First Corinthians 16:1-24

Paul finishes up this letter to the Corinthian church of holy-people with more details regarding how they were to behave themselves, including information about his own travels, greetings, etc.

I Corinthians 16:1-4:

^16:1But concerning the collection, the (collection) for the holy-people, wholly-as I throughly-arranged the churches of Galatia, thus also you must do: ^.2according to (day-)one of the sabbath(-week) each of you must put with himself treasuring that-which if-ever he may be prospered something, in order that whenever I may come then collections may not come-to-pass, ^.3but whenever I may arrive, whom you approve, by means of letters these-people I will send to carry-away your grace into Jerusalem, ^.4but if-ever it may be worthy of me also to journey, they will journey together with me.

Concerning the collection (the picking-out or accounting of physical items) for the holy-people (the sanctified-people, Christians, saints, children of the only true God) to whom the Corinthian holy-people wanted to give what they collect to help them in the physical category at that time, Paul tells them that wholly-as he arranged through and through (put fully in order) throughout the churches located in Galatia, it is in this manner also that emphatically they were to do (perform) it.

During the first day of each week which is Sunday, the day when the holy-people used to meet in Paul's day (because the sabbath day was a Saturday, the seventh day, the Judean rest-day ending at sunset), each one of them must put (place) at rest with/beside himself treasuring (storing-up, laying in store) in the central location whatever he may presently be prospered (being led having a good-journey, a way that is well) as he proceeded during the previous week. Why do it this way? For the purpose and result that the entire church collection did not happen at the time when Paul arrived there (when he became beside them). They were to do this themselves on a weekly basis so that it was ready when the right time came to give it to the other holy-people.

Paul writes: at whatever time I arrive in Corinth, through letters (of authentication from myself) I will send those-people whom you Corinthian holy-people will have already proved by testing or examination and thus have approved to perform this responsibility of carrying-away (bearing, bringing from you to others) your grace (your unmerited, undeserved favor) into Jerusalem (the location of the holy-people's "headquarters" at that time) to the holy-people living there.

He refers to what they collect for the other holy-people as their grace. Grace is what is freely bestowed without any merit on the recipient's part; it includes reference to the attitude and quality of the one giving something favorable to another. What they collected to give to the Jerusalem holy-people was freely and willingly given on their part, and not given as a wage or a corresponding-reward for something the recipients had or had-not done.

And Paul adds: if it should be worthy (of equal-value, like-worth) and thus deserving for myself also to journey (pass from one place to another) to Jerusalem, then they will journey in conjunction with me.

[Reference: Acts 11:29, 20:7; II Corinthians chapters 8 and 9.]

Verses 5-9:

^.5But I will come towards you whenever I may come-through Macedonia, for I come-through Macedonia; ^.6having attained, I will remain-alongside with you, or I will winter-alongside, in order that you may send me forward where if-ever I may journey, ^.7for I do not intend now to see you in passing-by for I hope to remain-on (for) some time with you if-ever the Lord may permit; ^.8but I will remain-on in Ephesus until Pentecost ^.9for a great and in-working door opened² to me, also (there are) many-people adversarying.

I will go towards you Corinthian holy-people at whatever time I go/pass through Macedonia, for I presently purpose to go through there. And, when I will have attained (obtained as hitting the target with an arrow), I will stay beside or along with you for a while, or I will spend the winter (the time for stormy weather) with you, for the purpose and result that emphatically you will send me on my way with provisions wherever it may be that I will journey after that time. In truth, I do not intend/will now to see (actually perceive) you while I am passing that way beside you for I look-forward to the future time of staying-on a longer length of chronological time with you, if it should happen that the Lord will permit me (allow it to be my turn) to do so.

But I will continue staying in Ephesus until the time of Pentecost. Why stay here for a while? In truth, a door (metaphorically referring to access, opportunity, admission), great and in-working (the door is adjectively described as: large and energizing, effective, work is being wrought within, productive), actively opened and is still open to/for me to teach the good-message to people. Even so, there are a lot of people who are adversarying (opposing, figuratively putting themselves in the position of lying against the door attempting to block the access I have).

Pentecost was an important feast of the children of Israel, and it also became the day when the gift of holy spirit was first shed-forth (Acts 2:1-4). The word "Pentecost" is taken from the Greek word meaning "fiftieth" because it was celebrated on the fiftieth day from the day after the weekly sabbath during their Passover/Unleavened-bread feast. Pentecost is sometimes called the "Feast of Harvest" or the "Day of the First-fruits" or the "Feast of Weeks." (Exodus 23:16; Leviticus 23:15-22; Numbers 28:26-31; Deuteronomy 16:9-12; and Acts 2:1-4.)

[Reference: Acts 14:27, 19:1-20:3; II Corinthians 1:15-2:13; Philippians 1:28.]

Verses 10 and 11:

^.10But if-ever Timothy may come you must observe in order that he may fearlessly become towards you for he works the Lord's work as I; ^.11therefore let not someone despise him, but you must send him forward in peace in order that he may come towards me for I wait-for him with the brothers.

