The Meaning of 1 Corinthians 16:19 Explained

1 Corinthians 16:19

KJV: The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house.

YLT: Salute you do the assemblies of Asia; salute you much in the Lord do Aquilas and Priscilla, with the assembly in their house;

Darby: The assemblies of Asia salute you. Aquila and Priscilla, with the assembly in their house, salute you much in the Lord.

ASV: The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Prisca salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

The churches  of Asia  salute  you.  Aquila  and  Priscilla  salute  you  much  in  the Lord,  with  the church  that is in  their  house. 

What does 1 Corinthians 16:19 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Several churches in the Roman province of Asia had come into existence while Paul used its capital city, Ephesus, as his base of operations ( Acts 19:10). References to "Asia" in the New Testament consistently refer to the Roman province of Asia, which lay in the west and southwest of the geographical region of Asia Minor.
The names of Aquila and Prisca (Priscilla) usually occur in reverse order in the New Testament. Evidently their friends, of which Paul was one, felt free to use both orders. This suggests that they served the Lord as a harmonious team with individual strengths and talents. They had lived in Corinth after leaving Rome ( Acts 18:2), and it apparently was there that Paul first met them. They had left Corinth for Ephesus with Paul and settled in that city ( Acts 18:18-21). Their house became a meeting place for the church (cf. Romans 16:5). Church buildings were unknown until the third century. [1]

Context Summary

1 Corinthians 16:13-24 - Exhortations And Salutations
The Apostle was careful to cultivate friendship, one of the priceless gifts of God; and he was very generous not only in his references to his friends, but also in his dealings with them. Because Timothy was deficient in virile strength, Paul was always contriving to make his way easier; and though Apollos had drawn away some of his converts, the Apostle was desirous for him to visit Corinth again. Nor could he forget the household which had yielded him the first fruits. His solitude had been greatly cheered by the advent of the Corinthian deputation. Human love is a revelation of the divine; an earthen pitcher which God fills with heavenly treasure; a chalice holding the wine of life.
Notice the flaming forth of Paul's passionate love for Christ. He felt that any who failed to love Him must be accursed in disposition and soul; and would be accursed at his coming, like the barren tree standing in the midst of an orchard of fruit trees, crowned with blossom or heavy with fruit. Maran atha!-our Lord cometh. He will put right the wrongs of time, and crown His faithful servants with honor and glory. Hallelujah [source]

Chapter Summary: 1 Corinthians 16

1  He exhorts them to a collection for the brothers at Jerusalem
10  Commends Timothy;
13  and after friendly admonitions,
16  concludes his epistle with various salutations

Greek Commentary for 1 Corinthians 16:19

The churches of Asia [αι εκκλησιαι της Ασιας]
True of the Roman province (Acts 10:10, Acts 10:26; Colossians 1:6; Colossians 2:1; Colossians 4:13, Colossians 4:16). The gospel spread rapidly from Ephesus. [source]
With the church that is in their house [συν τηι κατ οικον αυτων εκκλησιαι]
Paul had long ago left the synagogue for the school house of Tyrannus (Acts 19:9). But Aquila and Prisca opened their house here for the services. The churches had to meet where they could. Paul had laboured and lived with this family in Corinth (Acts 18:2) and now again in Ephesus (Acts 18:19; Acts 20:34). It was their habit wherever they lived (Romans 16:5). [source]
Asia []
See on Acts 2:9. [source]
Aquila and Prisca []
See on Romans 16:3. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 1 Corinthians 16:19

