1 Corinthians 16 · Verse 3

1 Corinthians 16:3

And when I come, whomsoever ye shall approve by your letters, them will I send to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem.
1 Corinthians 16:3, King James Version

1 Corinthians 16:3 in other translations

BSBThen, on my arrival, I will send letters with those you recommend to carry your gift to Jerusalem.
WEBWhen I arrive, I will send whoever you approve with letters to carry your gracious gift to Jerusalem.
ASVAnd when I arrive, whomsoever ye shall approve, them will I send with letters to carry your bounty unto Jerusalem:
YLTand whenever I may come, whomsoever ye may approve, through letters, these I will send to carry your favour to Jerusalem;
DARBYAnd when I am arrived, whomsoever ye shall approve, these I will send with letters to carry your bounty to Jerusalem:
BBEAnd when I come, I will send the men of your selection with letters to take the money you have got together to Jerusalem.
WebsterAnd when I come, whomsoever ye shall approve by your letters, them will I send to bring your liberality to Jerusalem.

What does 1 Corinthians 16:3 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
3. approve by your letters--rather translate, "Whomsoever ye shall approve, them will I send with letters": namely, letters to several persons at Jerusalem, which would be their credentials. There could be no need of letters from them before Paul's coming, if the persons recommended were not to be sent off before it. Literally, "by letters"; an abbreviated expression for "I will send, recommending them by letters" [Grotius]. If English Version be retained, the sense will be, "When I come, I will send those whom by your letters, then to be given them, ye shall approve." But the antithesis (opposition or contrast) to Paul himself (1Co 16:4) favors Grotius' view. So "by" means with (Ro 2:27); and the Greek for "by" is translated, with (2Co 2:4). liberality--literally, gracious or free gift (2Co 8:4).

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 3. Whomsoever ye shall approve by your letters. There has been great variety of opinion in regard to the proper construction of this verse. Macknight supposes that the "letters" here referred to were not letters either to or from the apostle, but letters signed and sent by the church at Corinth, designating their appointment and their authority. With this interpretation Doddridge coincides; and this is required by the usual pointing of the Greek text, where the comma is inserted after the word letters, as in our translation. But a different interpretation has been proposed by inserting the comma after the word "approve," so that it shall read, "Whom you approve, or designate, them I will send with letters to convey your charity to Jerusalem." This is followed by Griesbach, Locke, Rosenmuller, Bloomfield, Beza, Eammond, Grotius, Whitby, etc. Certainly this accords better with the design of the passage. For it is evident (1Cor 16:4) that, though Paul was willing to go, yet he was not expecting to go. If he did not go, what was more natural than that he should offer to give them letters of commendation to his brethren in Judea? Mill has doubted whether this construction is in accordance with Greek usage; but the names above cited are sufficient authority on that subject. The proper construction therefore is, that Paul would give them letters to his friends in Jerusalem, and certify their appointment to dispense the charity, and commend the persons sent to the favour and hospitality of the church there.

Your liberality. Margin, Gift. Your donation; your alms. The Greek word χαριν usually signifies grace, or favour, here it means an act of grace or favour; kindness; a favour conferred; benefaction. Comp. 2Cor 8:4,6,7,19.

(b) "ye shall approve" 2Cor 8:19 (1) "liberality" "gift"

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 3 Whomsoever ye shall approve by your letters - Why should Paul require letters of approbation in behalf of certain persons, when he himself should be among them, and could have their characters viva voce? It is probable that he refers here to letters of recommendation which they had sent to him while he was away; and he now promises that when he should come to Corinth, he would appoint these persons, whom they had recommended, to carry the alms to Jerusalem. If δοκιμασητε, be read ye shall have approved, as Bishop Pearce does, the difficulty will vanish. Some MSS. and several versions join δι' επιστολων, by letters, to the following words, and read the verse thus: When I come, those whom ye shall approve I will send with letters to bring your liberality to Jerusalem. This seems most natural.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Corinthians 16:1-9

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 this world, should be rich in good works, 1Ti 6:17, 18. The diligent hand 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…

Read the full comment on 1 Corinthians 16:1-9 →

1 Corinthians 16:3 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.

ὅτανhotanWhenG3752
δὲdethenG1161
παραγένωμαι,paragenōmaiI may have arrived,G3854
οὓςhouswhomeverG3739
ἐὰνeanmaybeG1437
δοκιμάσητε,dokimasēteyou shall approve,G1381
δι᾽di᾽withG1223
ἐπιστολῶνepistolōnlettersG1992
τούτουςtoutoustheseG3778
πέμψωpempsōI will sendG3992
ἀπενεγκεῖνapenegkeinto carryG667
τὴνtēntheG3588
χάρινcharinbountyG5485
ὑμῶνhumōnof youG4771
εἰςeistoG1519
Ἰερουσαλήμ·IerousalēmJerusalem;G2419

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

Cross references for 1 Corinthians 16:3

  • 2 Corinthians 8:6

    Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also.

  • 2 Corinthians 8:4

    Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.

  • 2 Corinthians 8:18-24

    And we have sent with him the brother, whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches; And not that only, but who was also chosen of the churches to travel with us with this grace, which is administered by us to the glory of the same Lord, and declaration of your ready mind: Avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us: Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men. …

  • 1 Corinthians 11:34

    And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come.

  • Acts 6:1-6

    And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. …

  • 1 Corinthians 4:19-21

    But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power. For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power. What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
when.
4:19-21; 11:34
whomsoever.
Ac 6:1-6; 2Co 8:19-24
liberality. Gr. gift.
2Co 8:4,6,19

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

Context

  • 1 Corinthians 16:2

    Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.

  • 1 Corinthians 16:3

    And when I come, whomsoever ye shall approve by your letters, them will I send to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem.

  • 1 Corinthians 16:4

    And if it be meet that I go also, they shall go with me.

Read all of 1 Corinthians 16

1 Corinthians 16:3 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y cuando habré llegado, los que aprobareis por cartas, á éstos enviaré que lleven vuestro beneficio á Jerusalem.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et quand je serai là, ceux que vous approuverez, je les enverrai avec des lettres, pour porter votre libéralité à Jérusalem.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Wenn ich aber angekommen bin, so will ich die, welche irgend ihr für tüchtig erachten werdet, mit Briefen senden, daß sie eure Gabe nach Jerusalem hinbringen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Cum autem præsens fuero, quos probaveritis per epistolas, hos mittam perferre gratiam vestram in Jerusalem.