1 Corinthians 16
16
An Offering for Believers in Jerusalem
1Now, concerning the collection I want you to take for God’s holy believers in Jerusalem who are in need, # 16:1 Although it is implied here, it is made explicit in v. 3 that the offering was for those in Jerusalem. I want you to follow the same instructions I gave the churches of Galatia. # 16:1 Galatia is a region of the Anatolia province of central Turkey. 2Every Sunday, each of you make a generous offering by taking a portion of whatever God has blessed you with and place it in safekeeping. Then I won’t have to make a special appeal when I come. 3When I arrive, I will send your gift to the poor in Jerusalem along with a letter of explanation, carried by those whom you approve. 4If it seems advisable for me to accompany them, I’ll be glad to have them travel with me.
Paul’s Plans to Visit Corinth
5I plan to be traveling through Macedonia, and afterward I will visit you 6and perhaps stay there for a while, or even spend the winter with you. Afterward you can send me on my journey, wherever I go next, with your financial support. 7For it’s not my desire to just see you in passing, but I would like to spend some time with you if the Lord permits. 8Regardless, I will remain in Ephesus until the feast of Pentecost. 9There’s an amazing door of opportunity standing wide open for me to minister here, even though there are many who oppose and stand against me. # 16:9 See Acts 19.
10When Timothy arrives, make sure that he feels at home while he’s with you, for he’s advancing the Lord’s work just as I am. 11Don’t let anyone disparage or look down on him, but kindly help him on his way with financial support so that he may come back to me, for I am waiting for him and the brothers to return.
12Now, about our brother Apollos. I’ve tried hard to convince him to come visit you with the other brothers, # 16:12 The other brothers may have been those who carried the letter from the Corinthians to Paul, Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus (1 Cor. 16:17). but it’s simply not the right time for him now. But don’t worry, he’ll come when he has the opportunity.
Paul’s Final Instructions and Greetings
13Remember to stay alert and hold firmly to all that you believe. Be mighty and full of courage. 14Let love and kindness be the motivation behind all that you do. 15Dear brothers and sisters, I have a request to make of you. Give special recognition to Stephanas and his family, for they were the first converts in Achaia, # 16:15 At the time Paul wrote to the Corinthians, Achaia was a Roman province in southern Greece. and they have fully devoted themselves to serve God’s holy people. # 16:15 Whenever we minister to God’s people, we are ministering to the Lord. See Matt. 25:34–46. 16I urge you to honor and support them, and all those like them who work so diligently for the Lord.
17I was delighted when Stephanas, # 16:17 Stephanas means “crowned.” Some believe that he was the Philippian jailor who, along with his household, became the first believers in Philippi. Fortunatus, # 16:17 Fortunatus means “blessed.” He is recognized in the Orthodox Church as one of the seventy disciples sent out by Jesus as an apostle. and Achaicus # 16:17 Achaicus means “a native of Achaia.” He is recognized in church history as one of the seventy disciples sent out by Jesus as an apostle. arrived, for they’ve made up for your absence. 18They have refreshed my spirit in the same way they’ve refreshed yours. Be sure to honor people like this.
19All the churches of western Turkey # 16:19 Or “[the Roman province] of Asia.” send their loving greetings to you. Aquila and Prisca # 16:19 Prisca was a diminutive form of Priscilla (“long life”). She and her husband, Aquila (“eagle”), were tentmakers like Paul. They were not only business partners but partners with him in ministry. See Acts 18:2, 18, 26; 2 Tim. 4:19. greet you warmly in the Lord with those of their house church. 20All of your fellow believers here in Ephesus send their greetings. Greet one another with a sacred kiss. # 16:20 What makes a kiss holy is that it comes from the love of God. See Song. 1:2.
21In my own handwriting, I, Paul, add my loving greeting.
22If anyone doesn’t sincerely love the Lord, he deserves to be doomed as an outcast. # 16:22 Or “accursed.” Our Lord has come! # 16:22 Or “Maranatha!” This is an Aramaic word that can be translated in two ways, “Come, our Lord” or “Our Lord has come.” 23May the grace and favor of our Lord Jesus be with you. 24I send my love to all who are joined in the life of Jesus, the Anointed One.
