1 Corinthians 16:5 meaning summary explained with word-by-word analysis enriched with context, commentary and Cross References from KJV, NIV, ESV and NLT.
1 Corinthians 16:5 kjv
Now I will come unto you, when I shall pass through Macedonia: for I do pass through Macedonia.
1 Corinthians 16:5 nkjv
Now I will come to you when I pass through Macedonia (for I am passing through Macedonia).
1 Corinthians 16:5 niv
After I go through Macedonia, I will come to you?for I will be going through Macedonia.
1 Corinthians 16:5 esv
I will visit you after passing through Macedonia, for I intend to pass through Macedonia,
1 Corinthians 16:5 nlt
I am coming to visit you after I have been to Macedonia, for I am planning to travel through Macedonia.
1 Corinthians 16 5 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Acts 19:21 | Now after these things were ended, Paul purposed in the Spirit to go to Jerusalem... saying, "After I have been there, I must also see Rome." | Paul plans journeys led by Spirit. |
| Acts 20:1-3 | After the uproar ceased, Paul sent for the disciples... he departed to go into Macedonia. When he had gone through those regions and had given them much encouragement, he came to Greece... | Paul's actual journey through Macedonia. |
| Acts 16:9 | A vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia standing and pleading with him, saying, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." | Divine guidance for Macedonian journey. |
| Rom 15:28 | When therefore I have accomplished this, and have sealed to them this fruit, I shall go on by you to Spain. | Paul's long-term travel strategy. |
| 2 Cor 1:15-16 | I intended to visit you first... so that you might have a second grace. I intended to visit you on my way to Macedonia... | Paul's prior, changed travel plans. |
| 2 Cor 1:17 | Did I make my plans carelessly? Or what I plan, do I plan according to the flesh, ready to say "Yes, yes" and "No, no" at the same time? | Defending sincerity of travel plans. |
| 2 Cor 2:13 | I had no rest for my spirit because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I took leave of them and started for Macedonia. | Urgent shift in plans to Macedonia. |
| 1 Cor 4:19 | But I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills... | Earlier promise of a visit. |
| 1 Cor 16:6 | Perhaps I will stay with you, or even spend the winter, so that you may help me on my journey wherever I go. | Intent for extended stay in Corinth. |
| 1 Cor 16:3 | When I come, whoever you approve by letter I will send to carry your gift to Jerusalem. | Connection of visit to the offering. |
| 2 Cor 8:1-2 | We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy... | Macedonian generosity in offering. |
| Php 2:19-20 | I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I also may be cheered when I get news of you. For I have no one like him... | Paul sending others ahead of his visit. |
| Phm 1:22 | Prepare a guest room for me, for I am hoping that through your prayers I will be graciously given to you. | Expecting hospitality and personal visit. |
| 1 Thes 2:17-18 | We endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire to see you face to face... Satan hindered us. | Obstacles to Paul's desired visits. |
| Rom 1:10-11 | ...that I may at last succeed in coming to you. For I long to see you... | Paul's earnest desire to visit churches. |
| Jas 4:13-15 | You say, "Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there... Whereas you do not know what tomorrow will bring... "If the Lord wills..." | Submitting plans to God's will. |
| Acts 18:21 | But on taking leave of them he said, "I will return to you if God wills," and he set sail from Ephesus. | Conditional nature of future plans. |
| Rom 15:24 | When I go to Spain, I will visit you, for I hope to see you in passing and be helped on my way by you. | Brief visit en route to another destination. |
| 2 Tim 4:13 | When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls... | Paul's practical needs during travel. |
| Titus 3:12 | When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there. | Communicating specific winter plans. |
| 1 Cor 2:1 | And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the mystery of God with lofty speech or wisdom. | Paul's past visit to Corinth. |
1 Corinthians 16 verses
1 Corinthians 16 5 meaning
In 1 Corinthians 16:5, the Apostle Paul announces his specific travel plans to the Corinthian church. He intends to visit them only after he has first passed through the Roman province of Macedonia. He clarifies that his time in Macedonia will be a relatively quick transit, emphasizing his primary destination afterward is Corinth, implying a more extended stay and deeper engagement there. This statement provides clarity on his forthcoming schedule and offers assurance of his future presence among them.
