1 Corinthians 16:8
in 1 Corinthians 16But I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost,
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
But I will tarry at Ephesus until Pentecost;
KJV
But I will tarry at Ephesus until Pentecost.
⋯
This verse in 1 Corinthians 16
Commentary
9 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
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.
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
They were keeping it "unleavened "ceremonially, and he urges a spiritual unleavening as more important. The Christian hallowing of Pentecost connects with the Paschal argument.
"But I will tarry at Ephesus until Pentecost." As we should expect, he tells them all exactly, informing them as friends, For this too is a mark of friendship to say the reason why he was not with them, why he delayed, and where he was staying. "For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries." Now it was "great," how could there be "adversaries?" Why on this very account the adversaries were many, because men's faith was great; because the entrance was great and wide. But what means, "A great door?" There are many prepared to receive the faith, many ready to approach and be converted. There is a spacious entrance for me, things being now come to that point that the mind of those approaching is at its prime for the obedience of the faith. On this account, vehement was the blast of the breath of the devil, because he saw many turning away from him. You see then on both accounts it was needful for him to stay; both because the gain was abundant, and because the struggle was great. And herewith also he cheered them up, namely, by saying, that henceforth the word works every where and springs up readily. And if there be many who plot against it, this also is a sign of the advance of the Gospel. For at no time doth that evil demon wax fierce, except on seeing his goods made spoil of abundantly. Let us then, when we desire to effect any thing great and noble, not regard this, the greatness of the labor which it brings, but let us rather look to the gain. Mark, for instance, Paul, not therefore lingering, not therefore shrinking back, because "there were many adversaries;" but because "there was a great door," pressing on and persevering. Yea, and as I was saying, this was a sign that the devil was being stripped, for it is not, depend on it, by little and mean achievements that men provoke that evil monster to wrath. […]
The Medieval Church2 voices
And this is a sign of strong love, that he tells them where he will be, how long he will stay, and even adds the reason. For he continues.
In another way, he excuses himself, and this would seem the more literal meaning, because it was necessary for him to remain for a long time at Ephesus, which is in Asia. And so he says, but I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost. Perhaps …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
But I will tarry at Ephesus till Pentecost.
2 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
at Ephesus--whence Paul writes this Epistle. Compare 1Co 16:19, "Asia," wherein Ephesus was. until Pentecost--He seems to have stayed as he here purposes: for just when the tumult which drove him away broke out, he was already intending to leave Ephesus (Ac 19:21, 22).
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
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 on 1Co 16:5 (note).
The words behind it
7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ἐπιμενῶ | epimeno | I will remain | G1961 → | |
| δὲ | de | however | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| Ἐφέσῳ | epheso | Ephesus | G2181 → | |
| ἕως | he'os | until | G2193 → | 146 times |
| τῆς | tes | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| πεντηκοστῆς· | pentekostes | Pentecost; | G4005 → |
ἐπιμενῶI will remain
epimenoG1961 →
δὲhowever
deG1161 →2765 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
ἘφέσῳEphesus
ephesoG2181 →
ἕωςuntil
he'osG2193 →146 times
τῆς<the>
tesG3588 →19766 times
πεντηκοστῆς·Pentecost;
pentekostesG4005 →
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
Acts 2:1When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.
it leads to
- Romans 15:6
so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
- Philippians 2:2
then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being united in spirit and purpose.
- Acts 1:13–15
When they arrived, they went to the upper room where they were staying: Peter and John, James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas…
- Philippians 1:27
Nevertheless, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm…
- Romans 15:6
Through
1 Corinthians 15:32If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus for human motives, what did I gain? If the dead are not raised, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.”
it leads to
- Isaiah 22:13
But look, there is joy and gladness, butchering of cattle and slaughtering of sheep, eating of meat and drinking of wine: “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!”
- Isaiah 56:12
“Come, let me get the wine, let us imbibe the strong drink, and tomorrow will be like today, only far better!”
- Luke 12:19
Then I will say to myself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take it easy. Eat, drink, and be merry!”’
- Isaiah 22:13
Through
Exodus 23:16You are also to keep the Feast of Harvest with the firstfruits of the produce from what you sow in the field. And keep the Feast of Ingathering at the end of the year,…
it leads to
- Exodus 34:22
And you are to celebrate the Feast of Weeks with the firstfruits of the wheat harvest, and the Feast of Ingathering at the turn of the year.
- Exodus 34:22
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About 1 Corinthians
Who and where
1 name in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on 10 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; 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); Polycrates Of Ephesus, Commentary (church-history corpus); Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 1 Corinthians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on 1 Corinthians.