King James Version places most of this verse and 16a in parentheses so that the main sentence reads “I beseech you, brethren … that ye submit yourselves….” This interpretation is the basis of Good News Bible and other common language translations, which begin verse 15 with the words that King James Version places in parentheses. They then place the words “I beg you, my brothers” at the end of this verse. The alternative is to take the opening words of verse 15 as an unfinished sentence, as “I have a request to make of you, my brothers” (New English Bible), continued in verse 16 with a direct imperative, “be subject to such men.” The difference in meaning between these two alternatives is slight. Revised English Bible has “One thing more, my friends. You know that the Stephanas family were the first converts in Achaia… 16 I urge you to accept the leadership of people like them….”
You know that the household of Stephanas: Good News Bible makes it clear that Stephanas is included in the household: “Stephanas and his family.” On Stephanas, see 1.16. The word translated household or “family” could mean either a house, as in 11.22, or the people who lived in it. This would generally be a family, but sometimes someone’s servants also lived in the house and were considered part of the household (see Phil 4.22).
The first converts: the Greek is literally “the first fruits.” The addition of the word “Christian” (Good News Bible) is helpful in translating this phrase.
Achaia was a province of the Roman empire (see also comment on 1 Cor. 16.5).
Devoted themselves: the Greek is literally “appointed themselves,” that is, they saw a need and took upon themselves the responsibility of meeting it.
Saints means “God’s people” (Good News Bible).
The clause devoted themselves to … of the saints may be rendered as “used all of their energies to work on behalf of God’s people.”
Quoted with permission from Ellingworth, Paul and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians, 2nd edition. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1985/1994. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .