The Integrity of a True Leader – 1 Corinthians 16:5-24

Abraham Lincoln defeated William Seward and Salmon Chase for the Republican nomination for President, and when he won the national election for President he invited Seward and Chase to be part of his cabinet, a cabinet of rivals.  Doris Kearns Goodwin highlights this in her book on Lincoln, Team of Rivals.  Lincoln was more concerned about the effectiveness of his administration than personal glory, the mark of a great leader.  Paul exhibited this same quality as a leader.

I will visit you after passing through Macedonia, for I intend to pass through Macedonia, and perhaps I will stay with you or even spend the winter, so that you may help me on my journey, wherever I go. For I do not want to see you now just in passing. I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits. But I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost, for a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.

When Timothy comes, see that you put him at ease among you, for he is doing the work of the Lord, as I am. So let no one despise him. Help him on his way in peace, that he may return to me, for I am expecting him with the brothers.

Now concerning our brother Apollos, I strongly urged him to visit you with the other brothers, but it was not at all his will to come now. He will come when he has opportunity.

Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.

Now I urge you, brothers—you know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints—be subject to such as these, and to every fellow worker and laborer. I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus, because they have made up for your absence, for they refreshed my spirit as well as yours. Give recognition to such people.

The churches of Asia send you greetings. Aquila and Prisca, together with the church in their house, send you hearty greetings in the Lord. All the brothers send you greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss.

I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. If anyone has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed. Our Lord, come! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.  (1 Corinthians 16:5-24 ESV)

Paul concludes his letter with these points:

1) His intentions to travel to Corinth via Macedonia from Ephesus when he can spend considerable time and after he has finished the effective work God has given him in Ephesus.

2) Instructions to receive Timothy with honor when he comes.  As Paul’s representative they might mistreat him as they seem to be ready to mistreat Paul.

3) His encouragement to send Apollos, the favorite of some of them, showing that he has no hesitation about being a fellow worker with Apollos and is not an adversary as they the have made them out to be.

4) Challenges to be strong in the faith and especially in the love of Jesus, to show honor to the Corinthian household of Stephanas as fellow laborers with Paul as well as to the members of Chloe’s house, Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus who delivered this letter.

5) Greetings from saints with Paul and who know the Corinthians, like Priscilla and Aquila who ministered in Corinth with Paul when he first got there, and a sign off in Paul’s own hand (a secretary has written all the rest at Paul’s dictation) to center everything once more on the importance of knowing the Lord Jesus and with assurance that Paul does indeed love them despite all their misbehavior and wrong thinking.

This is a model for how we should interact with one another.