In many of his letters Paul describes what inhabitants of the Kingdom should be. And in the letter to the Corinthians he too turns to this theme. What does the apostle draw attention to as the distinguishing features of an inhabitant of the Kingdom?..
In many of his letters Paul describes what inhabitants of the Kingdom should be. And in the letter to the Corinthians he too turns to this theme. What does the apostle draw attention to as the distinguishing features of an inhabitant of the Kingdom? He evidently singles out spiritual collectedness, which is exactly what the apostle speaks of when he calls his addressees to "watch": to watch means, in fact, not to sleep, not to relax, and first of all not to relax spiritually; steadfastness in faithfulness, or "faith," by which, of course, faithfulness to Christ is meant; courage; and strength, which in the Synodal translation is called "steadfastness."
It is not hard to notice that all these qualities are interconnected and are determined by a person's spiritual state. Spiritual collectedness is impossible without that spiritual wholeness which is the result and goal of every ascetic practice, including, of course, Christian ascetic practice. But such wholeness is only a means; it is important not in itself, but as an instrument needed in order to preserve faithfulness to Christ. Indeed, faithfulness is impossible without spiritual wholeness. In its absence a person is too unstable spiritually to preserve faithfulness to anyone or anything.
And without preserving faithfulness to Christ, of course, one cannot speak of any life in the Kingdom: betrayal means the rupture of all relations, and the Kingdom is formed precisely by relations: its inhabitants with Christ and with one another, their relations with God, and finally Christ Himself with the Father. Anyone who breaks these relations loses the Kingdom. If the relations are preserved, then a person receives courage and strength.
The matter, of course, is not physical strength, but that strength of the Kingdom which is so clearly visible in every genuine witness of it. And during trials this strength becomes the spiritual foundation of the courage that gives the faithful power to remain steadfast even in the hardest minutes. But the main feature of the inhabitants of the Kingdom is the love that is their organic spiritual environment, in which all their relations with one another are built. It is no accident that at the Last Supper the Savior points to love as the distinguishing mark of Christians.
Indeed, it is love that constitutes the spiritual substance of the Kingdom, what could be called its nature. And every inhabitant of the Kingdom shares in this love. That is why the apostle calls Christians, as they act in our transforming but not yet transformed world, to do so in such a way that everything happening in the Church is done in love, so that every action of Christians gives this new nature, the nature of the Kingdom transforming the world, an opportunity to manifest itself.
16
16:1 The saints - A more solemn and a more affecting word, than if he had said, the poor.
16:2 Let every one - Not the rich only: let him also that hath little, gladly give of that little. According as he hath been prospered - Increasing his alms as God increases his substance. According to this lowest rule of Christian prudence, if a man when he has or gains one pound give a tenth to God, when he has or gains an hundred he will give the tenth of this also. And yet I show unto you a more excellent way.He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. Stint yourself to no proportion at all. But lend to God all you can.
16:4 They shall go with me - To remove any possible suspicion.
16:5 I pass through Macedonia - I purpose going that way.
16:7 I will not see you now - Not till I have been in Macedonia.
16:8 I will stay at Ephesus - Where he was at this time.
16:9 A great door - As to the number of hearers. 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.
16:10 Without fear - Of any one's despising him for his youth. For he worketh the work of the Lord - The true ground of reverence to pastors. Those who do so, none ought to despise.
16:11 I look for him with the brethren - That accompany him.
16:12 I besought him much - To come to you. With the brethren - Who were then going to Corinth. Yet he was by no means willing to come now - Perhaps lest his coming should increase the divisions among them.
16:13 To conclude. Watch ye - Against all your seen and unseen enemies. Stand fast in the faith - Seeing and trusting him that is invisible. Acquit yourselves like men - With courage and patience. Be strong - To do and suffer all his will.
16:15 The first fruits of Achaia - The first converts in that province.
16:16 That ye also - In your turn. Submit to such - So repaying their free service. And to every one that worketh with us and laboureth - That labours in the gospel either with or without a fellow - labourer.
16:17 I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas, and Fortunatus, and Achaiacus - Who were now returned to Corinth but the joy which their arrival had occasioned remained still in his heart. They have supplied what was wanting on your part - They have performed the offices of love, which you could not, by reason of your absence.
16:18 For they have refreshed my spirit and yours - Inasmuch as you share in my comfort. Such therefore acknowledge - With suitable love and respect.
16:19 Aquila and Priscilla had formerly made some abode at Corinth, and there St. Paul's acquaintance with them began, Act 18:1-2.
16:21 With my own hand - What precedes having been wrote by an amanuensis.
16:22 If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ - If any be an enemy to his person, offices, doctrines, or commands. Let him be Anathema. Maran - atha - Anathema signifies a thing devoted to destruction. It seems to have been customary with the Jews of that age, when they had pronounced any man an Anathema, to add the Syriac expression, Maran - atha, that is, "The Lord cometh;" namely, to execute vengeance upon him. This weighty sentence the apostle chose to write with his own hand; and to insert it between his salutation and solemn benediction, that it might be the more attentively regarded.