Commentaries:
Robertson's Word Pictures (NT)
For a great and effectual door is opened unto me (qura gar moi anewgen megalh kai energhv). Second perfect active indicative of anoigw, to open. Intransitive, stands wide open at last after his years there (Acts 20:31). A wide open door. What does he mean by energhv? It is a late word in the Koin‚. In the papyri a medical receipt has it for "tolerably strong." The form energov in the papyri is used of a mill "in working order," of "tilled land," and of "wrought iron." In the N.T. it occurs in Philemon 1:6; Hebrews 4:12 of "the word of God" as "energhv" (powerful). Paul means that he has at least a great opportunity for work in Ephesus.
And there are many adversaries (kai antikeimenoi polloi). "And many are lying opposed to me," lined up against me. These Paul mentions as a reason for staying in, not for leaving, Ephesus. Read Acts 19 and see the opposition from Jews and Gentiles with the explosion under the lead of Demetrius. And yet Paul suddenly leaves. He hints of much of which we should like to know more (I Corinthians 15:32; II Corinthians 1:8 f.).
Other Robertson's Word Pictures (NT) entries containing 1 Corinthians 16:9:
Acts 14:27
Acts 20:18
2 Corinthians 2:12
Colossians 4:3
Philemon 1:6
Revelation 3:8
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