprudently retained.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
1Co 16:8-9 . Paul now mentions the duration of his present stay in Ephesus, and the reason of i.
.] is the immediately impending festival of Pentecost. See Introduction, 3. Nothing can be inferred from our text, which contains simply a statement of time, in support of a Christian celebration of this festival as already by this time subsistin.
. . .] The figurative expression (comp. Wetstein) denotes the opportunity opened before him for working (otherwise Act 14:27 ). Comp. 2Co 2:12 , and see on Col 4:3 . applies to the extent , . to the influence of the sphere of action offered; the latter epithet, however, powerful , corresponds not to the figure but to the matter , and even to that only in so far as it is conceived of as immediately connected with the opened , a want of congruity in the animated and versatile mode of representation (comp. Plato, Phaedr. p. 245 A: ) which occasioned the reading , evidens (Vulgate, Itala, Pelagius, Ambrosiaster, Beda), which occurs in Phm 1:6 , and is approved by Beza, Grotius, Bos, and Clericus. As regards the later Greek of (instead of , as 46, Theophylact and Oecumenius actually read), see Lobeck, ad Phryn. p. 157 f.
. . ] “quibus resistam. Saepe bonum et contra ea malum simul valde vigent,” Bengel.
Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary
8 But I will tarry at Ephesus until Pentecost.
Ver. 8. But I will tarry at Ephesus ] From thence then he wrote this Epistle, and not at Philippi, as the subscription hath it. See 1Co 16:5 .
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
8, 9 .] His present plan regarding his stay in Ephesus (where he was writing).
. .] viz. that next coming . This probably happened so, or nearly so, notwithstanding the tumult of Act 19 ; for he already (see there 1Co 16:21-22 ) was meditating his departure , and had sent on two of his company, when the tumult occurred.
, see reff.: an opportunity of action .
refers to the extent of the action thus opened before him: , to its requirements : neither of them (though may be referred to ) properly agreeing with the figure , but both with the reality . Meyer compares Plato, Phdr. p. 245, A: .
. . See Act 19:9 ; Act 19:23 ff.
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
1Co 16:8-9 . “But I stay on in Ephesus until the Pentecost” ( ), “the fiftieth day” from the 16th Nisan in the Passover Feast (see parls.). This suggests that P. is writing not very long before Whitsuntide; 1Co 5:6 ff. indicated a date for the Ep. immediately antecedent to Easter. 1Co 16:9 explains why the Ap. must remain at Eph. some time longer, although required at Cor [2645] : “for a door is open to me, great and effectual, and (there are) many adversaries”. This is defined in Col 4:3 ( cf. 2Co 2:12 ) as a a door open to the preacher ; in Act 14:27 it is seen from the other side, as a door for the entrance of the believing hearer ; see parls. for kindred applications of the figure. The door is in respect of its width and the region into which it opens, in respect of the influence gained by entering it. ( cf. 1Co 15:32 ): an additional reason for not retreating; cf. Phi 1:28 . The terrible riot that shortly afterwards drove Paul from Eph. verified this statement (Act 19 ). Evangelism flourishes under fierce opposition; “Spe bonum et, contra id, malum simul valde vigent” (Bg [2646] ).
[2645] Corinth, Corinthian or Corinthians.
[2646] Bengel’s Gnomon Novi Testamenti.
at = in. App-104.
Pentecost. See Act 2:1.
8, 9.] His present plan regarding his stay in Ephesus (where he was writing).
. .] viz. that next coming. This probably happened so, or nearly so, notwithstanding the tumult of Acts 19; for he already (see there 1Co 16:21-22) was meditating his departure, and had sent on two of his company, when the tumult occurred.
, see reff.: an opportunity of action.
refers to the extent of the action thus opened before him: , to its requirements: neither of them (though may be referred to ) properly agreeing with the figure, but both with the reality. Meyer compares Plato, Phdr. p. 245, A: .
. . See Act 19:9; Act 19:23 ff.
