1 Corinthians 16

The Collection for Jerusalem

116 Now regarding your question about the money being collected for God's people in Jerusalem. You should follow the same procedure I gave to the churches in Galatia. 2On the first day of each week, you should each put aside a portion of the money you have earned. Don’t wait until I get there and then try to collect it all at once. 3When I come, I will write letters of recommendation for the messengers you choose to deliver your gift to Jerusalem. 4And if it seems appropriate for me to go along, they can travel with me.

Paul’s Final Instructions

51 am coming to visit you after 1 have been to Macedonia,* for I am planning to travel through Macedonia. 6Perhaps I will stay awhile with you, possibly all winter, and then you can send me on my way to my next destination. 7This time I don’t want to make just a short visit and then go right on. I want to come and stay awhile, if the LORD will let me. ®In the meantime, I will be staying here at Ephesus until the Festival of Pentecost. 9There is a wide-open door for a great work here, although many oppose me. 10When Timothy comes, don’t intimidate him. He is doing the LORD’s work, just as I am. 11Don’t let anyone treat him with contempt. Send him on his way with your blessing when he returns to me. I expect him to come with the other believers.* 12Now about our brother Apollos—I urged him to visit you with the other believers, but he was not willing to go right now. He will see you later when he has the opportunity. 13Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous.* Be strong. 4And do everything with love. 15You know that Stephanas and his household were the first of the harvest of believers in Greece,* and they are spending their lives in service to God's people. I urge you, dear brothers and sisters,* *6to submit to them and others like them who serve with such devotion. 171 am very glad that Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus have come here. They have been providing the help you weren't here to give me. 18They have been a wonderful encouragement to me, as they have been to you. You must show your appreciation to all who serve so well.

Paul's Final Greetings

1919The churches here in the province of Asia* send greetings in the LORD, as do Aquila and Priscilla* and all the others who gather in their home for church meetings. 20All the brothers and sisters here send greetings to you. Greet each other with Christian love.* 21HERE IS MY GREETING IN MY OWN HANDWRITING—PAUL. 22]f anyone does not love the LORD, that person is cursed. Our LORD, come!* 23May the grace of the LORD Jesus be with you. 24My love to all of you in Christ Jesus.* 16:5 Macedonia was in the northern region of Greece. 16:11 Greek with the brothers; also in 16:12. 16:13 Greek Be men. 16:15a Greek in Achaia, the southern region of the Greek peninsula. 16:15b Greek brothers; also in 16:20. 16:19a Asia was a Roman province in what is now western Turkey. 16:19b Greek Prisca, 16:20 Greek with a sacred kiss. 16:22 From Aramaic, Marana tha. Some manuscripts read Maran atha, ‘Our LORD has come. ”

16:10, 11 Paul was sending Timothy ahead to Corinth. Paulrespected Timothy and had worked closely with him (Philippians2:22: 1 Timothy 1:2). Although Timothy was young, Paul encour-aged the Corinthian church to welcome him because he was doingthe LORD’s work, God’s work is not limited by age. Paul wrote twopersonal letters to Timothy that have been preserved in the Bible(1 and 2 Timothy).16:12 Apollos, who had preached in Corinth, was doing evangelis-tic work in Greece (see Acts 18:24-28; 1 Corinthians 3:3ff). Apollosdidn’t go to Corinth right away, partly because he knew of thefactions there and didn’t want to cause any more divisions.16:13, 14 As the Corinthians awaited Paul’s next visit, they weredirected to: (1) be on guard. They were to be constantly watchful oralert for spiritual enemies that might slip in and threaten to destroythem whether it be divisions, pride, sin, disorder, or erroneous theol-ogy; (2) stand firm in what they believed—that is, the gospel thatthey had been taught in the beginning, the gospel that had droughtthem salvation; (3) be courageous so that they could stand againstfalse teachers, deal with sin in the congregation, and straighten outother problems; (4) be strong, with the strength given by the HolySpirit; and (5) do everything with love because without love, theywould be no more than prideful noisemakers. Today, as we waitfor the return of Christ, we should follow the same instructions.

Jesus (Romans 16:3-5). Many in the Corinthian church would haveknown this Christian couple. They are also mentioned in Acts18:18, 26; Romans 16:3; and 2 Timothy 4:19.16:21 Paul had a helper, or secretary, who wrote down this letterwhile he dictated. Paul wrote the final words, however, in his ownhandwriting. This is similar to adding a handwritten postscript(P.S.) to a typewritten letter. It also served to verify that this wasa genuine letter from the apostle and not a forgery.16:22 The LORD Jesus Christ is coming back to earth again.To Paul, this was a wonderful hope, the very best he could!ookforward to. He was not afraid of seeing Christ—he could hardlywait! Do you share Paul’s eager anticipation? Those who loveChrist are looking forward to that glorious time of his return (Titus2:13). To those who do not love the LORD, however, Paul says, Jetthem be cursed.16:24 The church at Corinth was a church in trouble. Paul lovinglyand forcefully confronted them and pointed them back to Christ.He dealt with divisions and conflicts, selfishness, inconsiderateuse of freedom, disorder in worship, misuse of spiritual gifts, andwrong attitudes about the resurrection.{n every church, there are problems that create tensions anddivisions. We should not ignore or gloss over problems in ourchurches or in our life. Instead, like Paul, we should deal withproblems head-on as they arise. The lesson for us in 1 Corinthi-ans is that unity and {ove in a church are far more important thanleaders and labels.