SEV Biblia, Chapter 16:15
Y os ruego, hermanos, (ya sabis que la casa de Estfanas es las primicias de Acaya, y que se han dedicado al ministerio de los santos,)
Clarke's Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 16:15
Verse 15. Ye know the house of Stephanas] Ye know that Stephanas and his family have addicted them to the help of the followers of Christ; they have been the chief instruments of supporting the work of God in Achaia, of which work they themselves have been the first fruits. See the note on Romans xvi. 5.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 15. I beseech you, brethren , etc.] Entreat or exhort you as brethren in the Lord; this entreaty or exhortation is to submission to fellow helpers and labourers of the ministry, more particularly expressed in the following verse, after the apostle has given a character of the household of Stephanas, who are principally intended, and which contains reasons and arguments why they should be submitted to; and which account stands in the following parenthesis, ye know the house of Stephanas ; a person of note at Corinth, whom the apostle had baptized, together with his family, ( 1 Corinthians 1:16). The Vulgate Latin version, and some copies, add, and of Fortunatus and Achaicus, persons mentioned along with Stephanas, in ( 1 Corinthians 1:17); that it is the firstfruits of Achaia : this family was one of the first in the regions of Achaia, of which Corinth was the metropolis, that believed in Christ; these were some of the first instances of conversion, and who received the firstfruits of the Spirit in these parts, and by the grace of God had been enabled to persevere hitherto, and were worthy of respect: the same he says of Epaenetus, in ( Romans 16:5); and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints ; that is, either to minister to the wants of poor saints, whether out of their own substance, or the churches stock, being deacons, or to minister to the saints by preaching the Gospel; which good work they desired, willingly gave up themselves to, and cheerfully engaged in, and took the oversight and care of the flock, not by constraint, but willingly; not that they thrust themselves into an office, or came into it in an irregular way, but being called into it in an orderly manner by the church, and invested with it, they applied to the execution of it with great heartiness, diligence, and zeal, and so were very deserving of due respect, as next mentioned.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 13-18 - A Christian is always in danger, therefore should ever be on the watch He should be fixed in the faith of the gospel, and never desert or giv it up. By this faith alone he will be able to keep his ground in a hour of temptation. Christians should be careful that charity not onl reigns in their hearts, but shines in their lives. There is a grea difference between Christian firmness and feverish warmth an transport. The apostle gave particular directions as to some who serve the cause of Christ among them. Those who serve the saints, those wh desire the honour of the churches, and to remove reproaches from them are to be thought much of, and loved. They should willingly acknowledg the worth of such, and all who laboured with or helped the apostle.
Greek Textus Receptus
παρακαλω 3870 5719 V-PAI-1S δε 1161 CONJ υμας 5209 P-2AP αδελφοι 80 N-VPM οιδατε 1492 5758 V-RAI-2P την 3588 T-ASF οικιαν 3614 N-ASF στεφανα 4734 N-GSM οτι 3754 CONJ εστιν 2076 5748 V-PXI-3S απαρχη 536 N-NSF της 3588 T-GSF αχαιας 882 N-GSF και 2532 CONJ εις 1519 PREP διακονιαν 1248 N-ASF τοις 3588 T-DPM αγιοις 40 A-DPM εταξαν 5021 5656 V-AAI-3P εαυτους 1438 F-3APM
Vincent's NT Word Studies
15. Achaia. In a restricted sense, the northwest of Peloponnesus; but often used by the poets for the whole of Greece. Under the Romans Greece was divided into two provinces, Macedonia and Achaia; the former including Macedonia proper, with Illyricum, Epirus, and Thessaly, and the latter all that lay south of these. In this latter acceptation the word is uniformly employed in the New Testament.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
16:15 {Ye know} (oidate). _Koin_ form for second perfect indicative used as present of horaw. Parenthetic clause through rest of the verse. Stephanas is mentioned also in #1:16 and in #16:17. For aparce see on 15:20,23. {They have set themselves} (etaxan heautous). Remarkable statement worthy of attention today. this noble family appointed themselves to be ministers to the saints that needed it (the poor and needy). Personal work for Christ is still the only way to win the world for Christ, voluntary personal work. If all Christians did it!
