1 Corinthians 16:9 Meaning and Explanation
“For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Paul stays in Ephesus because God has opened a wide and effective opportunity for ministry there, even though many oppose him.
What Does 1 Corinthians 16:9 Mean?
Paul gives his reason for remaining: 'a great door and effectual is opened.' The open door is his image for a God-given opportunity to preach and bear fruit. He stays because the work is ripe, even though, in the same breath, he names 'many adversaries.'
Strikingly, opposition does not signal that the door is closed; it accompanies the open door. Where the gospel advances, resistance often rises. Paul does not flee the conflict but plants himself in the opportunity, trusting the One who opened the way. Fruitful ministry and hardship can stand side by side, and faith presses on through both.
1 Corinthians 16:9 in the Original Language
thura (θύρα), 'door' -- an opened door pictures a God-given opportunity for the gospel.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Corinthians 16:9
What does 1 Corinthians 16:9 mean?
Paul stays in Ephesus because God has opened a wide and effective opportunity for ministry there, even though many oppose him.