1 Corinthians 16:18
in 1 Corinthians 16For they refreshed my spirit and yours as well. Show your appreciation, therefore, to such men.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
For they refreshed my spirit and yours: acknowledge ye therefore them that are such.
KJV
For they have refreshed my spirit and yours: therefore acknowledge ye them that are such.
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This verse in 1 Corinthians 16
Commentary
11 notes on this verseThey have refreshed my spirit and yours - They have been a means of contributing greatly to my comfort; and what contributes to my comfort must increase yours. This is probably the meaning of the apostle. Therefore acknowledge ye them - Pay them particular respect, and let all be held in esteem in proportion to their work and usefulness. When this is made the rule of respect and esteem, then foolish and capricious attachments will have no place. A man will then be honored in proportion to his merit; and his merit will be estimated by his usefulness among men.
This site's exposition
You know that Stephanas and
on 1 Corinthians 16:15-18
Stephanas and his household, Achaia's first converts, devoted themselves to the service of the saints, etaxan heautous, self-appointed to serve. Corinth is to submit to such as these, authority in this letter flowing to proven service.
This site's exposition
refreshed my spirit
Refreshed is anapauo, the verb of Jesus' promise of rest in Matthew 11:28. The visitors' company reached back to Corinth, and the church shared in Paul's relief. Paul asks the church to honour such men.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
A commentator
Didymus the BlindPAULINE COMMENTARY FROM THE GREEK CHURCH · Written before 398.
proposed
The spirit of a holy person is refreshed by thinking and doing things which are pious, for the spirit strives after what is good.
Thus, since it was natural for them to be greatly irritated against these persons, for it was they who had come and showed him all about the division, inasmuch as by them also they had written the questions about the virgins, and about the married persons:-mark how he softened them down; both in the beginning of his Epistle by saying, "For it hath been signified unto me by them which are of the house of Chloe;" thus at once concealing these and bringing forward the others: (for it should seem that the latter had given their information by means of the former:) and in this place again, "They have supplied your lack, and refreshed my spirit and yours:" signifying that they had come instead of all, and had chosen to undertake so great a journey on their behalf. How then may this, their peculiar praise, become common? "If you will solace me for what was wanting on your part by your kindness towards them; if you will honor, if you will receive, them, if you will communicate with them in doing good." Wherefore he saith, "Acknowledge ye then them that are such." And while praising those that came, he embraces also the others in his praise, the senders together with the sent: where he saith, "'They refreshed my spirit and yours, therefore acknowledge such as these,' because for your sakes they left country and home." Dost thou perceive his consideration? He implies that they had obliged not Paul only, but the Corinthians likewise, in that they bore about in themselves the whole city. A thing which both added credit to them, and did not allow the others to sever themselves from them, inasmuch as in their persons they had presented themselves to Paul.
As to our fellow-servant Burrhus, your deacon in regard to God and blessed in all things, I pray that he may continue blameless for the honour of the Church, and of your most blessed bishop. Crocus also, worthy both of God and you, whom we have received as the manifestation of your love to us, hath in all things refreshed me, and "hath not been ashamed of my chain," as the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ will also refresh him; together with Onesimus, and Burrhus, and Euplus, and Fronto, by means of whom I have, as to love, beheld all of you.
The Medieval Church2 voices
He declares that his peace is their peace. Since they have set me at ease, and my peace is beneficial for you yourselves, then on your part let nothing unpleasant be declared against them. That is, honor them. …
He instructs them here as to those who are pre-eminent in ministry, and it can be expounded in two ways. In one way, so that it would say, I rejoice at the coming of Stephanus and Fortunatus and Achaicus, who are present to you, whose …
3 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
For they have refreshed my spirit,....
Note, It is a great refreshment to the spirit of a faithful minister to hear better of a people by wise and good men of their own body than by common report, to find himself misinformed concerning them, that matters are not so bad as they had been represented. It is a grief to him to hear ill of those he loves; it gladdens his heart to hear the report thereof is false.