Acts 18:2 Lately come from Italy [προσπατως εληλυτοτα απο της Ιταλιας]
Second perfect participle of ερχομαι — erchomai Koiné{[28928]}š adverb, here only in the N.T., from adjective προσπατος — prosphatos With his wife Priscilla (Πρισκα — kai Priskillan gunaika autou). Diminutive of δια το διατεταχεναι Κλαυδιον — Priska (Romans 16:3; 1 Corinthians 16:19). Prisca is a name in the Acilian family and the Prisci was the name of another noble clan. Aquila may have been a freedman like many Jews in Rome. Her name comes before his in Acts 17:18, Acts 17:26; Romans 16:3; 2 Timothy 4:9. Because Claudius had commanded Perfect active articular infinitive of Δια — diatassō old verb to dispose, arrange, here with accusative of general reference. Dia here is causal sense, “because of the having ordered as to Claudius.” This was about a.d. 49, done, Suetonius says (Claudius C. 25), because “the Jews were in a state of constant tumult at the instigation of one Chrestus” (probably among the Jews about Christ so pronounced). At any rate Jews were unpopular in Rome for Tiberius had deported 4,000 to Sardinia. There were 20,000 Jews in Rome. Probably mainly those implicated in the riots actually left. [source]
Acts 18:2 With his wife Priscilla [Πρισκα]
Diminutive of δια το διατεταχεναι Κλαυδιον — Priska (Romans 16:3; 1 Corinthians 16:19). Prisca is a name in the Acilian family and the Prisci was the name of another noble clan. Aquila may have been a freedman like many Jews in Rome. Her name comes before his in Acts 17:18, Acts 17:26; Romans 16:3; 2 Timothy 4:9. [source]
Acts 18:3 Because he was of the same trade [δια το ομοτεχνον ειναι]
Same construction with δια — dia as above. ομοτεχνον — Homotechnon is an old word Late word from ποιεω — skēnē and εμενεν — poieō here only in the N.T. They made portable tents of leather or of cloth of goat‘s hair. So Paul lived in this home with this noble man and his wife, all the more congenial if already Christians which they soon became at any rate. They worked as partners in the common trade. Paul worked for his support elsewhere, already in Thessalonica (1 Thessalonians 2:9; 2 Thessalonians 3:8) and later at Ephesus with Aquila and Priscilla (Acts 18:18, Acts 18:26; Acts 20:34; 1 Corinthians 16:19). They moved again to Rome (Romans 16:3) and were evidently a couple of considerable wealth and generosity. It was a blessing to Paul to find himself with these people. So he “abode” (ηργαζοντο — emenen imperfect active) with them and “they wrought” (ērgazonto imperfect middle), happy and busy during week days. [source]
Acts 20:20 From declaring unto you [του μη αναγγειλαι υμιν]
Ablative case of the articular first aorist active infinitive of αναγγελλω — anaggellō with the redundant negative after verbs of hindering, etc. (Robertson, Grammar, p. 1094). Anything that was profitable (των συμπεροντων — tōn sumpherontōn). Partitive genitive after ουδεν — ouden of the articular present active participle of συμπερω — sumpherō to bear together, be profitable. Publicly By (according to) houses. It is worth noting that this greatest of preachers preached from house to house and did not make his visits merely social calls. He was doing kingdom business all the while as in the house of Aquila and Priscilla (1 Corinthians 16:19). [source]
Acts 20:20 Publicly [δημοσιαι]
By (according to) houses. It is worth noting that this greatest of preachers preached from house to house and did not make his visits merely social calls. He was doing kingdom business all the while as in the house of Aquila and Priscilla (1 Corinthians 16:19). [source]
Acts 20:20 and from house to house [και κατ οικους]
By (according to) houses. It is worth noting that this greatest of preachers preached from house to house and did not make his visits merely social calls. He was doing kingdom business all the while as in the house of Aquila and Priscilla (1 Corinthians 16:19). [source]
Acts 19:9 Disobedient [επειτουν]
Imperfect again, showing the growing disbelief and disobedience Late verb from κακολογος — kakologos (speaker of evil) for the old κακως λεγω — kakōs legō Already in Mark 7:10; Mark 9:39; Matthew 15:4. Now these Jews are aggressive opponents of Paul and seek to injure his influence with the crowd. Note “the Way” as in Acts 9:2 for Christianity. He departed from them Second aorist active participle of απιστημι — aphistēmi made an “apostasy” (standing off, cleavage) as he did at Corinth (Acts 18:7, μεταβας — metabas making a change). Separated the disciples (απωρισεν τους ματητας — aphōrisen tous mathētas). First aorist active indicative of αποριζω — aphorizō old verb to mark limits (horizon) as already in Acts 13:2. Paul himself was a spiritual Pharisee “separated” to Christ (Romans 1:1). The Jews regarded this withdrawal as apostasy, like separating the sheep from the goats (Matthew 25:32). Paul now made a separate church as he had done at Thessalonica and Corinth. In the school of Tyrannus Σχολη — Scholē (our school) is an old word from σχειν — schein (εχω — echō) to hold on, leisure and then in later Greek (Plutarch, etc.) a place where there is leisure as here. Only this example in the N.T. This is the Greek notion of “school,” the Jewish being that of “yoke” as in Matthew 11:29. The name Tyrannus (our tyrant) is a common one. It is an inscription in the Columbarium of the Empress Livia as that of a physician in the court. Furneaux suggests the possibility that a relative of this physician was lecturing on medicine in Ephesus and so as a friend of Luke, the physician, would be glad to help Paul about a place to preach. It was probably a public building or lecture hall with this name whether hired by Paul or loaned to him. The pagan sophists often spoke in such halls. The Codex Bezae adds “from the fifth hour to the tenth” as the time allotted Paul for his work in this hall, which is quite possible, from just before midday till the close of the afternoon (from before the noon meal till two hours before sunset) each day. Here Paul had great freedom and a great hearing. As the church grows there will be other places of meeting as the church in the house of Aquila and Priscilla (1 Corinthians 16:19). [source]