But should Timothy go to you, then you must observe (be mentally-aware and contemplate, even though you may not physically see anything with your physical eyes) for the purpose and result that he will come to pass to be without fear towards/with you, because in truth he presently works the work of the Lord Jesus Christ, just as I am at work with the Lord's work. Therefore, there should not be anybody who would think nothing of him (treat him with contempt, set him as naught), but all of you Corinthian holy-people must send him forward on his journey within peace (tranquil-harmony without strife) for the purpose and result that he will go towards me for I presently wait-for him (as willingly reaching out from myself to receive him, accept him) in company and association with the brothers, the other holy-people here with me.

[Reference: Acts 16:1-3, and 19:22; Romans 16:21; I Corinthians 4:17; II Corinthians 1:1; Philippians 2:19-23; I Thessalonians 3:2; I Timothy 4:12.]

Verse 12:

^.12But concerning Apollos, the brother, I encouraged him many-things in order that he may come towards you with the brothers, and it altogether was not (his) intention in order that now he may come, but he will come whenever he may have-good-time.

Concerning Apollos who is the brother of all of you (Paul points out that Apollos is their brother in Christ because he also had received the same holy spirit) I encouraged him with many things (I exhorted him, I called him beside myself as a concerned father or mother would call their children close to them under their arms so as to help them to do what is right) for the purpose and result that he would go to you in company and association with the brothers, and it was not at all his intention (not his will, not his active volition and desire) that he would go to you at the present time, but he will go to you at whatever time he will have a good opportunity (a specific occasion that would be well with him) to do so.

[Reference: Acts 18:24-19:1; I Corinthians 1:12, and 3:4-11.]

Verses 13 and 14:

^.13You must wakefully-watch; you must stand-firm in the belief; you must render yourselves as adult-males; you must be strong; ^.14all your things must come-to-pass in love¹.

Paul continues to teach the holy-people how they should walk (behave, conduct themselves) during the everyday living of their lives while they all await Christ's coming to be present to gather all of the church of holy-people together with him.

You must wakefully-watch (be watchful, keep awake; figuratively: have your eyes open and be spiritually alert and sensitive to what God wants you to know and do, no matter what way He communicates His will to you);
you must stand-firm (stand fast as opposed to falling) within the belief (what God has given you to believe regarding Himself and His son, the Lord Jesus Christ, the gift of holy spirit, resurrection, etc – all of the good-message);
you must render yourselves as adult-males (behave yourselves as grown men walking according to what God says);
you must be strong (cause yourselves to exert force or powerful strength doing the will of the Lord);
all your things must come-to-pass in love¹ (everything that you do, all the things that proceed-from you as you live your lives, must become, happen, occur within the sphere of action of the love that proceeds-from God Who is its source and which you can and ought to manifest).

[Reference: I Corinthians chapter 13; Galatians 5:6(b); Colossians 4:2; I Thessalonians 5:6; I John 4:7-5:5.]

Verses 15-18:

^.15But I encourage you, brothers – you knew² the house of Stephanas that it is a first-fruits-offering of Asia and they arranged themselves into (the) ministry to the holy-people – ^.16in order that also you may subject-yourselves to the people-of-this-kind and to every-person working-together with and laboring (with them); ^.17but I joy on the presence of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus because these-people filled-up your lack, ^.18for they rested-up my spirit, and your (spirit), therefore you must fully-know the people-of-this-kind.

I encourage you (exhort you, as verse 12 above), brothers (again reminding you that you have the same holy spirit-life as I do, and thus we are all children of the only true God Who is our Father) – you know (perceive) Stephanas' house (figuratively referring to the household of holy-people living there) that it presently is an offering of first-fruits of Asia (they are the beginning-portion of people who received holy spirit-life in that particular area) and these people have actively arranged themselves (put themselves in order) into, with a view to, directed to the ministry to the holy-people (the day-to-day ministerial duties or functions of serving other Christians to benefit them, not 'being-subject' to them but doing work to bring them profit)….

Having mentioned Stephanas' house, now Paul continues with his encouragement which explains why he mentioned them: I encourage you, brothers, for the purpose and result that you would subject yourselves to the people of this kind (cause yourselves to submit to, be in subjection to, arrange yourselves under the holy-people of this sort) and to subject yourselves to everyone being at work in conjunction with them and exerting wearisome effort (toiling) with them as they minister to other holy-people.

But I rejoice based-on the coming to be present (the arrival, coming and being present) of Stephanas himself and Fortunatus and Achaicus because these men filled-up (as filling-up a chasm or container to the brim with something) the measure of that-which was wanting (deficient, falls-short, being behind others) on your part towards me – in other words, you are not here with me to be able to fill it up.

In truth, these three holy-people actively caused my spirit (referring figuratively to my whole being of holy spirit-life, soul/breath-life and my fleshy body, not just the one part my being), yes emphatically mine, to be refreshed (as pausing, temporarily stopping or ceasing from extraneous labor, and so to become rested-up and be refreshed), and yours too by their activities. Following on logically from this, you must presently and actively fully-know (have clear and exact personal knowledge thus acknowledging) the people of this sort.

[Reference: I Corinthians 1:16; II Corinthians 7:13.]