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
For they have refreshed my spirit - By their presence and conversation. They have given me information respecting the state of things in the church; and their society has been with me of the most gratifying and cheering kind. And yours - “By removing,” says Locke, “those suspicions and fears that were on both sides.” “By thus supplying your absence, they have benefited us both. For Paul gained information of those absent, and they gained in the counsel afforded to them by the apostle” - Bloomfield. “For they refreshed my spirit by their obliging behavior and edifying conversation, as, I doubt not, they have often refreshed yours by their ministrations among you” - Doddridge. The sense seems to be, that their visit to him would be a benefit to both; would result in imparting comfort, a good understanding, an increase of their mutual attachment, and ultimately a large accession to their mutual joy when they should again meet. Therefore acknowledge ye them that are such - Receive affectionately; recognize as brethren; cherish, treat kindly all that evince such a spirit; see the notes on 1Co 16:15-16. The apostle here designs, evidently, that the Corinthians should receive them kindly on their return, and regard with deference and respect the counsel which they might offer, and the message which they might bear from him.
The words behind it
12 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ἀνέπαυσαν | anepausan | They refreshed | G373 → | |
| γὰρ | gar | for | G1063 → | 1039 times |
| τὸ | to | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἐμὸν | emon | my | G1473 → | 839 times |
| πνεῦμα | pneuma | spirit | G4151 → | 378 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| τὸ | to | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ὑμῶν. | humon | yours. | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| ἐπιγινώσκετε | epiginoskete | do recognize | G1921 → | 44 times |
| οὖν | oun | therefore | G3767 → | 497 times |
| τοὺς | tous | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| τοιούτους.¶ | toioutous | such as these. | G5108 → | 56 times |
ἀνέπαυσανThey refreshed
anepausanG373 →
γὰρfor
garG1063 →1039 times
τὸ<the>
toG3588 →19766 times
ἐμὸνmy
emonG1473 →839 times
πνεῦμαspirit
pneumaG4151 →378 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
τὸ<the>
toG3588 →19766 times
ὑμῶν.yours.
humonG4771 →2973 times
ἐπιγινώσκετεdo recognize
epiginosketeG1921 →44 times
οὖνtherefore
ounG3767 →497 times
τοὺς<the>
tousG3588 →19766 times
τοιούτους.¶such as these.
toioutousG5108 →56 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Philemon 1:7I take great joy and encouragement in your love, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints.
it leads to
- 2 Corinthians 7:13
On account of this, we are encouraged. In addition to our own encouragement, we were even more delighted by the joy of Titus. For his spirit has been refreshed by all of you.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 1 Thessalonians 3:9
How can we adequately thank God for you in return for our great joy over you in His presence?
- 2 Corinthians 7:4
Great is my confidence in you; great is my pride in you; I am filled with encouragement; in all our troubles my joy overflows.
- 2 Corinthians 7:13
Through
Romans 15:32so that by God’s will I may come to you with joy and together with you be refreshed.
it leads to
- Philemon 1:20
Yes, brother, let me have some benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Philemon 1:7
I take great joy and encouragement in your love, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints.
- Acts 18:21
But as he left, he said, “I will come back to you if God is willing.” And he set sail from Ephesus.
- Philemon 1:20
Through
Proverbs 25:13Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest is a trustworthy messenger to those who send him; he refreshes the soul of his masters.
it leads to
- Proverbs 13:17
A wicked messenger falls into trouble, but a faithful envoy brings healing.
- Proverbs 13:17
Through
2 Corinthians 7:13On account of this, we are encouraged. In addition to our own encouragement, we were even more delighted by the joy of Titus. For his spirit has been refreshed by all of you.
it leads to
- 2 Corinthians 7:6
But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the arrival of Titus,
- 2 Corinthians 7:6
Where this verse is studied
About 1 Corinthians
This page draws on 12 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Charles Hodge, An Exposition of the First Epistle to the Corinthians; Didymus the Blind, PAULINE COMMENTARY FROM THE GREEK CHURCH; Frederic Godet, Commentary on First Corinthians; Ignatius of Antioch, Epistle of Ignatius to the Ephesians; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on 1 Corinthians 44; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 1 Corinthians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on 1 Corinthians.