Acts 19:9 He departed from them [αποστας απ αυτων]
Second aorist active participle of απιστημι — aphistēmi made an “apostasy” (standing off, cleavage) as he did at Corinth (Acts 18:7, μεταβας — metabas making a change). Separated the disciples (απωρισεν τους ματητας — aphōrisen tous mathētas). First aorist active indicative of αποριζω — aphorizō old verb to mark limits (horizon) as already in Acts 13:2. Paul himself was a spiritual Pharisee “separated” to Christ (Romans 1:1). The Jews regarded this withdrawal as apostasy, like separating the sheep from the goats (Matthew 25:32). Paul now made a separate church as he had done at Thessalonica and Corinth. In the school of Tyrannus Σχολη — Scholē (our school) is an old word from σχειν — schein (εχω — echō) to hold on, leisure and then in later Greek (Plutarch, etc.) a place where there is leisure as here. Only this example in the N.T. This is the Greek notion of “school,” the Jewish being that of “yoke” as in Matthew 11:29. The name Tyrannus (our tyrant) is a common one. It is an inscription in the Columbarium of the Empress Livia as that of a physician in the court. Furneaux suggests the possibility that a relative of this physician was lecturing on medicine in Ephesus and so as a friend of Luke, the physician, would be glad to help Paul about a place to preach. It was probably a public building or lecture hall with this name whether hired by Paul or loaned to him. The pagan sophists often spoke in such halls. The Codex Bezae adds “from the fifth hour to the tenth” as the time allotted Paul for his work in this hall, which is quite possible, from just before midday till the close of the afternoon (from before the noon meal till two hours before sunset) each day. Here Paul had great freedom and a great hearing. As the church grows there will be other places of meeting as the church in the house of Aquila and Priscilla (1 Corinthians 16:19). [source]
Acts 19:9 In the school of Tyrannus [εν τηι σχοληι Τυραννου]
Σχολη — Scholē (our school) is an old word from σχειν — schein (εχω — echō) to hold on, leisure and then in later Greek (Plutarch, etc.) a place where there is leisure as here. Only this example in the N.T. This is the Greek notion of “school,” the Jewish being that of “yoke” as in Matthew 11:29. The name Tyrannus (our tyrant) is a common one. It is an inscription in the Columbarium of the Empress Livia as that of a physician in the court. Furneaux suggests the possibility that a relative of this physician was lecturing on medicine in Ephesus and so as a friend of Luke, the physician, would be glad to help Paul about a place to preach. It was probably a public building or lecture hall with this name whether hired by Paul or loaned to him. The pagan sophists often spoke in such halls. The Codex Bezae adds “from the fifth hour to the tenth” as the time allotted Paul for his work in this hall, which is quite possible, from just before midday till the close of the afternoon (from before the noon meal till two hours before sunset) each day. Here Paul had great freedom and a great hearing. As the church grows there will be other places of meeting as the church in the house of Aquila and Priscilla (1 Corinthians 16:19). [source]
Romans 16:5 The church that is in their house [τῆν κατ ' οἶκον αὐτῶν ἐκκλησίαν]
The phrase church that is in their (or his) house occurs 1 Corinthians 16:19, of Aquila and Priscilla; Colossians 4:15, of Nymphas; Philemon 1:2, of Philemon. A similar gathering may be implied in Romans 16:14, Romans 16:15. Bishop Lightfoot says there is no clear example of a separate building set apart for christian worship within the limits of the Roman Empire before the third century. The Christian congregations were, therefore, dependent upon the hospitality of prominent church members who furnished their own houses for this purpose. Hence their places of assembly were not called temples until late; but houses of God; houses of the churches; houses of prayer. Numerous guilds or clubs existed at Rome for furnishing proper burial rites to the poor. Extant inscriptions testify to the existence of nearly eighty of these, each consisting of the members of a different trade or profession, or united in the worship of some deity. The Christians availed themselves of this practice in order to evade Trajan's edict against clubs, which included their own ordinary assemblies, but which made a special exception in favor of associations consisting of poorer members of society, who met to contribute to funeral expenses. This led to the use of the catacombs, or of buildings erected over them for this purpose. -DIVIDER-
-DIVIDER-
The expression here denotes, not the whole church, but that portion of it which met at Aquila's house. [source]

