THE KING’S BUSINESS
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the Resurrection, and the Spirit’s Pentecos tal fullness are all commemorated by the first day o f the week, "the Lord’s day." When Paul reached Corinth he wished to give his time and strength to other matters
work and made him determine to stay as long as possible, “until Pentecost.” Per haps he looked for another outpouring of the Spirit on that great anniversary (cf. Acts 2). In the meantime he had sent Timothy into Macedonia (cf. Actsl9:22), with the thought that he might go up to Corinth (v. 10). He bids them, if Timothy does come, to see that he be “without fear” during his stay. Timothy was very young (1 Tim. 4:12) and his health was frail (1 Tim. 5:23). Moreover he came from Lystra (Acts 16:1, 2), a place lacking in the cul ture and refinement o f Corinth, and very naturally he would be timid at Corinth. But Paul urges them to receive him with such an appreciation o f his real worth as would set his fears at rest. He assures them that for all his youth, physical weakness and lack o f culture,“he worketh the work o f the Lord, as I also do.” Timothy was a very rare young man. Because o f this fact that Timothy, in spite o f his youth and physical frailty and lack o f worldly educa tional advantages, worked the work o f God as really and truly as Paul did, he put them on their guard not to treat him with con tempt because o f his youth and lack o f culture. Here is a lesson for us who are apt to treat superciliously ' one who is younger than we and lacking in the edu cation o f the schools, even though he be Spirit-filled (2 Tim. 1:6; 1 Tim. 4:14), and well vgrsed in Scripture (2 Tim. 3:14, 15). Paul urged them to hasten Timothy on his way back to him. Paul longed for his fellowship. Paul was a man who ever greatly delighted in Christian fellowship (cf. 2 Cor. 2:12, 13; Acts 17:13; 18:5; 28:15), Wednesday, January 9 . I Cor. 16 : 12 - 14 . Apparently the church in Corinth had asked that Apollos be sent to them. Paul explains his not coming: Apollos simply would not come, Probably he had heard how the rhetorical finish o f his address (Acts 18:24) had aroused great admiration in Corinth and had caused some to make invidious comparisons between himself and
than raising money. Monday, January 7 . . 1 Cor. 16 : 3 - 7 .
Paul did not wish the money turned over to him, because he aimed to avoid all pos sibility o f scandal. It was to be sent by other men, but they must be “approved” men. If the gift was worth while he might go too, but even in that case he would not go alone (cf. 2 Cor. 8:4, 19-21). Would that all men today who receive the boun ties o f God’s people, were as careful to provide “ for things honorable, not only in the sight o f the Lord, but also in the sight o f men.” Paul tells them that he will not make them a short visit now, but will come and abide, and perhaps winter with ■them later. This purpose he carried out. He did spend December, January and February in Paul was at Ephesus when he wrote this letter, and purposed to continue there until Pentecost. The experiences through which Paul was passing at the time are recorded in Acts 19, “A great door and effectual” (the word translated “ effectual” in v. 9 is the same word that is translated “active” in the Revised Version o f Heb. 4:12, and it is the word from which we derive our word energetic) for preaching the gospel had “opened unto” Paul in the great city o f Ephesus. A mighty revival lasting for two days and reaching into every part o f the province o f Asia was going on there (Acts 19:10). This success o f Paul’s work brought on bitter opposition from the Jews because o f jealousy, and from the Gentiles because it seriously interfered with the evil business o f some o f them (Acts 19:24-27). This opposition, the fact that there were “many adversaries,” instead o f discouraging Paul, or leading him to desist from the work, only stirred him up to more earnest Corinth (Acts 20:1-6). Tuesday, January 8 . , 1 Cor. 16 : 8 - 11 .
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