What does 1 Corinthians 16:6 mean?

This section of 1 Corinthians details Paul's plans to come and spend time with the church in person once again. He said in the previous verse that he planned to travel from Ephesus to the region of Macedonia to visit the churches there before arriving in Corinth.

The Macedonian churches included Thessalonica, Philippi, and Berea. Paul likely intended to stop at each in order to visit them and pick up their contribution to the collection for the suffering Jewish Christians in Jerusalem. The following verses show that Paul planned to travel during the summer and arrive in Corinth in time to spend the winter with them. This would allow him to renew his relationship with them and address the issues of this letter in person.

Second Corinthians, however, tells us these plans did not come together as Paul had hoped. He did eventually travel both to Macedonia and Corinth, but not on this anticipated timeline.

Paul has emphasized that he refused to take any financial support from the Corinthians for his own needs while he was working among them (1 Corinthians 9). Now, though, he states he will accept help when he departs again, likely meaning financial support for the journey, as well as traveling companions, especially if he accompanies a delegation to Jerusalem (1 Corinthians 16:3–4). The difference here is that this would be financially supporting ministry to others, and not themselves, something Paul felt could cloud the integrity of his ministry to those he served.