οἴδατε. Cf. 1 Thessalonians 5:12. οἴδατε may be either indicative or imperative. 1 Corinthians 16:18 makes the latter more probable. See note on ἐπιγινώσκετε there. In the first case the succeeding ὅτι must be translated ‘that,’ in the second it may have the signification ‘because.’

Στεφανᾶ. See note on ch. 1 Corinthians 1:16.

ἀπαρχή. Not necessarily the very first converts, but among the very first. See Romans 16:5. ‘Achaia’ is used by St Paul to denote the Peloponnesus, now called the Morea.

εἰς διακονίαν τοῖς ἁγίοις. To service for the saints. The context would imply that they had not confined themselves to ministering to the temporal necessities of the saints, but had given valuable assistance to St Paul in his spiritual ministrations. See next verse.

Continues after advertising
Continues after advertising

Old Testament