1 Corinthians 16:5
in 1 Corinthians 16After I go through Macedonia, however, I will come to you; for I will be going through Macedonia.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
But I will come unto you, when I shall have passed through Macedonia; for I pass through Macedonia;
KJV
Now I will come unto you, when I shall pass through Macedonia: for I do pass through Macedonia.
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This verse in 1 Corinthians 16
Commentary
10 notes on this verseNow I will come unto you,.... Which he again assures them of, as being his real intention and design; though some had given out that he would not come to them any more, and hoped they should never see him any more; see 1Co 4:18. When I shall pass through Macedonia; hereby fixing the time when he intended to visit them after he had gone through that country, and had received their collections for the saints at Jerusalem, which the churches there so generously made, and pressed him to the ministering of, of which he speaks in his next epistle.
This site's exposition
when I shall pass through Macedonia
on 1 Corinthians 16:5-9
I will come unto you, when I shall pass through Macedonia: the itinerary is offered plainly, a possible wintering at Corinth, and the proviso that governs all apostolic planning, if the Lord permit. But I will tarry at Ephesus until Pentecost, and verse 9 gives the two reasons in one breath: for a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries. The bench lingers where Paul joins them with and rather than but, the open door and the opposition listed as parallel reasons for staying, since in his arithmetic adversaries are evidence the door is real; Acts 19's riot is the adversaries' face, and the exposition notes that this stated plan later changed, the change becoming the accusation of fickleness 2 Corinthians 1 must answer.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
"But I will come to you," saith he, "when I shall have passed through Macedonia." This he had said also above; then however with anger: at least he added, "And I will know not the speech of them that are puffed up, but the power:" but here, more mildly; that they might even long for his coming. Then, that they might not say, "Why is it that you honor the Macedonians above us?" he said not, "When I depart," but, "When I shall have passed through Macedonia; for I do pass through Macedonia."
Paul is personally strengthening the admonitions by which he is putting them right. The one from whom they have heard Christian teaching is coming to visit. If so, they will be all the more concerned not to be ashamed when he arrives.
The Medieval Church2 voices
Next, the Apostle instructs them about the things that pertain to himself. And concerning this he does three things. First, he promises them his arrival, saying, I will come to you after passing through Macedonia. Secondly, he says that he is about to spend a …
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 …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
Note, The heart of a truly Christian minister must be much towards that people among whom he has long laboured, and with remarkable success. No wonder that Paul was willing to see Corinth and stay with them as long as the other duties of his office would permit.
3 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Now I will come unto you - I purpose to come unto you. He had expected to see them on his way to Macedonia, but, on some account, had been induced to abandon that design. See the notes at 2Co 1:15-17. When I shall pass through Macedonia - When I shall have passed through Macedonia. He proposed to go to Macedonia first, and, having passed through that country, visiting the churches, to go to Corinth. For the situation of Macedonia, see the notes at Act 16:9. For I do pass through Macedonia - I design to do it.
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 come unto you, when I shall pass through Macedonia - St. Paul was now at Ephesus; for almost all allow, in opposition to the subscription at the end of this epistle that states it to have been written from Philippi, that it was written from Ephesus: and this is supported by many strong arguments; and the 8th verse here seems to put it past all question: I will tarry at Ephesus; i.e. I am in Ephesus, and here I purpose to remain until pentecost. Though Macedonia was not in the direct way from Ephesus to Corinth, yet the apostle intended to make it in his way. And it was because it was not in the direct road, but lay at the upper end of the Aegean Sea, and very far out of his direct line, that he says, I do pass through Macedonia - I have purposed to go thither before I go to Corinth.
The words behind it
10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ἐλεύσομαι | eleusomai | I will come | G2064 → | 628 times |
| δὲ | de | however | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| πρὸς | pros | to | G4314 → | 700 times |
| ὑμᾶς | humas | you | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| ὅταν | hotan | when | G3752 → | 123 times |
| Μακεδονίαν | makedonian | Macedonia | G3109 → | |
| διέλθω· | dieltho | I may have gone through; | G1330 → | 43 times |
| Μακεδονίαν | makedonian | Macedonia | G3109 → | |
| γὰρ | gar | for | G1063 → | 1039 times |
| διέρχομαι, | dierchomai | I am going through, | G1330 → | 43 times |
ἐλεύσομαιI will come
eleusomaiG2064 →628 times
δὲhowever
deG1161 →2765 times
πρὸςto
prosG4314 →700 times
ὑμᾶςyou
humasG4771 →2973 times
ὅτανwhen
hotanG3752 →123 times
ΜακεδονίανMacedonia
makedonianG3109 →
διέλθω·I may have gone through;
dielthoG1330 →43 times
ΜακεδονίανMacedonia
makedonianG3109 →
γὰρfor
garG1063 →1039 times
διέρχομαι,I am going through,
dierchomaiG1330 →43 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
1 Corinthians 4:19But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord is willing, and then I will find out not only what these arrogant people are saying, but what power they have.
it leads to
- 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 2 separate paths from here.
- 2 Corinthians 13:1–4
This is the third time I am coming to you. “Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.”
- Acts 19:21
After these things had happened, Paul resolved in the Spirit to go to Jerusalem after he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia. “After I have been there,” he said, “I must see Rome as…
- 1 Corinthians 11:34
If anyone is hungry, he should eat at home, so that when you come together it will not result in judgment. And when I come, I will give instructions about the remaining matters.
- 1 Corinthians 2:6
Among the mature, however, we speak a message of wisdom—but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.
- Acts 18:21
Through
Acts 19:21After these things had happened, Paul resolved in the Spirit to go to Jerusalem after he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia. “After I have been there,” he said, “I must see Rome as…
it leads to
- Acts 20:22
And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there.
- Acts 20:16
Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus to avoid spending time in the province of Asia, because he was in a hurry to reach Jerusalem, if possible, by the day of Pentecost.
- Acts 23:11
The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about Me in Jerusalem, so also you must testify in Rome.”
- Acts 20:22
Where this verse is studied
On this page
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 First Epistle to the Corinthians; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); 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.