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Public-domain commentary
Matthew Henry
From his Commentary on the Whole Bible. Henry comments on passages, not single verses — this entry covers 1 Corinthians 16:19–24. His two-level outline is real structure in the source text, so it is rendered as structure.
The apostle closes his epistle,
I.With salutations to the church of Corinth, first from those of Asia, from Priscilla and Aquila (who seem to have been at this time inhabitants of Ephesus, vid. Act 18:26), with the church in their house (Co1 16:19), and from all the brethren (Co1 16:20) at Ephesus, where, it is highly probable at least, he then was. All these saluted the church at Corinth, by Paul. Note, Christianity does by no means destroy civility and good manners. Paul could find room in an epistle treating of very important matters to send the salutations of friends. Religion should promote a courteous and obliging temper towards all. Those misrepresent and reproach it who would take any encouragement from it to be sour and morose. Some of these salute them much in the Lord. Note, Christian salutations are not empty compliments; they carry in them real expressions of good-will, and are attended with hearty recommendations to the divine grace and blessing. Those who salute in the Lord wish their brethren all good from the Lord, and breathe out their good wishes in fervent prayers. We read also of a church in a private family, Co1 16:19. It is very probable that the family itself is called the church in their house. Note, Every Christian family should in some respects be a Christian church. In some cases (as, for instance, were they cast away on a foreign shore, where there are no other Christians), they should be a church themselves, if large enough, and live in the use of all ordinances; but in common cases they should live under the direction of Christian rules, and daily offer up Christian worship. Wherever two or three are gathered together, and Christ is among them, there is a church. To these salutations he subjoins,
1.An advice, that they should greet one another with a holy kiss (Co1 16:20), or with sincere good-will, a tacit reproof of their feuds and factions. When the churches of Asia, and the Christian brethren so remote, did so heartily salute them in the Lord, and own and love them as brethren, and expressed so much good-will to them, it would be a shame for them not to own and love one another as brethren. Note, The love of the brethren should be a powerful incentive to mutual love. When the other churches of Christ love us all, we are very culpable if we do not love one another.
2.He subjoins his own salutation: The salutation of me Paul with my own hand, Co1 16:21. His amanuensis, it is reasonable to think, wrote the rest of his epistle from his mouth, but at the close it was fit that himself should sign it, that they might know it to be genuine; and therefore it is added (Th2 3:17), Which is my token in every epistle, the mark of its being genuine; so he wrote in every epistle which he did not wholly pen, as he did that to the Galatians, Gal 6:11. Note, Those churches to whom apostolical letters were sent were duly certified of their being authentic and divine. Nor would Paul be behind the rest of the brethren in respect to the Corinthians; and therefore, after he has given their salutations, he adds his own.
II.With a very solemn warning to them:
If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema, Maran-atha, Co1 16:22. We sometimes need words of threatening, that we may fear. Blessed is he, says the wise man, who feareth always. Holy fear is a very good friend both to holy faith and holy living. An how much reason have all Christians to fear falling under this doom! If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema, Maran-atha. Here observe,
1.The person described, who is liable to this doom: He that loveth not the Lord Jesus Christ. A meiōsis, as some think; he who blasphemes Christ disowns his doctrine, slights and contemns his institutions, or, through pride of human knowledge and learning, despises his revelations. It stands here as a warning to the Corinthians and a rebuke of their criminal behaviour. It is an admonition to them not to be led away from the simplicity of the gospel, or those principles of it which were the great motives to purity of life, by pretenders to science, by the wisdom of the world, which would call their religion folly, and its most important doctrines absurd and ridiculous. Those men had a spite at Christ; and, if the Corinthians give ear to their seducing speeches, they were in danger of apostatizing from him. Against this he gives them here a very solemn caution. "Do not give into such conduct, if you would escape the severest vengeance." Note, Professed Christians will, by contempt of Christ, and revolt from him, bring upon themselves the most dreadful destruction. Some understand the words as they lie, in their plain and obvious meaning, for such as are without holy and sincere affection for the Lord Jesus Christ. Many who have his name much in their mouths have no true love to him in their hearts, will not have him to rule over them (Luk 19:27), no, not though they have very towering hopes of being saved by him. And none love him in truth who do not love his laws and keep his commandments. Note, There are many Christians in name who do not love Christ Jesus the Lord in sincerity. But can any thing be more criminal or provoking? What, not love the most glorious lover in the world! Him who loved us, and gave himself for us, who shed his blood for us, to testify his love to us, and that after heinous wrong and provocation! What had we a power of loving for, if we are unmoved with such love as this, and without affection to such a Saviour? But,
