1 Corinthians 16:7
in 1 Corinthians 16For I do not want to see you now only in passing; I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
For I do not wish to see you now by the way; for I hope to tarry a while with you, if the Lord permit.
KJV
For I will not see you now by the way; but I trust to tarry a while with you, if the Lord permit.
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This verse in 1 Corinthians 16
Commentary
12 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
For I will not see you now by the way - On the way to Macedonia. Something had occurred to change his mind, and to induce him to go to Macedonia by another way. But I trust to tarry a while with you - That is, on my return from Macedonia, 1Co 16:5. Greek, “I hope to remain with you a little while. If the Lord permit - The apostle did not use the language of certainty and of confidence.
This site's exposition
After I go through Macedonia
on 1 Corinthians 16:5-9
Paul plans to come through Macedonia and perhaps winter at Corinth, under the proviso of every plan, if the Lord permits. The plan later changed, and the change became the charge of fickleness that 2 Corinthians 1 answers.
This site's exposition
if the Lord permits
The word now points to an earlier plan of two short visits, which 2 Corinthians 1:15-16 describes. Paul now prefers one longer stay.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
Knowing that he has a lot to do in Corinth, Paul does not want to pass through on his way somewhere else but to spend time with them when he comes.
"For I do not wish to see you now by the way; for I hope to tarry awhile with you, if the Lord permit." Now these things he said, both to signify his love and also to terrify the sinners, not however openly, but with outward demonstration of friendship.
The Medieval Church2 voices
He did not say: I will go to Macedonia, lest they say: "you prefer the Macedonians to us," but said: I am passing through Macedonia, that is, I am visiting the Macedonians hastily and in passing, but with you I will stay. By this he …
Thirdly, when he says, for I do not want, he excuses the postponement of his arrival in two ways. In one way, because the Corinthians could say: it is not necessary that you defer coming and that you first go to Macedonia, because you could …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
It is to be understood then of a common purpose, formed in his own spirit. And concerning all our purposes it is fit we should say, "We will execute them if the Lord permit." Note, All our purposes must be made with submission to the divine providence.
4 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
For I will not see you now by the way,.... Just to look upon them, and be gone, be like a wayfaring man that tarries but for a night: but I trust to tarry a while with you; the whole winter season: if the Lord permit; submitting all to the will of God, at whose sovereign disposal he always was, and at whose beck and command he desired to be, and to do nothing, or be any where, but what was agreeable to the will of God.
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
I will not see you now by the way--literally, "I do not wish to see you this time in passing"; that is, to pay you now what would have to be a merely passing visit as I did in the second visit (2Co 12:14). In contrast to "a while," that is, some time, as the Greek might better be translated. but--The oldest manuscripts read "for."
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
13:1; compare Ac 20:1, 2). "Pass through" is opposed to "abide" (1Co 16:6). He was not yet in Macedonia (as 1Co 16:8 shows), but at Ephesus; but he was thinking of passing through it (not abiding as he purposed to do at Corinth).
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
I will not see you now by the way - From Ephesus to Corinth was merely across the Aegean Sea, and comparatively a short passage.
The words behind it
19 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| οὐ | ou | Not | G3756 → | 1664 times |
| θέλω | thelo | I want | G2309 → | 208 times |
| γὰρ | gar | for | G1063 → | 1039 times |
| ὑμᾶς | humas | you | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| ἄρτι | arti | now | G737 → | 36 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| παρόδῳ | parodo | passing | G3938 → | |
| ἰδεῖν· | idein | to see; | G1492 → | 374 times |
| ἐλπίζω | elpizo | I hope | G1679 → | 31 times |
| γὰρ | gar | for | G1063 → | 1039 times |
| χρόνον | chronon | a time | G5550 → | |
| τινὰ | tina | certain | G5100 → | 528 times |
| ἐπιμεῖναι | epimeinai | to remain | G1961 → | |
| πρὸς | pros | with | G4314 → | 700 times |
| ὑμᾶς, | humas | you, | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| ἐὰν | ean | if | G1437 → | 352 times |
| ὁ | ho | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| κύριος | kurios | Lord | G2962 → | 711 times |
| ἐπιτρέψῃ. | epitrepse | shall permit. | G2010 → |
οὐNot
ouG3756 →1664 times
θέλωI want
theloG2309 →208 times
γὰρfor
garG1063 →1039 times
ὑμᾶςyou
humasG4771 →2973 times
ἄρτιnow
artiG737 →36 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
παρόδῳpassing
parodoG3938 →
ἰδεῖν·to see;
ideinG1492 →374 times
ἐλπίζωI hope
elpizoG1679 →31 times
γὰρfor
garG1063 →1039 times
χρόνονa time
chrononG5550 →
τινὰcertain
tinaG5100 →528 times
ἐπιμεῖναιto remain
epimeinaiG1961 →
πρὸςwith
prosG4314 →700 times
ὑμᾶς,you,
humasG4771 →2973 times
ἐὰνif
eanG1437 →352 times
ὁthe
hoG3588 →19766 times
κύριοςLord
kuriosG2962 →711 times
ἐπιτρέψῃ.shall permit.
epitrepseG2010 →
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
Jeremiah 10:23I know, O LORD, that a man’s way is not his own; no one who walks directs his own steps.
it leads to
- Proverbs 20:24
A man’s steps are from the LORD, so how can anyone understand his own way?
- Psalms 37:23
The steps of a man are ordered by the LORD who takes delight in his journey.
- Proverbs 16:1
The plans of the heart belong to man, but the reply of the tongue is from the LORD.
- Psalms 119:116–117
Sustain me as You promised, that I may live; let me not be ashamed of my hope.
- Psalms 17:5
My steps have held to Your paths; my feet have not slipped.
- Proverbs 20:24
Through
James 4:15Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord is willing, we will live and do this or that.”
it leads to
- Hebrews 6:3
And this we will do, if God permits.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 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.
Reached by 3 separate paths from here.
- Proverbs 19:21
Many plans are in a man’s heart, but the purpose of the LORD will prevail.
- Hebrews 6:3
Where this verse is studied
About 1 Corinthians
This page draws on 11 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); Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the First Epistle to the Corinthians; Ambrosiaster, COMMENTARY ON PAUL'S EPISTLES; Frederic Godet, Commentary on First Corinthians; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Chrysostom, Homily on 1 Corinthians 43; 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.