Romans 16:3 Prisca and Aquila []
Priscilla is the diminutive of Prisca. See Acts 18:2, Acts 18:18, Acts 18:26; 1 Corinthians 16:19; 2 Timothy 4:19. It is argued by some that Aquila and Priscilla must have been at Ephesus at this time, since they were there when Paul wrote 1 Corinthians 16:19, and again when he wrote 2 Timothy 4:19. “It is strange to find them settled at Rome with a church in their house between these two dates” (Farrar). But, as Bishop Lightfoot remarks (“Commentary on Philippians,” p. 176), “As Rome was their headquarters, and they had been driven thence by an imperial edict (Acts 18:2), it is natural enough that they should have returned thither as soon as it was convenient and safe to do so. The year which elapses between the two notices, allows ample time for them to transfer themselves from Ephesus to Rome, and for the apostle to hear of their return to their old abode.” Notice that the name of Priscilla precedes that of her husband. So Acts 18:2. Probably she was the more prominent of the two in christian activity. [source]
Romans 16:3 Prisca and Aquila [Πρισκαν και Ακυλαν]
This order always (Acts 18:18, Acts 18:26; 2 Timothy 4:19, and here) save in Acts 18:2; 1 Corinthians 16:19, showing that Prisca was the more prominent. Priscilla is a diminutive of Prisca, a name for women in the Acilian gens. She may have been a noble Roman lady, but her husband was a Jew of Pontus and a tent-maker by trade. They were driven from Rome by Claudius, came to Corinth, then to Ephesus, then back to Rome, and again to Ephesus. They were good travelling Christians. My fellow-workers (τους συνεργους μου — tous sunergous mou). Both in tent-making and in Christian service in Corinth and Ephesus. [source]
Romans 16:5 The church that is in their house [την κατ οικον αυτων εκκλησιαν]
The early Christians had no church buildings. See also Acts 12:2; 1 Corinthians 16:19; Philemon 1:2; Colossians 4:15. The Roman Christians had probably several such homes where they would meet. [source]
Colossians 4:15 The Church []
Compare Philemon 1:2; Romans 16:5; 1 Corinthians 16:19; Acts 12:12. [source]
2 Timothy 4:19 Prisca and Aquila []
They appear in Corinth, Acts 18:2, Acts 18:3; in Ephesus, Acts 18:18, Acts 18:26; 1 Corinthians 16:19. [source]
Philemon 1:1 Timothy [Τιμοτεος]
With Paul in Ephesus (Acts 19:22) and probably known to Philemon. Associated with Paul also in I and II Thess., II Cor., Philipp., Colossians. To Philemon (Πιλημονι — Philēmoni). A resident of Colossae and a convert of Paul‘s (Philemon 1:19), perhaps coming to Ephesus while Paul was there when his ministry had so much influence over the province of Asia (Acts 19:9., 26; 1 Corinthians 16:19). The name Philemon occurs in the legend of Baucis and Philemon (Ovid‘s Metamorphoses), but with no connection with the brother here. He was active in the church in Colossae (“our Corinthians-worker,” συνεργωι ημων — sunergōi hēmōn) and was beloved (αγαπητωι — agapētōi) by Paul. [source]
Philemon 1:1 To Philemon [Πιλημονι]
A resident of Colossae and a convert of Paul‘s (Philemon 1:19), perhaps coming to Ephesus while Paul was there when his ministry had so much influence over the province of Asia (Acts 19:9., 26; 1 Corinthians 16:19). The name Philemon occurs in the legend of Baucis and Philemon (Ovid‘s Metamorphoses), but with no connection with the brother here. He was active in the church in Colossae (“our Corinthians-worker,” συνεργωι ημων — sunergōi hēmōn) and was beloved (αγαπητωι — agapētōi) by Paul. [source]
Philemon 1:2 To the church in thy house [τηι κατ οικον σου εκκλησιαι]
The church that met in the house of Philemon. In large cities there would be several meeting-places. Before the third century there is no certain evidence of special church buildings for worship (White, Exp. Grk. T.). See note on Acts 12:12 for Mary‘s house in Jerusalem, 1 Corinthians 16:19 for the house of Aquila and Prisca in Ephesus, Romans 16:5 for the house of Prisca and Aquila in Rome, Colossians 4:15 for the house of Nympha in Laodicea. [source]
Philemon 1:2 To Archippus [Αρχιππωι]
Dative case in address. It is uncertain whether he is the son of Philemon or not. Apparently he is prominent in the church in Colossae, possibly even pastor, probably not in Laodicea as some understand Colossians 4:17 to imply. Fellow-soldier (συνστρατιωτηι — sunstratiōtēi). Old word, only here and Philemon 2:25 in N.T. In metaphorical sense. Perhaps while Paul was in Ephesus. To the church in thy house The church that met in the house of Philemon. In large cities there would be several meeting-places. Before the third century there is no certain evidence of special church buildings for worship (White, Exp. Grk. T.). See note on Acts 12:12 for Mary‘s house in Jerusalem, 1 Corinthians 16:19 for the house of Aquila and Prisca in Ephesus, Romans 16:5 for the house of Prisca and Aquila in Rome, Colossians 4:15 for the house of Nympha in Laodicea. [source]