2.We have here the doom of the person described: "Let him be Anathema, Maran-atha, lie under the heaviest and most dreadful curse. Let him be separated from the people of God, from the favour of God, and delivered up to his final, irrevocable, and inexorable vengeance" Maran-atha is a Syriac phrase, and signifies The Lord cometh. That very Lord whom they do not love, to whom they are inwardly and really disaffected whatever outward profession they make, is coming to execute judgment. And to be exposed to his wrath, to be divided to his left hand, to be condemned by him, how dreadful! If he will destroy, who can save? Those who fall under his condemning sentence must perish, and that for ever. Note, Those who love not the Lord Jesus Christ must perish without remedy. The wrath of God abides on every one who believes not on the Son, Joh 3:36. And true faith in Christ will evermore be productive of sincere love to him. Those who love him not cannot be believers in him.
III.With his good wishes for them and expressions of good-will to them.
1.With his good wishes: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you, Co1 16:23. As much as if he had said, "Though I warn you against falling under his displeasure, I heartily wish you an interest in his dearest love and his eternal favour." The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ comprehends in it all that is good, for time or eternity. To wish our friends may have this grace with them is wishing them the utmost good. And this we should wish all our friends and brethren in Christ. We can wish them nothing more, and we should wish them nothing less. We should heartily pray that they may value, and seek, and obtain, and secure, the grace and good-will of their Lord and Judge. Note, The most solemn warnings are the result of the tenderest affection and the greatest good-will. We may tell our brethren and friends with great plainness and pathos that, if they love not the Lord Jesus Christ, they must perish, while we heartily wish the grace of Christ may be with them. Nay, we may give them this warning that they may prize and lay hold of this grace. Note also, How much true Christianity enlarges our hearts; it makes us wish those whom we love the blessings of both worlds; for this is implied in wishing the grace of Christ to be with them. And therefore it is no wonder that the apostle should close all,
2.With the declaration of his love to them in Christ Jesus: My love be with you all, in Christ Jesus, Amen, Co1 16:24. He had dealt very plainly with them in this epistle, and told them of their faults with just severity; but, to show that he was not transported with passion, he parts with them in love, makes solemn profession of his love to them, nay, to them all in Christ Jesus, that is, for Christ's sake. He tells them that his heart was with them, that he truly loved them; but lest this, after all, should be deemed flattery and insinuation, he adds that his affection was the result of his religion, and would be guided by the rules of it. His heart would be with them, and he would bear them dear affection as long as their hearts were with Christ, and they bore true affection to his cause and interest. Note, We should be cordial lovers of all who are in Christ, and who love him in sincerity. Not but we should love all men, and wish them well, and do them what good is in our power; but those must have our dearest affection who are dear to Christ, and lovers of him. May our love be with all those who are in Christ Jesus! Amen.
Historical interpretation
Historical Reception
2 surviving comments on this verse. Each one is dated, so this reads as a timeline rather than a list.
Select a marker to jump to its quote. Markers stagger vertically where authors wrote within a few decades of each other.
"The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you."
This is like a teacher, to help not only with advice, but also with prayers.
It was Paul’s usual custom to pray that the grace of Christ would be with those to whom he is writing.
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Summary
In 1 Corinthians 16:23, the Apostle Paul concludes his first letter to the Corinthian church with a concise yet profoundly significant benediction: "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ [be] with you." This closing statement serves as a powerful reminder of the divine favor and empowering presence that flows from Jesus Christ, underscoring the foundation of their faith and the ultimate source of reconciliation and strength amidst the various challenges and corrections addressed throughout the epistle. It is a pastoral blessing, commending the believers to the unmerited kindness and active influence of their Savior.