Verses 19 and 20:

^.19Aquila and Prisca greet you much in (the) Lord together with the church according to their house; ^.20all the brothers greet you. You must greet one-another in a holy kiss.

Paul writes that Aquila and Prisca, who were husband and wife, sent many greetings (salutations) in the Lord, in conjunction with the church of holy-people who gathered-together in their house for their meetings, to the Corinthian church of holy-people. And, all the brothers (those who also had the same holy spirit-life within them) in the area where Paul was when writing this letter sent their greetings via this letter too.

Next, Paul writes that the Corinthian holy-people themselves must greet (draw to themselves, salute) one-another in a holy kiss (a sanctified love-token, the considerate expression of their Godly-love for one-another within the sphere of action of the brotherly or friendly kind of love) – as holy-people, Christians, children of God because each one of them had the same holy spirit-life within them. In some cultures today the literal act of kissing another may not be acceptable - but what Paul wanted them to do (which is applicable to all holy-people today also) was to greet one-another with loving respectful consideration and affection as is fitting of brothers and sisters in Christ being children of God.

[Reference: Acts 18:1-3, 18, and 26; Romans 16:3, and 16; II Corinthians 13:12; I Thessalonians 5:26; II Timothy 4:19.]

Verse 21:

^.21The greeting of Paul with my hand.

Paul specifically marks the end of this letter with his own hand-writing showing definitely that this is his greeting with his (the word "my" is emphasized) hand, thus authenticating that this is a letter from Paul, the apostle, and not from somebody else who may have wanted to deceive the Corinthian church. Even though the bulk of some of Paul's letters may have physically been written by his assistant, the words which were written are words which Paul spoke receiving them by revelation from God and/or the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul's own hand-written indication at the end of the letter was his safeguard against the Corinthian church being misled by a counterfeit letter.

[Reference: Romans 16:22; Galatians 6:11; Colossians 4:18; II Thessalonians 3:17; Philemon 19.]

Verse 22:

^.22If someone does not love the Lord he must be a cursed-offering. Lord – come!

Now, Paul gives a sobering instruction: if someone does not presently and actively love (this is the brotherly or friendly kind of love, as is to be demonstrated during the holy-people's greetings of one-another) the Lord Jesus Christ, then that person must be a cursed offering (an accursed thing, an offering set-aside for destruction being devoted to a "god"; refer to Leviticus 27:28 and Joshua chapter 7).

Paul is not saying that the holy-people are causing that person to be a cursed-offering, but that that-person who does not love the Lord Jesus Christ has set himself aside from the Lord by refusing to be friendly towards him in the walk/behavior category during the everyday living of his life. If someone is not loving towards the Lord that-person is not loving the promised hope which is the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ when he will gather all holy-people together with him in the air, and carry-out what God tells him to do at that future time.

"Lord – come!"

In contrast to not loving the Lord, Paul expresses his personal belief and desire: that the Lord Jesus Christ is his Lord/Master, and that he desired the coming-to-pass of the definite hope promised by the Lord Jesus Christ and by God our Father.

In the Greek texts, these words are written in Greek letters spelling words in the Hebrew (Aramaic or Syro Chaldaic) language known and spoken by those who knew the old covenant writings. It conveyed to those who understood it a greater emphasis on the truth of what the words literally mean – it emphasizes their acknowledgement of their Lord (their Master – the Lord Jesus Christ) and their acknowledgement of their promised hope which is his coming to be present with them (when he will come to gather all of the church of holy-people together with him, etc, as previously explained by Paul in chapter 15 of this letter).

No matter what anybody does or does-not do – the Lord Jesus Christ comes!

[Reference: Acts 23:14; Romans 9:3; I Corinthians 12:3; I Corinthians chapter 15, Galatians 1:8 and 9; I Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 22:20.]

Verses 23 and 24:

^.23(May) the grace of the Lord Jesus (be) with you. ^.24My love¹ (is) with all of you in Christ Jesus.

Paul's opening address to the Corinthian church included grace, and now as he closes this letter he prays: may the grace (the unmerited or undeserved favor) proceeding-from the Lord Jesus (our Master) be in company and association with you during the everyday living of your lives.

And finally, Paul reassures the Corinthian holy-people that his love¹ is in company and association with all of them in Christ Jesus, even though he is not physically with them at this time. The word "love¹" comes from the Greek word agape which is God's kind of love (refer to I Corinthians chapter 13). He was manifesting God's love towards them within the resurrected Christ Jesus – their Lord and his Lord – for they all were "in Christ Jesus" referring to the truth that they had believed what God has given mankind to believe regarding Himself and His son, the Lord Jesus Christ, and thus these people had received God's gift of holy spirit which is the spirit of Christ within each one of them. They were all children of God and brothers of one-another being limbs of the one spiritual body of Christ.

[Note: verbs with a superscript 2 (²) immediately following them indicate the "perfect" tense - details are provided in the "Relevant Notes" link of this study.]

How wonderful it is that we have the privilege of being able to read Paul's teaching in this letter to the Corinthian church of holy-people, and that we are able to learn from it also.

"Lord – come!"

Study of II Corinthians