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1 Corinthians 16:11
ESV 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.
NIV No one, then, should treat him with contempt. Send him on his way in peace so that he may return to me. I am expecting him along with the brothers.
NASB So do not look down on him, anyone. But send him on his way in peace, so that he may come to me; for I expect him with the brothers.
CSB So let no one look down on him. Send him on his way in peace so that he can come to me, because I am expecting him with the brothers.
NLT Don’t let anyone treat him with contempt. Send him on his way with your blessing when he returns to me. I expect him to come with the other believers.
KJV 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.

What does 1 Corinthians 16:11 mean?

Paul will not be coming to Corinth himself for some time. Instead, he is sending Timothy there as his representative and perhaps to deliver this letter. Timothy's mission, according to 1 Corinthians 4:17, is to remind them of Paul's ways in Christ and of his teaching to all the churches.

Since he and Timothy left Corinth behind the first time, opposition has arisen against Paul. People in the church have become divided over various issues (1 Corinthians 1:10–12). Paul is aware that this letter might increase that tension since he has commanded them to be unified and has delivered his final word on everything from eating meat offered to idols to how to conduct the Lord's Supper together. Paul has rebuked them and corrected their practice on several difficult issues.

Will they take their anger out on Timothy in some way? Paul told them in the previous verse to "put him at ease" when he comes (1 Corinthians 16:10), reminding them that Timothy is doing the Lord's work.

Now Paul adds that they must not despise Timothy. It's unknown if there were hard feelings from Timothy's previous time in Corinth or if Paul expected trouble this time. In any case, he wants to protect Timothy with this command.

Most alarming is his instruction that they help Timothy on his way in peace so they he can return to Paul. In short, put him at ease when he gets there, don't despise him, and send him away peacefully. Paul did not want Timothy to take any lumps for his tough teaching to the Corinthians.

Paul adds that he is expecting the return of Timothy with "the brothers." It's not clear who Paul means by this, though Timothy apparently traveled with Erastus (Acts 19:22).
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