1Co 16:8. , At Ephesus) Paul was at Ephesus: comp. 1Co 16:19, respecting Asia.
1Co 16:8
1Co 16:8
But I will tarry at Ephesus until Pentecost;-This was before the Pentecost in the year preceding his last journey to Jerusalem. Pentecost was fifty days after the Passover. The Passover of the next year, he was in Jerusalem. This letter was written between the Passover and Pentecost the year previous to this last trip to Jerusalem.
at: 1Co 15:32
Pentecost: Exo 23:16, Lev 23:15-21, Act 2:1
Reciprocal: Deu 16:9 – General Act 14:3 – therefore Act 18:19 – Ephesus Act 19:26 – that not Act 20:16 – the day 2Ti 1:18 – Ephesus Tit 3:12 – for Rev 1:11 – Ephesus
1Co 16:8. The Mosaic system was both religious and secular as a govern.. ment. When Christ gave his institution to the world it was intended to supplant the old one for religious purposes (Rom 10:4), but the Jews were still left the privilege of observing their national institutions, as long as they did not try to obtain spiritual benefits from them. That is why Paul Planned to continue his work at Ephesus until Pentecost. That being one of the Jewish national feasts, the apostle wished to go to Jerusalem to attend it.
1Co 16:8. But I will tarry at Ephesus until Pentecost. N.B.
The allusion here to Pentecost fixes the date of this Epistle, while that to Ephesus shews from whence it was written.
Vv. 8, 9. But I will tarry at Ephesus till Pentecost; 9. for a great door and effectual is open unto me, and there are many adversaries.
It is commonly thought this was the date when the tumult excited by Demetrius the goldsmith occurred (Act 19:23 seq.), and that this circumstance abridged the time which St. Paul wished to spend at Ephesus. This supposition seems to me unfounded; it is incompatible with the notice in Act 20:31, where Paul speaks of the three years he passed at Ephesus; for he arrived at Ephesus about the end of the year 54, and at the Passover of 57 he had not passed more than two years and a few months in the city.
The figure of a door denotes opportunities for preaching the gospel. The epithet great indicates that the occasions are numerous, and the epithet effectual, in which the figure is sacrificed to the idea, relates to the power exerted by the gospel in the midst of those populations. The last words are sometimes understood in a restrictive sense: though there are many adversaries. But Paul rather finds in the fact a new motive for prolonging his stay. As he is under obligation to those who are disposed to listen to him, he also feels it a duty to confront those who oppose him.
But I will tarry at Ephesus until Pentecost;
8. But I abide in Ephesus until Pentecost. This verse shows that he wrote this letter in Ephesus, the metropolis of Lydia in Asia. Do not forget that the postscripts to all these letters are utterly devoid of Divine authenticity, none of them appearing in the original. They were not only added by an uninspired hand, but by persons who were very ignorant of the Scriptures, and hence, as in this case, sometimes flatly contradict the epistle itself.
Verse 8
I will tarry at Ephesus, &c. This design appears to have been frustrated by the disturbances created by Demetrius and his fellow-craftsmen. The expression, however, indicates strongly that Paul was at Ephesus when he wrote the Epistle.
The Jews celebrated Pentecost in late May or early June so Paul probably wrote 1 Corinthians in the spring of the year (cf. 1Co 5:7; 1Co 15:20). It is not unusual that since he was a Jewish believer with the evangelization of Jews on his heart he would refer to important events in the Jewish calendar such as Pentecost (Lev 23:15-21). Perhaps the early Christians paid more attention to the significant events in the life of the church than many churches do today. Churches that observe "the Christian year" tend to make more of these observances. The feast of Pentecost, of course, also marked the coming of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2).
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Fuente: Godet Commentary (Luke, John, Romans and 1 Corinthians)
Fuente: McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries (New Testament)
Fuente: William Godbey’s Commentary on the New Testament
Fuente: Abbott’s Illustrated New Testament
Fuente: Expository Notes of Dr. Constable (Old and New Testaments)