Context
Literary Context
This verse is the penultimate statement in Paul's First Epistle to the Corinthians, immediately preceding the final "My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen." (1 Corinthians 16:24). It follows a series of practical instructions and personal greetings, including plans for the collection for the saints (1 Corinthians 16:1-4), his travel itinerary (1 Corinthians 16:5-9), and greetings from various individuals like Timothy, Apollos, Aquila, and Priscilla (1 Corinthians 16:10-19). Coming at the end of a letter that has dealt with significant issues such as church divisions (1 Corinthians 1:10-17), sexual immorality (1 Corinthians 5), lawsuits (1 Corinthians 6:1-11), food sacrificed to idols (1 Corinthians 8), spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12-14), and the resurrection (1 Corinthians 15), this benediction serves as a unifying and comforting conclusion, redirecting their focus from their struggles to the steadfast grace of Christ.
Historical & Cultural Context
The city of Corinth was a bustling Roman provincial capital, a major port city known for its wealth, diverse population, and notorious immorality, particularly associated with the temple of Aphrodite. The Corinthian church, though gifted, was deeply influenced by the surrounding pagan culture and internal strife. Paul's letter addresses the specific challenges arising from this context: a blend of Greek philosophical pride, Roman legalism, and a pervasive sensuality that infiltrated the Christian community. Benedictions like this one were common in ancient letters, but for Paul, they were more than mere formalities. They served as theological anchors, reminding the recipients of the divine source of their identity and strength, especially crucial for a church grappling with disunity and moral compromise. In a culture where status and human achievement were highly valued, Paul consistently points to God's unmerited favor as the true basis for all spiritual blessings and communal harmony.
Key Themes
The overarching theme of this letter, and particularly this closing verse, is the supremacy and sufficiency of Christ's grace. Paul repeatedly emphasizes that Christian life, salvation, and service are entirely rooted in God's unmerited favor, not human wisdom or effort. This grace is the antidote to the Corinthian church's divisions and pride, as seen in Paul's initial declaration that they were "enriched in everything by Him" and "called into the fellowship of His Son". The benediction also highlights Christ's continuing presence and authority as "Lord," implying His active involvement and empowering influence in the believers' lives, a theme central to Paul's teaching on the Holy Spirit's work within the church (1 Corinthians 12:4-11). Finally, it exemplifies Paul's pastoral heart and apostolic blessing, a common feature in his epistles demonstrating his deep care and desire for the spiritual well-being of the churches he founded, despite the need for stern correction throughout the letter.
Exposition and Analysis
Key Word Analysis
This term (G5485) signifies graciousness, divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in life. It encompasses God's unmerited favor, kindness, and benevolent disposition towards humanity, which is freely given and not earned. In this context, it is the active, empowering presence of God's favor.
This word (G2962) denotes supreme authority and control. When applied to Jesus, it acknowledges His divine sovereignty and mastership, indicating that the grace bestowed upon believers flows from His ultimate position of power and dominion.
This preposition (G3326) denotes accompaniment or association. In this benediction, it implies not just proximity but a deep, intimate, and active presence of Christ's grace alongside the believers, enabling and sustaining them.
Verse Breakdown
"The grace"
This refers to God's unmerited favor, kindness, and divine enablement. It is the core concept of Christian salvation and living, emphasizing that all spiritual blessings are freely given by God, not earned by human merit. It is the active, benevolent influence of God in the lives of believers.
"of our Lord Jesus Christ"
This phrase specifies the source and nature of the grace. It is not a generic grace, but one that originates from and is embodied by Jesus Christ, who is acknowledged as "Lord" (possessing ultimate authority and sovereignty) and "Christ" (the Anointed One, the Messiah). This highlights that the grace is personal, powerful, and redemptive, flowing from His finished work and ongoing reign.
"[be] with you"
The verb "be" is implied in the Greek, indicating a desire or prayer that this grace would actively accompany and indwell the Corinthian believers. The "you" refers to the entire community in Corinth, emphasizing that this divine favor is for all of them, collectively and individually, to sustain them in their faith, unity, and conduct. It is a wish for His active, empowering presence among them.
