1 Corinthians 16:10

Now if Timotheus come, see that he may be with you without fear: for he worketh the work of the Lord, as I also do.

1 Corinthians 16:10, King James Version

1 Corinthians 16:10 in other translations

BSB	If Timothy comes, see to it that he has nothing to fear while he is with you, for he is doing the work of the Lord, just as I am.
WEB	Now if Timothy comes, see that he is with you without fear, for he does the work of the Lord, as I also do.
ASV	Now if Timothy come, see that he be with you without fear; for he worketh the work of the Lord, as I also do:
YLT	And if Timotheus may come, see that he may become without fear with you, for the work of the Lord he doth work, even as I,
DARBY	Now if Timotheus come, see that he may be with you without fear; for he works the work of the Lord, even as I.
BBE	Now if Timothy comes, see that he is with you without fear; because he is doing the Lord's work, even as I am:
Webster	Now if Timothy come, see that he may be with you without fear: for he worketh the work of the Lord, as I also do.

What does 1 Corinthians 16:10 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

10. Now--rather, "But." Therefore Timothy was not the bearer of the Epistle; for it would not then be said, "IF Timothy come." He must therefore have been sent by Paul from Ephesus before this Epistle was written, to accord with 1Co 4:17-19; and yet the passage here implies that Paul did not expect him to arrive at Corinth till after the letter was received. He tells them how to treat him "if" he should arrive. Ac 19:21, 22 clears up the difficulty: Timothy, when sent from Ephesus, where this Epistle was written, did not proceed direct to Corinth, but went first to Macedonia; thus though sent before the letter, he might not reach Corinth till after it was received in that city. The undesigned coincidence between the Epistle and the history, and the clearing up of the meaning of the former (which does not mention the journey to Macedonia at all) by the latter, is a sure mark of genuineness [Paley, Horæ Paulinæ]. It is not certain that Timothy actually reached Corinth; for in Ac 19:22 only Macedonia is mentioned; but it does not follow that though Macedonia was the immediate object of his mission, Corinth was not the ultimate object. The "IF Timothy come," implies uncertainty. 2Co 1:1 represents him with Paul in Macedonia; and 2Co 12:18, speaking of Titus and others sent to Corinth, does not mention Timothy, which it would have probably done, had one so closely connected with the apostle as Timothy was, stayed as his delegate at Corinth. The mission of Titus then took place, when it became uncertain whether Timothy could go forward from Macedonia to Corinth, Paul being anxious for immediate tidings of the state of the Corinthian Church. Alford argues that if so, Paul's adversaries would have charged him with fickleness in this case also (2Co 1:17), as in the case of his own change of purpose. But Titus was sent directly to Corinth, so as to arrive there before Timothy could by the route through Macedonia. Titus' presence would thus make amends for the disappointment as to the intended visit of Timothy and would disarm adversaries of a charge in this respect (2Co 7:6, 7). without fear--Referring perhaps to a nervous timidity in Timothy's character (1Ti 3:15; 5:22, 24). His youth would add to this feeling, as well as his country, Lystra, likely to be despised in refined Corinth.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes

Verse 10. Now if Timotheus come. Paul had sent Timothy to them, 1Cor 4:17, 1Cor 4:18, but as he had many churches to visit, it was not absolutely certain that he would go to Corinth.

May be with you without fear. Let him be received kindly and affectionately. Timothy was then a young man, Acts 16:1-3; 1Timm 4:12. There might be some danger that he might feel himself embarrassed among the rich, the gay, and the great. Paul, therefore, asks them to encourage him, to receive him kindly, and not to embarrass him. Perhaps, also, there may be some reference to the false teachers whom Timothy might be called on to oppose. They were powerful, and they might endeavour to intimidate and alarm him. Paul, therefore, asks the church to sustain him in his efforts to defend the truth.

For he worketh the work of the Lord. He is engaged in the service of the Lord; and he is worthy of your confidence, and worthy to be sustained by you.

(c) "Timotheus come" Acts 19:22 (d) "worketh the work" Php 2:19-22

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 10 Now, if Timotheus come - Of Timothy we have heard before, 1Cor 4:17. And we learn, from Act 19:22, that Paul sent him with Erastus from Ephesus to Macedonia. It is evident, therefore, in opposition to the very exceptionable subscription at the end of this epistle, that the epistle itself was not sent by Timothy, as there stated. That he may be with you without fear - That he may be treated well, and not perplexed and harassed with your divisions and jealousies; for he worketh the work of the Lord - he is Divinely appointed, as I also am.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Corinthians 16:10-12

Timothy came to do the work of the Lord. Therefore to vex his spirit, would be to grieve the Holy Spirit; to despise him, would be to despise Him that sent him. Those who work the work of the Lord, should be treated with tenderness and respect. Faithful ministers will not be jealous of each other. It becomes the ministers of the gospel to show concern for each other's reputation and usefulness.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

1 Corinthians 16:10 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ἘὰνEanIfG1437

δὲdenowG1161

ἔλθῃelthēmay comeG2064

Τιμόθεος,TimotheosTimothy,G5095

βλέπετεblepetedo seeG991

ἵναinathatG2443

ἀφόβωςaphobōswithout fearG870

γένηταιgenētaihe shall beG1096

πρὸςproswithG4314

ὑμᾶς·humasyou;G4771

τὸtotheG3588

γὰρgarforG1063

ἔργονergonworkG2041

κυρίουkuriouof [the] LordG2962

ἐργάζεταιergazetaihe is doingG2038

ὡςhōsasG5613

κἀγώ.kagōalso I myself.G1473

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 1 Corinthians 16:10

1 Corinthians 15:58
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
1 Thessalonians 3:2
And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith:
Philippians 2:19-22
But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state. For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state. For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s. But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel.
1 Corinthians 4:17
For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church.
Romans 16:21
Timotheus my workfellow, and Lucius, and Jason, and Sosipater, my kinsmen, salute you.
Acts 19:22
So he sent into Macedonia two of them that ministered unto him, Timotheus and Erastus; but he himself stayed in Asia for a season.
Acts 16:1
Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek:
1 Thessalonians 4:12
That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.
2 Corinthians 6:1
We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.
1 Corinthians 16:11
Let no man therefore despise him: but conduct him forth in peace, that he may come unto me: for I look for him with the brethren.
2 Corinthians 1:1
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia:

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

if.
4:17; Ac 19:22
without.
11; 1Th 4:12
for.
15:58; Ro 16:21; 2Co 6:1; Php 2:19-22; 1Th 3:2

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

1 Corinthians 16:9
For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries.
1 Corinthians 16:10
Now if Timotheus come, see that he may be with you without fear: for he worketh the work of the Lord, as I also do.
1 Corinthians 16:11
Let no man therefore despise him: but conduct him forth in peace, that he may come unto me: for I look for him with the brethren.

Read all of 1 Corinthians 16

1 Corinthians 16:10 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Y si llegare Timoteo, mirad que esté con vosotros seguramente; porque la obra del Señor hace también como yo.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Or, si Timothée vient, ayez soin qu’il soit sans crainte au milieu de vous, car il s’emploie à l’œuvre du Seigneur comme moi-même.
German Elberfelder 1871	Wenn aber Timotheus kommt, so sehet zu, daß er ohne Furcht bei euch sei; denn er arbeitet am Werke des Herrn, wie auch ich.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Si autem venerit Timotheus, videte ut sine timore sit apud vos: opus enim Domini operatur, sicut et ego.