1 Corinthians 16:4 kjv
And if it be meet that I go also, they shall go with me.
1 Corinthians 16:4 nkjv
But if it is fitting that I go also, they will go with me.
1 Corinthians 16:4 niv
If it seems advisable for me to go also, they will accompany me.
1 Corinthians 16:4 esv
If it seems advisable that I should go also, they will accompany me.
1 Corinthians 16:4 nlt
And if it seems appropriate for me to go along, they can travel with me.
1 Corinthians 16 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Cor 16:3 | "When I arrive, I will send with letters of introduction those you approve to carry your gift to Jerusalem." | Closely related command, ensuring proper handling of gifts. |
| 1 Cor 16:4 | "and if it is fitting that I go, they will accompany me, and I will take them with me." | Further confirmation of accompaniment by approved individuals. |
| 1 Tim 3:15 | "but in case I am delayed, I write so that you may know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and support of the truth." | The church as a sphere of conduct and responsibility. |
| Titus 1:5 | "This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you." | Appointment of qualified individuals for oversight. |
| Acts 6:3 | "Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we can appoint to this duty." | Qualities needed for those entrusted with responsibility. |
| Phil 4:18 | "I have received everything and have plenty; I am supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you sent, a fragrant offering, a pleasing sacrifice, acceptable to God." | The church's generosity and its acceptance by God. |
| 2 Cor 8:19 | "not only so, but he has been appointed by the churches to travel with us in this gracious work, which is being administered by us to the glory of the Lord himself and to show our readiness." | Commendation of individuals chosen by churches for service. |
| Rom 12:8 | "if it is to give, in generosity; if it is to lead, with zeal; if it is to show mercy, with cheerfulness." | The manner in which ministry should be exercised. |
| 1 Pet 4:10 | "As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God's varied grace." | The principle of stewardship of spiritual gifts. |
| 1 Tim 5:17 | "Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching." | Honor due to those who lead well in the church. |
| Eph 4:12 | "to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ." | The purpose of equipping for ministry within the church. |
| Heb 13:7 | "Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their life, and imitate their faith." | Remembering and learning from spiritual leaders. |
| Heb 13:17 | "Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be disadvantageous to you." | The accountability of leaders to the flock. |
| Gal 2:9 | "and when they saw the grace that was given to me, James and Cephas and John, who are supposed to be pillars, they gave the right hand of fellowship to Barnabas and me, that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcised." | Recognition of fellow workers and their ministry. |
| Col 1:25 | "of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known." | Stewardship in ministry to fulfill God's purpose. |
| 1 Cor 4:1-2 | "This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful." | The essential nature of faithfulness in stewardship. |
| Acts 20:28 | "Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood." | The shepherdly oversight and care within the church. |
| Rom 15:24 | "hoping to see you in passing and to be helped on my way to Spain by you, once I have enjoyed your company for a time—" | Paul's hope for support and journey. |
| Acts 19:21 | "Now after these events, Paul resolved in the Spirit to pass through Macedonia and Achaia, and go to Jerusalem, saying, 'After I have been there, I must also see Rome.'" | Paul's travel plans and ultimate destination. |
| Matt 10:40 | "Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me." | The significance of receiving those sent by Christ. |
1 Corinthians 16 verses
1 Corinthians 16 4 Meaning
This verse speaks of entrusting God's care to the church and to those within it who are trustworthy and spiritual. It signifies a recognition that earthly possessions and responsibilities are ultimately held in trust from God and should be managed with wisdom and accountability. The ultimate custodianship and responsibility are placed with the believing community, led by capable and spiritually mature individuals.
1 Corinthians 16 4 Context
First Corinthians chapter 16 is primarily concerned with instructions regarding the collection for the saints in Jerusalem and concluding remarks. In the preceding verses, Paul outlines how the collection should be conducted, emphasizing regularity and systematic giving. He specifies that upon arrival, he will send approved individuals, carrying letters of introduction, to accompany the offering to Jerusalem. Verse 4 builds directly on this, indicating that if Paul himself decides to go to Jerusalem, these approved individuals will travel with him, further ensuring the secure and proper delivery of the contributions. This chapter, and this verse specifically, operates within the broader context of Paul's pastoral ministry, addressing practical matters of church order, unity, and support for fellow believers facing hardship. Historically, the church in Jerusalem was a Jewish Christian community, and the collection was a gesture of solidarity and love from Gentile churches like Corinth towards their Jewish counterparts.
1 Corinthians 16 4 Word analysis
δὲ (de): And, but. A common conjunction indicating connection or transition. Here, it links the instruction about sending individuals to Jerusalem with a conditional statement about Paul's own potential journey.
ἐὰν (ean): If. A conditional particle, introducing a hypothetical situation. It signifies that the following clause is dependent on a certain condition being met.
μὲ (me): Me. The first-person singular pronoun in the accusative case. Refers to the Apostle Paul.
ἔλθω (elthō): I come, I go. A subjunctive verb from ἔρχομαι (erchomai), meaning to come or to go. Used here in a context of arrival at a destination (Jerusalem).
ἐπιγιγνώσκω (epiginōskō): To know, to recognize, to approve. Used here in the perfect tense with the indicative mood passive voice. The original wording implied a thorough acquaintance and positive endorsement. Paul suggests sending those whom the Corinthians "know" or "approve." This emphasizes a need for trust and reliability in handling church affairs.
ἄν (an): With subjunctive verbs, it adds to the indefiniteness or possibility of the action. It strengthens the "if" clause, indicating "if ever" or "if indeed."
σὺν (syn): With. A preposition indicating accompaniment or association.
αὐτοῖς (auto1s): Them. The third-person plural pronoun in the dative case. Refers to the approved individuals mentioned earlier in the chapter.
πέμψω (pempsō): I will send. The future indicative active verb from πέμπω (pempō), meaning to send. Paul states his intention to dispatch these individuals.
καὶ (kai): And, also. A conjunction connecting clauses or phrases.
Words Group - "ἐπιγιγνώσκω ἂν σὺν αὐτοῖς": This phrase could be interpreted as "whom I may know along with them" or more likely "whom you may know/approve and [they] will be with them." The latter is more consistent with the flow of instruction. The emphasis is on endorsement and combined travel. The approving eye of both Paul and the Corinthian church was intended.
1 Corinthians 16 4 Bonus section
The act of sending representatives and the approval process spoken of in 1 Corinthians 16:3-4 resonate with principles found elsewhere in the New Testament concerning missions and church leadership. The qualifications for those entrusted with significant responsibility, often emphasizing spiritual maturity and good reputation, are consistently presented across Paul's letters (e.g., 1 Timothy 3, Titus 1). The communal aspect of decision-making and sending, even with Paul's authoritative oversight, reflects the early church's understanding of shared responsibility and fellowship. The concept of "approval" speaks to discernment, a spiritual gift necessary for identifying capable workers for the ministry.
1 Corinthians 16 4 Commentary
This verse details a contingent plan for Paul's journey. If it proved advisable for Paul himself to travel to Jerusalem, the approved individuals he mentioned in the previous verse would accompany him. This ensured the secure and respectable transport of the collection for the Jerusalem church. It highlights Paul's practical leadership, his desire for transparency, and the importance of unity and mutual support between different church communities. The integrity of the delegates was paramount, being known and approved, not just by Paul but by the local church that was contributing. This practice underscores the value of accountability and trustworthy leadership within the early church.