For they have refreshed my spirit and yours: therefore acknowledge ye them that are such.
Parallel translations
- WEB For they refreshed my spirit and yours. Therefore acknowledge those who are like that.
- BSB For they refreshed my spirit and yours as well. Show your appreciation, therefore, to such men.
- NKJV For they refreshed my spirit and yours. Therefore acknowledge such men.
- NASB For they have refreshed my spirit and yours. Therefore acknowledge such men.
- NLT They have been a wonderful encouragement to me, as they have been to you. You must show your appreciation to all who serve so well.
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
These visitors refreshed Paul's spirit and the Corinthians', so Paul tells the church to recognize such people. Encouragers deserve grateful acknowledgment.
Overview
To 'refresh the spirit' describes the genuine emotional and spiritual encouragement that faithful fellow believers provide (compare Philemon 7, 20). Paul instructs the church to give due recognition to those who serve in this quiet but vital way. The verse models the mutual upbuilding that marks the body of Christ, where members strengthen one another in love.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 14
- Phlm 1:7For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.
- 2 Cor 7:13Therefore we were comforted in your comfort: yea, and exceedingly the more joyed we for the joy of Titus, because his spirit was refreshed by you all.
- Rom 15:32That I may come unto you with joy by the will of God, and may with you be refreshed.
- Prov 25:13As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth the soul of his masters.
- Prov 25:25As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.
- 1 Th 5:12And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;
- Col 4:8Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that he might know your estate, and comfort your hearts;
- 1 Th 3:6–7But now when Timotheus came from you unto us, and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you:
- Phlm 1:20Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my bowels in the Lord.
- 3 Jn 1:4I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.
- 2 Cor 7:6–7Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus;
- 3 Jn 1:11–12Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.
- Heb 13:7Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.
- Phil 2:28–29I sent him therefore the more carefully, that, when ye see him again, ye may rejoice, and that I may be the less sorrowful.
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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 16:18 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.