SEV Biblia, Chapter 16:4
Y si fuere digno el negocio de que yo tambin vaya, irn conmigo.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 16:4
Verse 4. And if it be meet, &c.] If it be a business that requires my attendance, and it be judged proper for me to go to Jerusalem, I will take those persons for my companions. On the delicacy with which St. Paul managed the business of a collection for the poor, Archdeacon Paley makes the following appropriate remarks:- "The following observations will satisfy us concerning the purity of our apostle's conduct in the suspicious business of a pecuniary contribution. "1st. He disclaims the having received any inspired authority for the directions which he is giving: 'I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love.' (2 Cor. viii. 8.) Who, that had a sinister purpose to answer by the recommending of subscriptions, would thus distinguish, and thus lower the credit of his own recommendation? "2nd. Although he asserts the general right of Christian ministers to a maintenance from their ministry, yet he protests against the making use of this right in his own person: 'Even so hath the Lord ordained, that they who preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel; but I have used none of these things; neither have I written these things that it should be so done unto me; for it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying, i.e. my professions of disinterestedness, void.' (chap. ix. 14, 15.) "3rd. He repeatedly proposes that there should be associates with himself in the management of the public bounty; not colleagues of his own appointment, but persons elected for that purpose by the contributors themselves. 'And when I come, whomsoever ye shall approve by your letters, them will I send to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem; and if it be meet that I go also, they shall go with me.' (ver. 3, 4.) And in the second epistle, what is here proposed we find actually done, and done for the very purpose of guarding his character against any imputation that might be brought upon it in the discharge of a pecuniary trust: 'And we have sent with him the brother, whose praise is in the Gospel throughout all the Churches; and not that only, but who was also chosen of the Churches to travel with us with this grace, (gift,) which is administered by us to the glory of the same Lord, and the declaration of your ready mind: avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us; providing for things honest, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men:' i.e. not resting in the consciousness of our own integrity, but, in such a subject, careful also to approve our integrity to the public judgment. (2 Cor. viii. 18-21.") Horae Paulinae, page 95.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 4. And if it be meet that I go also , etc.] If it should be convenient for me to go, or it should be thought proper and expedient that I should go; or, as the Syriac version renders it, if this work should be worthy that I should go; and the Arabic version, if the thing should be worthy to go with me; that is, their beneficence; if so large a collection should be made, that it will be worthy of an apostle to go along with it, hereby artfully pressing them to a good collection: they shall go with me ; that is, those brethren whom the church shall approve and send; for he would not go alone, nor propose it, to remove all suspicion of converting any money to his own use.
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
εαν 1437 COND δε 1161 CONJ η 5600 5753 V-PXS-3S αξιον 514 A-NSN του 3588 T-GSM καμε 2504 P-1AS-C πορευεσθαι 4198 5738 V-PNN συν 4862 PREP εμοι 1698 P-1DS πορευσονται 4198 5695 V-FDI-3P
Vincent's NT Word Studies
4. Meet for me to go (axion tou kame poreuesqai). Lit., if it be worthy of my going, i.e., if the gift be sufficiently large to warrant an apostolic journey to Jerusalem. This is better than if it be becoming.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
16:4 {And if it be meet for me to go also} (ean de axion ei tou kame poreuesqai). "If the collection be worthy of the going as to me also." Condition of third class (ean--ei) and the articular infinitive in the genitive (tou) after axion. The accusative of general reference (kame, me also) with the infinitive. So the awkward phrase clears up.