Literary Devices
The primary literary device employed in 1 Corinthians 16:23 is Benediction. This verse functions as a concluding blessing, a common feature in Paul's epistles, where he invokes divine favor upon the recipients. It is a prayerful expression of goodwill and a theological statement about the source of all spiritual blessing. The use of Direct Address ("with you") personalizes the blessing, making it a direct and intimate pronouncement to the Corinthian believers. Furthermore, the phrase "grace of our Lord Jesus Christ" uses Metonymy, where "grace" stands for the entire redemptive and sustaining work of Christ, encompassing His love, power, and presence. The succinctness of the verse, despite its profound theological weight, also demonstrates Conciseness, packing immense meaning into a few words, characteristic of a final, impactful statement.
Theological and Thematic Connections
Paul's benediction in 1 Corinthians 16:23 encapsulates the very essence of the Christian faith: salvation and sanctification are entirely dependent on the unmerited favor of God, channeled through the person and work of Jesus Christ. This grace is not merely a concept but an active, empowering presence that sustains believers through trials, enables them to live righteously, and fosters unity within the church. It is the constant wellspring from which all spiritual life flows, reminding the Corinthians, and us, that our sufficiency is found not in ourselves, but in Christ alone. This grace counters human pride, legalism, and self-reliance, pointing always to God's sovereign initiative and boundless love.
Reflection and Application
Paul's final words to the Corinthians serve as a timeless reminder of where our true strength and hope lie. In a world that constantly pressures us to rely on our own abilities, achievements, or external circumstances, this verse calls us back to the foundational truth that all we have and all we are called to be is by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. It encourages a posture of humble dependence, recognizing that divine favor is not earned but freely given, providing power for daily living, comfort in times of distress, and guidance in decision-making. Embracing this grace means living with gratitude, extending forgiveness, and persevering through challenges, knowing that Christ's active presence is "with us," empowering us to live lives that honor Him and build up His church. It is a call to rest in His finished work and to draw daily from His inexhaustible supply of love and strength.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What is the significance of Paul ending his letter with a benediction of grace?
Paul's consistent practice of concluding his letters with a benediction of grace, as seen in 1 Corinthians 16:23, is profoundly significant. It serves as a powerful theological anchor, redirecting the readers' focus from the specific issues and challenges addressed in the letter back to the foundational truth of God's unmerited favor in Christ. For the Corinthian church, which struggled with pride, division, and moral failings, this benediction was a crucial reminder that their standing with God, their spiritual gifts, and their ability to live righteously all stemmed from Christ's grace, not their own merit or wisdom. It reinforced that despite their imperfections, God's love and empowering presence remained with them through Jesus.
What does it mean for the "grace of our Lord Jesus Christ" to "be with you"?
For the "grace of our Lord Jesus Christ" to "be with you" signifies more than a mere wish for good fortune; it is a prayer and a declaration of Christ's active, benevolent, and empowering presence in the lives of believers. It means that God's unmerited favor, which brought salvation through Christ, continues to operate daily, providing strength, guidance, comfort, and the ability to live a life pleasing to Him. It implies Christ's personal involvement, His sustaining power, and His ongoing work of sanctification within the individual and the community. This grace is the wellspring of their spiritual life, enabling them to overcome sin, endure suffering, and grow in faith, echoing Paul's own testimony in 2 Corinthians 12:9.
Christ-Centered Fulfillment
1 Corinthians 16:23, though a concluding benediction, profoundly points to the person and work of Jesus Christ as the ultimate source of all spiritual blessings. The "grace of our Lord Jesus Christ" is not an abstract concept but the very essence of God's redemptive activity, fully embodied in Jesus. His incarnation, sinless life, atoning death on the cross, and victorious resurrection are the supreme demonstrations of this unmerited favor, making salvation available to all who believe, as declared in Ephesians 2:8-9. This grace, flowing from His finished work, continues to sustain believers through His ongoing intercession as our Great High Priest (Hebrews 4:16). Furthermore, the "Lord Jesus Christ" is the one who sends the Holy Spirit to indwell believers, ensuring His constant presence and empowering influence, fulfilling His promise to be "with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:20). Thus, this benediction is a concise summary of the Gospel itself: all that we need for life and godliness flows from the inexhaustible grace of our reigning Lord, Jesus Christ.