1 Corinthians 16 5 Context
First Corinthians 16:5 serves as an important update on Paul's itinerary, nestled within the final chapter of a letter addressing significant challenges in the Corinthian church. Chapter 16 shifts from doctrinal correction and ethical instruction to practical matters. Verses 1-4 detail the collection for the saints in Jerusalem, a crucial logistical and theological undertaking. Paul's announcement in verse 5 about his impending visit is therefore directly tied to his role in coordinating this collection and to his broader pastoral responsibility to the Corinthians. He had previously spoken of visiting them (1 Cor 4:19) and had altered his initial travel plans, leading to some accusations of indecisiveness or insincerity (2 Cor 1:15-18). This verse provides clear, revised plans. Historically, Paul is likely writing from Ephesus during his third missionary journey (Acts 19). His planned route through Macedonia and then to Achaia (where Corinth is located) aligns with the journey described in Acts 20:1-3, emphasizing his deliberate and purposeful ministry strategy across key Roman provinces.
1 Corinthians 16 5 Word analysis
- I will visit you (ἐλεύσομαι πρὸς ὑμᾶς, eleusomai pros hymas)
- I will visit: eleusomai (ἔλευσόμε) is a future tense form of erchomai (ἔρχομαι), meaning "to come" or "to go." Here, in conjunction with "pros hymas" (πρὸς ὑμᾶς, "to you"), it signifies a personal arrival and extended presence, implying more than a fleeting glance. Paul expresses a definite intention, underscoring his pastoral commitment.
- after I go through Macedonia (ὅταν Μακεδονίαν διέλθω, hotan Makedonian dielthō)
- after: hotan (ὅταν) is a conjunction meaning "whenever," "when," or "after," setting the timing for his visit. It indicates his Corinthian visit is contingent upon the completion of his Macedonian leg of the journey.
- I go through: dielthō (διέλθω) is from dierchomai (διέρχομαι), meaning "to pass through," "go throughout." The use of the subjunctive mood with hotan denotes a future action whose completion is a prerequisite. This signifies movement through the region, covering ground, likely for ministry and church visits within Macedonia.
- Macedonia: (Μακεδονίαν, Makedonian) A Roman province north of Achaia (where Corinth was situated), crucial for Paul's mission work (e.g., Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea were in Macedonia). His travel plans always encompassed major regions for the spread of the Gospel.
- for I am only passing through Macedonia (παρέρχομαι γὰρ Μακεδονίαν, parerchomai gar Makedonian)
- for: gar (γὰρ) is a particle providing an explanation or reason, clarifying his statement. It links this second clause to the first, offering an understanding of why he'll visit them after Macedonia.
- I am only passing through: parerchomai (παρέρχομαι), meaning "to pass by," "to pass on," or "to pass through." Unlike dierchomai in the previous clause, parerchomai can emphasize a transient or brief passage. While he intends to minister in Macedonia, the nuance here might imply it is not his final destination or a protracted stay before his more intended, significant visit to Corinth. This may subtly distinguish his extensive future time in Corinth (mentioned in v.6) from his upcoming work in Macedonia. This phrase alleviates any concern that Macedonia might absorb his focus indefinitely, reiterating Corinth as his next major point of engagement.
1 Corinthians 16 5 Bonus section
The context of Paul's travel plans here often raises questions about free will versus divine sovereignty in missionary endeavors. While Paul expresses clear intentions ("I will visit you"), his entire ministry repeatedly affirms that such plans are subject to the Lord's will (e.g., Acts 18:21, Jas 4:15). His "passing through" Macedonia prior to a lengthier stay in Corinth reflects a dynamic tension between strategic planning and spiritual sensitivity, allowing for both deliberate routes and openness to divine redirection, which he experienced often. This careful communication of his plans to the Corinthians serves not just as an itinerary, but also as a demonstration of transparency and trust in his relationship with the church, especially given the various challenges they faced.
1 Corinthians 16 5 Commentary
Paul's declaration in 1 Corinthians 16:5 is a practical administrative detail laden with pastoral care. By announcing his precise travel plans, Paul reassures the Corinthians of his forthcoming arrival and his commitment to their spiritual welfare. This detail is essential because earlier correspondence and shifts in plans had generated confusion or criticism about Paul's reliability and integrity. The specific phrasing clarifies that while he will move through Macedonia, it is merely a preparatory stage, emphasizing that Corinth remains his intended prolonged destination. This decision likely balances several objectives: continuing his extensive mission work in Macedonia, coordinating the collection for Jerusalem which involved Macedonian churches (2 Cor 8), and then finally giving sustained attention to the pressing issues within the Corinthian community. His travel decisions were not made on a whim but involved strategic missionary planning, considering the needs of various churches and logistical realities, all under the overarching guidance of the Holy Spirit, demonstrating careful and responsible apostleship. This brief verse thus underscores Paul's steadfast pastoral heart amidst complex travel and ministry demands.