1 Corinthians 16:17

A Christian who, with Stephanas and Fortunatus, visited Paul at Ephesus and refreshed the apostle's spirit. The note at the end of the letter says that it was sent to Corinth by these three and Timothy.

Paul writes of the "coming" of Titus to him in Macedonia (2 Cor. 7:6-7); and also of the "coming" to him of Stephanas and his companions (1 Cor. 16:17)... These cases show that the person the word refers to is not merely on the way. He has come. He is present. He has arrived, and he is with those he was coming to.

Another point of interest is the care with which the apostle mentions some from Corinth who had not forgotten his material needs... It would appear from both letters that the help did not come from the assembly as such, but from these three men, whose love the apostle does not fail to record. In what he says there is real grace. He counted on the news refreshing the Corinthian assembly as it had refreshed him. But there is a hint too: they had lost an opportunity that the three saw and used before the Lord.

Who would not rather be a Philippian serving the apostle's need, than a Corinthian who questioned his ministry, or a Galatian who broke his heart? How vast the difference! The apostle could not take anything from the assembly at Corinth. Their state did not allow it. Individual believers in that assembly did serve him. Their service stands recorded on the page of inspiration and remembered above. It will be richly rewarded in the kingdom to come.

Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus helped to refresh the apostle when at Ephesus, seeing to his needs, it would appear.

The Apostle himself recognises such people as having supplied what was lacking on the part of the Corinthian assembly. The words that follow seem to show that this was not material help but spiritual refreshment. The Second Epistle confirms this, for there we learn that the Apostle refused all material help from this assembly (2 Cor. 11:9-10).

It is touching to see here that the apostle's love suggests what grace would produce in the heart of the Corinthians. He tells them what they probably would not otherwise have known — the active love of three brothers of the assembly. In love he joins them to his joy, even if they had not been joined to what caused it. The flame of love spreads by rising above coldness and reaching the depths of divine life in the heart. Once passed on, the soul that was not burning before now glows with the same fire.

So we find the simple and important principle by which all the best affections of the heart grow: we acknowledge each person according to the display of grace and of the power of the Holy Spirit in him... The people spoken of here hold no official appointment and no formal consecration. It is the conscience and the spiritual affection of Christians that acknowledges them according to their work. This principle holds at all times. It does not allow such respect to be demanded, but it does require that it be given.

When he says, "Therefore acknowledge such," it is as if he would, after personally tasting it, commend the refreshing ministry of these beloved brothers to those who might perhaps, but for such commendation, have been slow to appreciate the blessings which the Lord had planted among them.