VIII: Final Recommendations and Greetings[a]
Chapter 16
The Collection. 1 Now in regard to the collection for the saints,[b] you should follow the instructions I gave to the churches of Galatia. 2 On the first day of every week,[c] each of you should set aside and save whatever you can spare, so that when I come to you, no collections will have to be taken. 3 And when I arrive, I shall send those who have been approved by you with letters of recommendation to deliver your gift to Jerusalem. 4 If it seems advisable that I should also go, they will accompany me.
Paul’s Plans. 5 I shall come to visit you after passing through Macedonia—for I am going to pass through Macedonia. 6 I may stay for some time with you, perhaps even for the entire winter, and then you can send me forth on my journey, wherever I may be going. 7 I do not want to see you now in passing. If the Lord permits, I hope to spend some time with you. 8 However, I will remain in Ephesus until Pentecost, 9 because a wide door for productive work has been opened for me, although there are also many adversaries to face.
10 News of Other Missionaries. If Timothy comes, put him at ease, for he is doing the work of the Lord just as I am. 11 Therefore, let no one treat him with disdain. Rather, send him on his way in peace when he leaves you to come to me, for the brethren and I are expecting him.
12 As for our brother Apollos, I urged him strongly to visit you with the others, but he was determined not to go at this particular time. He will come to you when he has the opportunity.
13 Keep alert; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. 14 Everything that you do should be done in love.
15 As you know, brethren, the members of the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints. 16 I urge you to put yourselves at the service of such people and of all those who work and toil with them.
17 I was delighted at the arrival of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus, because they have made up for your absence. 18 For they have raised my spirits as well as yours. Such men deserve recognition.
19 Salutations and Best Wishes. The Churches of Asia send you greetings. Aquila and Prisca greet you warmly in the Lord, together with the Church that meets in their house. 20 All the brethren send their greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss.
21 I, Paul, have written this greeting with my own hand. 22 If anyone does not love the Lord, let him be accursed.[d] O Lord, come! 23 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. 24 My love to you all in Christ Jesus.
Footnotes
- 1 Corinthians 16:1 The collection for the Church of Jerusalem—the “saints”—had an important place in Paul’s outlook, because it was a sign of communion between the Churches that originated in the Gentile world and the mother Church that had grown up at the heart of Judaism (see Acts 24:17; Rom 15:25-26; 2 Cor 8–9; Gal 2:10).
- 1 Corinthians 16:1 The saints in Jerusalem were obviously in dire need—possibly as a result of the famine recorded in Acts 11:28 (about A.D. 44 or 46) or the persecution to which they were subjected (Acts 8:1).
- 1 Corinthians 16:2 On the first day of every week: i.e., Sunday, the Lord’s Day (see Acts 20:7; Rev 1:10). Each of you should set aside: each Sunday Christians were to bring what they had set aside for the Lord’s work. It was then probably collected at the worship service. Justin Martyr indicates in his Apology (1:67-68) that during his day (c. A.D. 150) offerings were brought to the altar on Sundays.
- 1 Corinthians 16:22 Accursed: = “anathema,” separated from the community. O Lord, come!: in Aramaic Marana tha: a liturgical acclamation in the Aramaic-speaking communities of Palestine.