Chapter Sixteen

Conclusion of the epistle: instructions, news, and greetings (1–24)

1 Corinthians 16:1. Now concerning the collection for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so do the same. 1 Corinthians 16:2. On the first day of every week, each of you is to set aside and save whatever he can, according to his means, so that collections need not be made when I come. 1 Corinthians 16:3. And when I arrive, I will send those whom you approve with letters to carry your gift to Jerusalem. 1 Corinthians 16:4. And if it is fitting for me to go also, they will go with me. The Apostle gives instructions about gathering donations for the Jerusalem Christians. “The collection for the saints” or the Christians of Jerusalem (possibly the Apostle here calls the Jerusalem Christians simply “saints” in view of the special significance held by the Jerusalem Church among the other churches; cf. 2 Cor 8:4) was organized because the Jerusalem Christians were more in need of assistance than others. It is well known that for those who have turned away from the faith of their fathers — and such were the disciples of Christ in Jerusalem — life is always difficult, work is hard to come by (cf. Jas 2:6). And since at the apostolic council Paul had given his word to care for the poor Jerusalem Christians (Gal 2:10; Acts 11:27-30), he considered it his duty to encourage the Corinthians to gather donations for the poor Christians of Jerusalem. — “On the first day of the week,” that is, on each first day after the completion of a week, or after the Sabbath. This was Sunday, the Lord’s Day. This shows that this day was observed even in the time of the Apostles (cf. Acts 20:7). — “With letters,” that is, with a letter of recommendation to Jerusalem (the plural επιστολαί has the meaning of the Latin litterae = letter). “If it is fitting.” The Apostle probably has in mind the amount of the donations. If the donations are very large, perhaps his personal participation in their distribution will be needed.

1 Corinthians 16:5. I will come to you after passing through Macedonia, for I am going through Macedonia. 1 Corinthians 16:6. I may spend some time with you, or even winter over, so that you may send me on my way, wherever I am going. 1 Corinthians 16:7. For I do not wish to see you just in passing; I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits. 1 Corinthians 16:8. But I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost, 1 Corinthians 16:9. for a wide and effective door has opened for me, and there are many opponents. The Apostle intends to visit Corinth after passing through Macedonia and to stay in Corinth for a long time. For the present, however, he must remain in Ephesus until Pentecost. — “I am going through Macedonia,” that is, I intend to go... — “Send me on my way,” that is, prepare for me and my companions everything necessary for the journey. — The Apostle wrote the epistle around Passover of 57 AD. He planned to spend a few more weeks in Ephesus, the summer in Macedonia, and from there go to Corinth in the autumn and winter there in 57–58 AD. But certain circumstances forced him to change his plan, and these circumstances were apparently of a very serious nature (cf. 2 Cor 2:1-4). — “Door,” that is, an opportunity to spread the Gospel has opened. — “And there are many opponents.” This circumstance compels the Apostle to continue his stay in Ephesus. He must contend with those who were placing obstacles in the way of the Gospel, and overcome them.

1 Corinthians 16:10. Now if Timothy comes, see that he is with you without fear; for he is doing the work of the Lord, just as I am. 1 Corinthians 16:11. So let no one despise him. Send him on his way in peace, so that he may come to me, for I am waiting for him with the brothers. 1 Corinthians 16:12. Now concerning our brother Apollos, I strongly urged him to visit you with the brothers; but it was not at all his will to come now, and he will come when he has the opportunity. Before the Apostle’s arrival in Corinth, Timothy may arrive there. The Apostle asks the Corinthians to receive him and send him off properly. As for Apollos, he did not want to go to Corinth at this time and will come later. The Apostle fears that the Corinthians may disregard what Timothy will say to them: he must have seemed to them too young to act as a guide for the Church (cf. 1 Tim 4:12). — “I am waiting for him with the brothers.” The delegates sent by the Corinthian Church to Paul had not yet left him at this time and were waiting to hear what Timothy would say about the mood of the Corinthians (v. 17). — “Now concerning our brother Apollos...” Given the existence of a party of Apollos in Corinth, the Apostle considers it necessary to say that he is not at all holding Apollos back, as though he feared the strengthening of his party upon his arrival in Corinth. Apollos himself did not want to go there, not wishing to give cause for anyone to think him seeking popularity at the expense of Paul’s influence. — “With the brothers,” that is, with the Christians sent by the Corinthian Church.

1 Corinthians 16:13. Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, be courageous, be strong. 1 Corinthians 16:14. Let all that you do be done in love. 1 Corinthians 16:15. I urge you, brothers — you know the household of Stephanas, that they are the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they devoted themselves to the service of the saints — 1 Corinthians 16:16. be subject also to such people, and to every fellow worker and laborer. 1 Corinthians 16:17. I am glad at the arrival of Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus, for they have made up for your absence from me, 1 Corinthians 16:18. for they refreshed both my spirit and yours. Give recognition to such people. The Apostle here gives several instructions of a general and particular character. — “The household of Stephanas” — see 1 Cor 1:16. — “The firstfruits of Achaia” — that is, baptized by Paul himself at the very beginning of his entry onto the soil of Achaia or Greece. — “Fellow worker,” that is, one who helps such workers as Stephanas. — “Laborer” (κοπιᾶν) — points to heavy toil (cf. Gal 4:11; Rom 16:6). — “They refreshed both my spirit and yours.” They dispelled the misunderstandings that the Apostle had regarding the Corinthians, explained to him the behavior of the Corinthians which had troubled the Apostle Paul. In addition, the Apostle already sees how, upon their arrival in Corinth, they will refresh the Corinthians as well with their reports about the Apostle Paul and his attitude toward the Corinthians.

1 Corinthians 16:19. The churches of Asia greet you. Aquila and Priscilla greet you warmly in the Lord, along with the church that meets in their house. 1 Corinthians 16:20. All the brothers greet you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. 1 Corinthians 16:21. The greeting is in my own hand — Paul’s. 1 Corinthians 16:22. If anyone does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be anathema. Maran atha. 1 Corinthians 16:23. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you, 1 Corinthians 16:24. and my love be with all of you in Christ Jesus. Amen. First come greetings from the Asian churches, and then separately greetings from Aquila and Priscilla together with those who gathered at their house for worship. Then follows a greeting from the whole Church and from the Apostle Paul. — Asia, that is, proconsular Asia, which encompassed the south-western part of Asia Minor. — “Aquila and Priscilla” — see Rom 16:3. — “In my own hand.” The Apostle only signed his epistles, while they were written out under his dictation by a copyist (cf. Rom 16:22). — “If anyone does not love.” Such people could be found among the Corinthian Christians (cf. 1 Cor 12:3). — “Anathema” — see 1 Cor 12:3. — “Maran atha.” This is an expression of the Aramaic language, which was spoken at that time in Palestine. It means: “Come, our Lord!” (Marana tha!) Why the Apostle adds this expression is difficult to say. — “My love be with all of you.” These words the Apostle added in order to show the Corinthians, whom he had so sharply rebuked in the epistle, that he still loves them.