I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus; for that which was lacking on your part, they supplied.
Parallel translations
- KJV I am glad of the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus: for that which was lacking on your part they have supplied.
- BSB I am glad that Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus have arrived, because they have supplied what was lacking from you.
- NKJV I am glad about the coming of Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus, for what was lacking on your part they supplied.
- NASB I rejoice over the coming of Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus, because they have supplied what was lacking on your part.
- NLT I am very glad that Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus have come here. They have been providing the help you weren’t here to give me.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Paul rejoices that Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus came to him and made up for the Corinthians' absence. Their visit brought real comfort and connection.
Overview
These three men likely carried the Corinthians' letter to Paul (see 7:1) and represented the church in person. What was 'lacking' was not a fault but simply the Corinthians' inability to be present with Paul themselves, which these messengers supplied. The verse highlights how individual believers, by their faithful errands and presence, knit churches together in the fellowship of the gospel.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 3
- 2 Cor 11:9When I was present with you and was in need, I wasn’t a burden on anyone, for the brothers, when they came from Macedonia, supplied the measure of my need. In everything I kept myself from being burdensome to you, and I will continue to do so.
- Phil 2:30because for the work of Christ he came near to death, risking his life to supply that which was lacking in your service toward me.
- Phlm 1:13whom I desired to keep with me, that on your behalf he might serve me in my chains for the Good News.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Christ crucified is the wisdom and power of God; he is our Passover sacrificed for us, the firstfruits of resurrection, the foundation on which everything is built.
How 1 Corinthians 16:17 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.