SEV Biblia, Chapter 16:3
Y cuando hubiere llegado, los que aprobareis por cartas, a stos enviar que lleven vuestro donativo a Jerusaln.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 16:3
Verse 3. Whomsoever ye shall approve by your letters] Why should Paul require letters of approbation in behalf of certain persons, when he himself should be among them, and could have their characters viva voce? It is probable that he refers here to letters of recommendation which they had sent to him while he was away; and he now promises that when he should come to Corinth, he would appoint these persons, whom they had recommended, to carry the alms to Jerusalem. If dokimashte, be read ye shall have approved, as Bishop Pearce does, the difficulty will vanish. Some MSS. and several versions join di epistolwn, by letters, to the following words, and read the verse thus: When I come, those whom ye shall approve I will send with letters to bring your liberality to Jerusalem.
This seems most natural.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 3. And when I come , etc.] To Corinth, as he intended very quickly: whomsoever you shall approve by your letters ; that is, such persons as this church should approve, and choose, and fix upon as proper persons to go with their collection; which approbation and choice they would signify by letters to the church, and principal men of it in Jerusalem, giving them a character as men of probity and faithfulness: them will I send . The Syriac, Arabic, and Ethiopic versions join the phrase, by letters, to this clause; according to which reading the sense is, such as the church should choose for this service, the apostle would send with letters of commendation from him, to the elders and church at Jerusalem, recommending them as brethren in the Lord, and to be had in respect, and treated in a Christian manner by them; to which their being messengers from such a church, and having letters from so great an apostle; besides, the business they should come about would entitle them to, which was to bring your liberality , or grace, unto Jerusalem ; meaning the money collected for the poor saints there; which he calls grace, because it was owing to the goodness of God, that they were in a capacity to contribute to others, and to the grace of God that they had a heart to do it; and because it was in a free and gracious manner, and in the exercise of grace, of faith in Christ, and love to the saints, that they did it, and with a view to the glory of the grace of God, of which this was a fruit and evidence.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-9 - The good examples of other Christians and churches should rouse us. It is good to lay up in store for good uses. Those who are rich in thi world, should be rich in good works, 1Ti 6:17, 18. The diligent han will not make rich, without the Divine blessing, Pr 10:4, 22. And what more proper to stir us up to charity to the people and children of God than to look at all we have as his gift? Works of mercy are real fruit of true love to God, and are therefore proper services on his own day Ministers are doing their proper business, when putting forward, or helping works of charity. The heart of a Christian minister must be towards the people among whom he has laboured long, and with success All our purposes must be made with submission to the Divine providence Jas 4:15. Adversaries and opposition do not break the spirits of faithful and successful ministers, but warm their zeal, and inspir them with fresh courage. A faithful minister is more discouraged by the hardness of his hearers' hearts, and the backslidings of professors than by the enemies' attempts.
Greek Textus Receptus
οταν 3752 CONJ δε 1161 CONJ παραγενωμαι 3854 5638 V-2ADS-1S ους 3739 R-APM εαν 1437 COND δοκιμασητε 1381 5661 V-AAS-2P δι 1223 PREP επιστολων 1992 N-GPF τουτους 5128 D-APM πεμψω 3992 5692 V-FAI-1S απενεγκειν 667 5629 V-2AAN την 3588 T-ASF χαριν 5485 N-ASF υμων 5216 P-2GP εις 1519 PREP ιερουσαλημ 2419 N-PRI
Vincent's NT Word Studies
3. Approve by your letters. So A.V. and Rev. Others, however, connect by letters with will I send, making the letters to be Paul's introduction to the church at Jerusalem. The latter is preferable. The givers are to choose the bearers of the collection; Paul, as the originator and apostolic steward of the collection, will send the money.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
16:3 {When I arrive} (hotan paragenwmai). Whenever I arrive, indefinite temporal conjunction hotan and second aorist middle subjunctive. {Whomsoever ye shall approve by letters} (hous ean dokimasete di' epistolwn). Indefinite relative with ean and aorist subjunctive of dokimazw (to test and so approve as in #Php 1:10). "By letters" to make it formal and regular and Paul would approve their choice of messengers to go with him to Jerusalem (#2Co 8:20ff.). Curiously enough no names from Corinth occur in the list in #Ac 20:4. {To carry} (apenegkein). Second aorist active infinitive of apoferw, to bear away. {Bounty} (carin). Gift, grace, as in #2Co 8:4-7. As a matter of fact, the messengers of the churches (apostoloi ekklesiwn #2Co 8:23) went along with Paul to Jerusalem (#Ac 20:4f.).