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1 Corinthians 16: TPT
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Learn More About The Passion Translation1 Corinthians 16
16
The Collection.#This paragraph contains our earliest evidence for a project that became a major undertaking of Paul’s ministry. The collection for the church at Jerusalem was a symbol in his mind for the unity of Jewish and Gentile Christianity. Cf. Gal 2:10; Rom 15:25–29; 2 Cor 8–9 and the notes to this last passage. 1Now in regard to the collection#In regard to the collection: it has already begun in Galatia and Macedonia (cf. 2 Cor 8), and presumably he has already instructed the Corinthians about its purpose. for the holy ones, you also should do as I ordered the churches of Galatia.#Acts 24:17; Rom 15:25–32; 2 Cor 8–9; Gal 2:10. 2On the first day of the week each of you should set aside and save whatever he can afford, so that collections will not be going on when I come. 3And when I arrive, I shall send those whom you have approved with letters of recommendation to take your gracious gift to Jerusalem. 4If it seems fitting that I should go also,#That I should go also: presumably Paul delivered the collection on his final visit to Jerusalem; cf. Rom 15:25–32; Acts 24:14. they will go with me.
Paul’s Travel Plans.#The travel plans outlined here may not have materialized precisely as Paul intended; cf. 2 Cor 1:8–2:13; 7:4–16. 5I shall come to you after I pass through Macedonia (for I am going to pass through Macedonia),#Acts 19:21; Rom 15:26; 2 Cor 1:15–16. 6and perhaps I shall stay or even spend the winter with you, so that you may send me on my way wherever I may go. 7For I do not wish to see you now just in passing, but I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits.#Acts 18:21. 8#In Ephesus until Pentecost: this tells us the place from which he wrote the letter and suggests he may have composed it about Easter time (cf. 1 Cor 5:7–8). I shall stay in Ephesus#15:32; Acts 18:19; 19:1–10. until Pentecost, 9because a door has opened for me wide and productive for work, but there are many opponents.#Acts 14:27; 2 Cor 2:12.
10If Timothy comes, see that he is without fear in your company, for he is doing the work of the Lord just as I am.#4:17; Acts 16:1; 19:22; Phil 2:19–23. 11Therefore, no one should disdain him. Rather, send him on his way in peace that he may come to me, for I am expecting him with the brothers. 12Now in regard to our brother Apollos, I urged him strongly to go to you with the brothers, but it was not at all his will that he go now. He will go when he has an opportunity.#1:12; 3:4–6, 22; Acts 18:24–28.
Exhortation and Greetings. 13Be on your guard, stand firm in the faith, be courageous, be strong. 14Your every act should be done with love.
15I urge you, brothers—you know that the household of Stephanas#1:16. is the firstfruits of Achaia and that they have devoted themselves to the service of the holy ones— 16be subordinate to such people and to everyone who works and toils with them. 17I rejoice in the arrival of Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus, because they made up for your absence, 18for they refreshed my spirit as well as yours. So give recognition to such people.#1 Thes 5:12–13.
19#These paragraphs conform to the normal epistolary conclusion, but their language is overlaid with liturgical coloration as well. The greetings of the Asian churches are probably to be read, along with the letter, in the liturgy at Corinth, and the union of the church is to be expressed by a holy kiss (1 Cor 16:19–20). Paul adds to this his own greeting (1 Cor 16:21) and blessings (1 Cor 16:23–24). The churches of Asia send you greetings. Aquila and Prisca together with the church at their house send you many greetings in the Lord.#Acts 18:2, 18, 26; Rom 16:3–5. 20All the brothers greet you. Greet one another with a holy kiss.#Rom 16:16; 2 Cor 13:12; 1 Thes 5:26; 1 Pt 5:14.
21I, Paul, write you this greeting in my own hand.#Gal 6:11; Col 4:18; 2 Thes 3:17. 22If anyone does not love the Lord, let him be accursed.#Accursed: literally, “anathema.” This expression (cf. 1 Cor 12:3) is a formula for exclusion from the community; it may imply here a call to self-examination before celebration of the Eucharist, in preparation for the Lord’s coming and judgment (cf. 1 Cor 11:17–34). Marana tha: an Aramaic expression, probably used in the early Christian liturgy. As understood here (“O Lord, come!”), it is a prayer for the early return of Christ. If the Aramaic words are divided differently (Maran atha, “Our Lord has come”), it becomes a credal declaration. The former interpretation is supported by what appears to be a Greek equivalent of this acclamation in Rev 22:20 “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!” Marana tha.#12:3; Rom 9:3; Gal 1:8–9; Rev 22:20. 23The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you.#Rom 16:20. 24My love to all of you in Christ Jesus.
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