1 Corinthians 16:5-9 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Now I will come unto you If Providence permit; when I shall pass Or rather, when I shall have passed; through Macedonia; for I do pass through Macedonia I purpose going that way, that I may visit the churches there, and receive their collections. And it may be that I will abide, &c. That I shall continue some time; yea, and winter with you Having spent the summer and autumn in my progress through Macedonia. That ye may bring me on my journey That some of you may accompany me a little way, and help me forward toward Jerusalem, or whithersoever else I go Through whatever parts I may pass thither. For, &c. As if he had said, I speak of coming at some future time; for I will not see you now In my way from hence to Macedonia. But I trust That the little delay, which this plan may occasion, will be made up to your satisfaction; for I purpose to tarry a while with you When I come, which the necessities of the churches of Macedonia will not at present give me leave to do. But I will tarry at Ephesus until Pentecost A plain intimation this that he was now at Ephesus, and consequently that the inscription added at the end of this epistle, which tells us it was written from Philippi, is far from being authentic. Indeed, this may be gathered also from the salutations in the close of this epistle, which are not from the churches of Macedonia, but from Asia. And, it may be affirmed in general, that, as Dr. Doddridge justly observes, no credit is to be given to these additions, which have been presumptuously made to the epistles, and very imprudently retained. For a great door and effectual is opened to me “The door of a house being a passage into it, the opening of a door, in the eastern phrase, signified the affording a person an opportunity of doing a thing. See Colossians 4:3; Hosea 2:15. The apostle's long abode at Ephesus was owing to his great success in converting the Ephesians, and such strangers as had occasion to resort to that metropolis. But about the time this letter was written, his success was greater than common. For many, who used curious arts, the arts of magic and divination, were converted, and burned their books, containing the secrets of these arts, Acts 19:17-20. This so enraged the idolaters at Ephesus, but especially the craftsmen, that they raised the great tumult described Acts 19:23-41.” Macknight. Therefore the apostle adds, and there are many adversaries Many opposers, who, (he hereby insinuates,) if he were to leave Ephesus immediately, might perhaps take advantage of his absence, to the great injury of the new-planted church there.