Commentary on 1 Corinthians 16:19-24

GREETINGS AND APOSTOLIC BLESSING

A Summary of 1 Corinthians 16:19-24

During St. Paul’s three years’ stay in Ephesus, the capital of Proconsular Asia, the Gospel had spread throughout the whole province and Christian communities were established everywhere. Knowing, therefore, the ties of charity by which the faithful of Asia and of Ephesus were bound to those of Corinth, the Apostle, before giving his final blessing, sends the salutations of all the faithful.

1 Cor 16:19. The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house, with whom I also lodge.

The churches of Asia, i.e., the Christian communities of Proconsular Asia, the Roman province that lay along the western coast of Asia Minor with Ephesus as its capital (cf. Acts xix. 10). Aquila and Priscilla, who had contributed so much to the foundation of the Church at Corinth. See on Rom 16:3, 4; cf. Acts 18:1 ff.

In the Lord, i.e., out of charity and regard for their common faith.

The church … in their house. Both at Rome and at Ephesus the house of Aquila and Priscilla served as a meeting-place of the faithful for religious purposes (Rom 16:3-5). As yet there were most likely no special buildings set aside for Christian worship anywhere.

With whom I also lodge. These words, and their equivalents in the Vulgate here, should be omitted as wanting in all the best MSS. and versions.

1 Cor 16:20. All the brethren salute you. Salute one another with a holy kiss.

All the brethren, i.e., all the other faithful of Ephesus besides those that met at the house of Aquila and Priscilla.

A holy kiss. The kiss of peace was once a prominent feature in the religious assemblies of the Christians (Rom 16:16; 2 Cor 13:12; 1 Thess 5:26; 1 Peter 5:14), but it was restricted at an early date to the members of the same sex (Const. Apost. ii. 57; viii. 11).

1 Cor 16:21. The salutation of me Paul, with my own hand.

With my own hand. The Apostle had dictated this Epistle to an amanuensis, as was his custom (Rom 16:22), but now he writes his own salutation as a guarantee of the authenticity and genuineness of the letter (2 Thess 2:2; 3:17).

1 Cor 16:22. If any man love not our Lord Jesus Christ, let him be anathema, maranatha.

Love (φιλει), i.e., with a personal and special affection.

Anathema. See on Rom 9:3.

Maranatha. This is a combination of two Aramaic words, Marana tha, which mean “Our Lord, come.” Probably the meaning is that the Lord should come to judge the world and put into execution the sentence of condemnation merited by those who do not love Jesus. This Aramaic expression was perhaps a liturgical invocation in common use among the Apostles and their converts, like alleluia or hosanna with us (Didache 10; Const. Apost. vii. 26).

1 Cor 16:23. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

The grace, etc. See on Rom 16:24; cf. 2 Cor 13:13; Gal 6:18, etc.

1 Cor 16:24. My charity be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.

My charity, etc. By these closing words, “the Apostle shows that he has written, not from anger or indignation, but from the care he has for them, since after so great an accusation he does not turn away from them, but loves and esteems them” (St. Chrys.).