(The Lord speaking is red text)
But I will tarry at Ephesus until Pentecost.
But I will remain in Ephesus until Shavu‘ot,
But I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost,
But I will tarry at Ephesus until Pentecost;
But{G1161} I will tarry{G1961} at{G1722} Ephesus{G2181} until{G2193} Pentecost{G4005}.
1 Corinthians 16:8 is a verse in the New Testament where the Apostle Paul is writing to the church in Corinth, detailing his travel plans. The verse reads, "But I will tarry at Ephesus until Pentecost." This statement comes at the end of Paul's first letter to the Corinthians, where he has been addressing various issues within the church, offering guidance on Christian living, doctrine, and community matters.
In this verse, Paul mentions his intention to stay in Ephesus, a significant city in the Roman province of Asia (now modern-day Turkey), until the Jewish festival of Pentecost. The historical context of Pentecost is important; it was originally a Jewish harvest festival that occurred fifty days after Passover, but for Christians, it also held special significance as the day when the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles in Jerusalem (Acts 2), marking the birth of the Christian church.
By indicating he would remain in Ephesus until Pentecost, Paul was planning to use the time effectively for ministry purposes. Ephesus was a strategic location for evangelism and church planting due to its size, diversity, and centrality in the region. Paul's decision to stay reflects his commitment to spreading the Gospel and strengthening the fledgling Christian communities, despite the challenges and opposition he faced.
The themes present in this verse include Paul's strategic approach to missionary work, his dedication to the growth of the church, and the integration of Christian practices with Jewish traditions. Paul's reference to Pentecost also underscores the early Christian practice of aligning their activities with Jewish festival dates, which would have been familiar to both Jewish and Gentile converts in the early church. This verse encapsulates the transitional phase of early Christianity as it emerged from its Jewish roots while establishing its own identity and practices.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)