What do the individual words in 1 Corinthians 16:19 mean?

Greet you the churches - of Asia Greet in [the] Lord heartily Aquila and Prisca with the at house of them church
Ἀσπάζονται ὑμᾶς αἱ ἐκκλησίαι τῆς Ἀσίας Ἀσπάζεται ἐν Κυρίῳ πολλὰ Ἀκύλας καὶ Πρίσκα σὺν τῇ κατ’ οἶκον αὐτῶν ἐκκλησίᾳ

Ἀσπάζονται  Greet 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Middle or Passive, 3rd Person Plural
Root: ἀπασπάζομαι 
Sense: to draw to one’s self.
ἐκκλησίαι  churches 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Feminine Plural
Root: ἐκκλησία  
Sense: a gathering of citizens called out from their homes into some public place, an assembly.
τῆς  - 
Parse: Article, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Ἀσίας  of  Asia 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root: Ἀσία  
Sense: Asia proper or proconsular Asia embracing Mysia, Lydia, Phrygia, and Caria, corresponding closely to Turkey today.
Ἀσπάζεται  Greet 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Middle or Passive, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ἀπασπάζομαι 
Sense: to draw to one’s self.
Κυρίῳ  [the]  Lord 
Parse: Noun, Dative Masculine Singular
Root: κύριος  
Sense: he to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master, lord.
πολλὰ  heartily 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root: πολύς  
Sense: many, much, large.
Ἀκύλας  Aquila 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: Ἀκύλας  
Sense: a Jew of Pontus, a tent maker convert to Christ, companion and ally of Paul in propagating Christianity.
Πρίσκα  Prisca 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Feminine Singular
Root: Πρίσκα  
Sense: a Christian woman, the wife of Aquila.
κατ’  at 
Parse: Preposition
Root: κατά 
Sense: down from, through out.
οἶκον  house 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: οἶκος  
Sense: a house.
αὐτῶν  of  them 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
ἐκκλησίᾳ  church 
Parse: Noun, Dative Feminine Singular
Root: ἐκκλησία  
Sense: a gathering of citizens called out from their homes into some public place, an assembly.