1 Corinthians 16:9
in 1 Corinthians 16because a great door for effective work has opened to me, even though many oppose me.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
for a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries.
KJV
For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries.
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This verse in 1 Corinthians 16
Commentary
12 notes on this verseA commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
"A door of utterance," Col 4:3. "Great," that is, extensive. "Effectual," that is, requiring great labors [ESTIUS]; or opportune for effecting great results [BEZA]. many adversaries--who would block up the way and prevent us from entering the open door.
This site's exposition
After I go through Macedonia
on 1 Corinthians 16:5-9
After I go through Macedonia, however, I will come to you: the plan is plain, a possible winter at Corinth, under the proviso of every plan, if the Lord permits. Paul writes, I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost, because a great door for effective work has opened to me, even though many oppose me, and Acts 19's riot shows them. The plan later changed, and the change became the charge of fickleness that 2 Corinthians 1 answers.
This site's exposition
a great door for effective work
Paul uses the open door for an opportunity to preach again at 2 Corinthians 2:12 and Colossians 4:3. Effective translates energes, a door leading to active and fruitful work. Acts 19:10 records that the whole province heard the word.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
Paul made it clear that he was staying at Ephesus because he had found hearts there who were thirsting for the grace of God, and in them he could quickly instill the mystery of Christ. But because the devil is always restless and hostile to …
"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
That is, many desire to come to the faith, and a wide entrance to them is open to me, since their mind has ripened for the faith. For a teacher is constrained when his students are not diligent; on the contrary, the field is wide …
He adds the reason for why he wanted to stay in Ephesus until Pentecost when he says, for a wide door for effective work has opened for me, i.e., I am producing great fruit in Ephesus. And he says, a wide door has opened for …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
And effectual - As to the effects wrought upon them. And there are many adversaries - As there must always be where Satan's kingdom shakes. This was another reason for his staying there.
4 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
For a great door,.... Meaning an opportunity of ministering the word at Ephesus, a very populous city, and where he might have hope great good would be done.
A great door and effectual was opened to him; many were prepared to receive the gospel at Ephesus, and God gave him great success among them; he had brought over many to Christ, and he had great hope of bringing over many more.
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A great door and effectual is opened - Θυοα γαρ μοι ανεωγε μεγαλη και ενεργης· A great and energetic door is opened to me; that is, God has made a grand opening to me in those parts, which I perceive will require much labor; and besides, I shall have many adversaries to oppose me. So Bp. Pearce understands the words ενεργης, not as signifying effectual, but as implying full of labor. Door often signifies occasion or opportunity; but here, the apostle may allude to the throwing open of the great doors of the Circus Maximus before the chariot races began; and the many adversaries may refer to the numerous competitors in those races. God gave him a grand opportunity to preach the Gospel; but he was not to expect that either Satan or wicked men would leave him unmolested.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
For a great door - There is abundant opportunity for usefulness. The word “door” is used evidently to denote an occasion or an opportunity for doing anything. It is the means by which we have entrance or access; and hence denotes facility in doing anything when there is no obstruction; see Act 14:27; 2Co 2:12; Col 4:3. And effectual - That is, effective, or adapted to success; presenting opportunity for great effects. There is abundant opportunity to preach the gospel; there is attention to what is spoken, and great interest in it; there is great encouragement to labor.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| θύρα | thura | A door | G2374 → | |
| γάρ | gar | for | G1063 → | 1039 times |
| μοι | moi | to me | G3165 → | 1936 times |
| ἀνέῳγεν | aneogen | has opened | G455 → | |
| μεγάλη | megale | great | G3173 → | 243 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἐνεργὴς | energes | productive | G1756 → | |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἀντικείμενοι | antikeimenoi | are opposing | G480 → | |
| πολλοί.¶ | polloi | many. | G4183 → | 367 times |
θύραA door
thuraG2374 →
γάρfor
garG1063 →1039 times
μοιto me
moiG3165 →1936 times
ἀνέῳγενhas opened
aneogenG455 →
μεγάληgreat
megaleG3173 →243 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἐνεργὴςproductive
energesG1756 →
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἀντικείμενοιare opposing
antikeimenoiG480 →
πολλοί.¶many.
polloiG4183 →367 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
Colossians 4:3as you pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.
it leads to
- Acts 14:27
When they arrived, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them, and how He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Ephesians 6:19–20
Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will boldly make known the mystery of the gospel,
- 2 Thessalonians 3:1–2
Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may spread quickly and be held in honor, just as it was with you.
- Philippians 1:13–14
As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ.
- Acts 14:27
Through
Acts 14:27When they arrived, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them, and how He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.
it leads to
- Colossians 4:3
as you pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 2 Corinthians 2:12
Now when I went to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ and a door stood open for me in the Lord,
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Acts 15:12
The whole assembly fell silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul describing the signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them.
- Colossians 4:3
Through
2 Corinthians 2:12Now when I went to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ and a door stood open for me in the Lord,
it leads to
- Acts 16:8
So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas.
- Acts 16:8
Where this verse is studied
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About 1 Corinthians
This page draws on 13 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; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 1 Corinthians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on 1 Corinthians.