1 Corinthians 16:5 Meaning: Why Paul Changed His Travel Plans
I will come to you when I have passed through Macedonia, for I am passing through Macedonia.
Now I will come unto you, when I shall pass through Macedonia: for I do pass through Macedonia.
But I will come unto you, when I shall have passed through Macedonia; for I pass through Macedonia;
And I will come unto you, when I pass through Macedonia--for Macedonia I do pass through--
But I will come to you when I shall have gone through Macedonia; for I do go through Macedonia.
Meaning in one sentence
Paul explains why he will visit Corinth only after passing through Macedonia, addressing concerns about his reliability.
Context
Paul wrote this letter from Ephesus, as most scholars agree (1 Corinthians 16:8). He was planning a journey: he would travel north through Macedonia, then south to Corinth. This was a change from his earlier intention to come to Corinth first and then go to Macedonia (2 Corinthians 1:15-16). Some in Corinth had accused him of fickleness because of this change. But Paul explains his reasons in this passage. His heart was to spend quality time with them, not just pass through quickly. The verse sits in the closing chapter of 1 Corinthians, where Paul gives travel plans, instructions about collections, and personal greetings.
Key Words
The verse hinges on two forms of the same Greek verb, dierchomai, meaning 'to go through' or 'to pass through.' In the first part, Paul uses the aorist tense, 'when I have passed through Macedonia', focusing on the completion of that journey before he comes to them. Then he switches to the present tense: 'for I am passing through Macedonia.' This present tense describes an intention already in motion, a settled purpose. Paul is not drifting; he is making his way deliberately. The word 'for' (gar) ties the two clauses together, giving the reason for his order of travel. These simple verb choices show that Paul is careful with his words, laying out his plan clearly so the Corinthians can see he is not careless, but thoughtful.
How Christians Read This Verse
Most commentators agree Paul wrote from Ephesus, not Philippi as an old subscription suggests. Adam Clarke notes that the apostle was in Ephesus because 'the churches of Asia' send greetings, not the churches of Macedonia. John Calvin initially thought Philippi, but later leaned toward Ephesus. The change of plan itself stirred debate: some in Corinth called him fickle. Yet both the Cambridge Bible and Jamieson-Fausset-Brown point to 2 Corinthians, where Paul explains that the change was out of leniency, not indecision. Across traditions, the consensus is the same: Paul's revised itinerary was a pastoral choice, not a mark of unreliability.
A common misunderstanding
A common mistake is to take the subscription at the end of 1 Corinthians as inspired, it says the letter was written from Philippi in Macedonia. In fact, 1 Corinthians 16:8 shows Paul was still in Ephesus, planning to go through Macedonia. The subscription was added later by a scribe and is not part of the original text. The verse itself makes this clear if we read carefully.
Living This Out
When your own plans need to change, you might worry about what others will think. Paul faced similar accusations. But he did not change his course out of fickleness; he changed it out of love. This week, if you have to adjust a commitment, consider whether the change stems from wisdom or simple fear. You can trust God with the outcome of a revised plan. You can also explain your reasons when needed, as Paul did here, without being defensive.
Main takeaway: Faithful ministry sometimes requires changing plans, not because we are unreliable, but because love calls us to wait for God's right timing.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Paul told his friends he would come to visit them, but he had to go to another place first. He wanted them to know his plans so they wouldn't worry.
For ages 9, 12
Paul changed his plan about when to visit Corinth. Some people thought he was being wishy-washy, but he had good reasons. He wanted to spend more time with them, not just hurry through. When you change a plan, you can explain why, so others understand.
Questions People Ask
Why did Paul change his plan to visit Corinth?
Paul first planned to come to Corinth on his way to Macedonia and return, but later decided to go to Macedonia first and then come to Corinth (2 Corinthians 1:15-16). He made this change out of leniency, wanting to avoid a painful visit (2 Corinthians 1:23).
Where was Paul when he wrote 1 Corinthians?
Most scholars agree he was in Ephesus (1 Corinthians 16:8). The subscription at the end of the letter saying 'Philippi' is not original and was added later.
Was Paul accused of being fickle?
Yes, some in Corinth criticized him for not sticking to his original plan (2 Corinthians 1:17). Paul defended himself by saying he planned with godly sincerity, not human indecision.
What is the significance of Macedonia in this verse?
Macedonia was a Roman province north of Greece. Paul planned to travel through its cities, visiting churches he had founded, before going south to Corinth.
How does this verse connect to the rest of 1 Corinthians 16?
In this chapter, Paul gives travel plans, instructions about the collection for Jerusalem, and personal news about Timothy and Apollos. The verse is part of Paul's effort to keep the Corinthians informed of his movements so they would not misunderstand.
For pastors & researchers
Greek interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study