SEV Biblia, Chapter 16:9
porque se me ha abierto puerta grande y eficaz, y muchos son los adversarios.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 16:9
Verse 9. A great door and effectual is opened] quoa gar moi anewge megalh kai energhv? A great and energetic door is opened to me; that is, God has made a grand opening to me in those parts, which I perceive will require much labour; and besides, I shall have many adversaries to oppose me. So Bp. Pearce understands the words energhv, not as signifying effectual, but as implying full of labour. Door often signifies occasion or opportunity; but here, the apostle may allude to the throwing open of the great doors of the Circus Maximus before the chariot races began; and the many adversaries may refer to the numerous competitors in those races. God gave him a grand opportunity to preach the Gospel; but he was not to expect that either Satan or wicked men would leave him unmolested.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 9. For a great door , etc.] Meaning an opportunity of ministering the word at Ephesus, a very populous city, and where he might have hope great good would be done. Some think that by this fair opportunity, or hopeful prospect, he means the populousness of the city; others, the conversion of some great men in it, which had made way for the introduction of Gospel there: but it seems rather to intend the desire that there appeared in many persons here to have the Gospel preached unto them; they flocked unto it; their hearts were opened to attend to it, and great numbers believed; and the apostle found a door of utterance in himself, and a door of entrance in them, which were reasons with him to tarry here. And effectual is opened to me ; not by him, but to him: this door was opened by him who has the key of David, that opens, and no man shuts; and the door of faith being opened by him, it was effectual to the quickening of sinners dead in trespasses and sins, to the enlightening of blind eyes, unstopping of deaf ears, and softening hard hearts; to the turning of souls from the power of Satan to God, to the quickening, comforting, and establishing of saints, and indeed to salvation to all that believe; which is the case when the word comes, not in word only, but in power; then it works effectually in them that believe; and since there was an opportunity of preaching the Gospel with such good effect, the apostle was desirous of making use of it: and there are many adversaries ; as there always are where the Gospel is preached, and especially with success, when sinners are converted, and saints are edified and comforted. The adversary Satan roars, and the posse of devils under him are employed one way or another to obstruct the Gospel if possible; false teachers are raised up to oppose it, and profane men are instigated by him to persecute the preachers and professors of it: so it was at Ephesus, the Jews disputed against it, and spoke evil of it; Demetrius the silversmith, and those of his craft, rose up in a tumultuous manner, crying, great is Diana of the Ephesians, stirring up the people against the apostle, and his companions; all which he had some foreviews of, and found to be true by experience, as may be seen in ( Acts 19:21-41) and which, though to another man would have been a reason to have departed, was a reason with him to stay; to bear his testimony to the Gospel, to appear in the defence of it, against the disputers of this world, and to strengthen and establish the minds of weak believers in it, who might have been in some danger through so many adversaries; wherefore he saw and judged that his presence was necessary, and that it was proper for him to stay the time he mentions.
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
θυρα 2374 N-NSF γαρ 1063 CONJ μοι 3427 P-1DS ανεωγεν 455 5754 V-2RAI-3S μεγαλη 3173 A-NSF και 2532 CONJ ενεργης 1756 A-NSF και 2532 CONJ αντικειμενοι 480 5740 V-PNP-NPM πολλοι 4183 A-NPM
Vincent's NT Word Studies
9. Great and effectual door. Door metaphorically for opportunity: great as to its extent; effectual as to the result. The figure of an effectual door, as it stands, is of course clumsy, but the idea as a whole is clear: a great opportunity for effective work.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
16:9 {For a great and effectual door is opened unto me} (qura gar moi anewigen megale kai energes). Second perfect active indicative of anoigw, to open. Intransitive, stands wide open at last after his years there (#Ac 20:31). A wide open door. What does he mean by energes? It is a late word in the _Koin_. In the papyri a medical receipt has it for "tolerably strong." The form energos in the papyri is used of a mill "in working order," of "tilled land," and of "wrought iron." In the N.T. it occurs in #Phm 1:6; Heb 4:12 of "the word of God" as "energes" (powerful). Paul means that he has at least a great opportunity for work in Ephesus. {And there are many adversaries} (kai antikeimenoi polloi). "And many are lying opposed to me," lined up against me. These Paul mentions as a reason for staying in, not for leaving, Ephesus. Read #Ac 19 and see the opposition from Jews and Gentiles with the explosion under the lead of Demetrius. And yet Paul suddenly leaves. He hints of much of which we should like to know more (#1Co 15:32; 2Co 1:8f.).
