1 Corinthians 16
Easy-to-Read Version
The Collection for Believers in Judea
16 Now, about the collection of money for God’s people: Do the same as I told the Galatian churches to do. 2 On the first day of every week, each of you should take some of your money and put it in a special place. Save up as much as you can from what you are blessed with. Then you will not have to gather it all after I come. 3 When I arrive, I will send some men to take your gift to Jerusalem. These will be the ones you all agree should go. I will send them with letters of introduction. 4 If it seems good for me to go too, we can all travel together.
Paul’s Plans
5 I plan to go through Macedonia, so I will come to you after that. 6 Maybe I will stay with you for a time. I might even stay all winter. Then you can help me on my trip, wherever I go. 7 I don’t want to come see you now, because I would have to leave to go to other places. I hope to stay a longer time with you, if the Lord allows it. 8 But I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost. 9 I will stay here, because a good opportunity for a great and growing work has been given to me now. And there are many people working against it.
10 Timothy might come to you. Try to make him feel comfortable with you. He is working for the Lord the same as I am. 11 So none of you should refuse to accept Timothy. Help him continue on his trip in peace so that he can come back to me. I am expecting him to come back with the other brothers.
12 Now about our brother Apollos: I strongly encouraged him to visit you with the other brothers. He prefers not to come now, but he will come when he has the opportunity.
Paul Ends His Letter
13 Be careful. Hold firmly to your faith. Have courage and be strong. 14 Do everything in love.
15 You know that Stephanas and his family were the first believers in Achaia. They have given themselves to the service of God’s people. I ask you, brothers and sisters, 16 to follow the leading of people like these and others who work hard and serve together with them.
17 I am happy that Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus have come. You are not here, but they have filled your place. 18 They have been a great encouragement to me and to you as well. You should recognize the value of such people.
19 The churches in Asia send you their greetings. Aquila and Priscilla greet you in the Lord. Also the church that meets in their house sends greetings. 20 All the brothers and sisters here send their greetings. Give each other the special greeting of God’s people.[a]
21 Here’s my greeting in my own handwriting— Paul.
22 If anyone does not love the Lord, let that person be separated from God—lost forever!
Come, O Lord![b]
23 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you.
24 My love be with all of you in Christ Jesus.
Footnotes
- 1 Corinthians 16:20 the special greeting of God’s people Literally, “a holy kiss.”
- 1 Corinthians 16:22 Come, O Lord This is a translation of the Aramaic “ marana tha.”
1 Corinthians 16
Contemporary English Version
A Collection for God's People
16 (A) When you collect money for God's people, I want you to do exactly what I told the churches in Galatia to do. 2 That is, each Sunday each of you must put aside part of what you have earned. If you do this, you won't have to take up a collection when I come. 3 Choose some followers to take the money to Jerusalem. I will send them on with the money and with letters which show that you approve of them. 4 If you think I should go along, they can go with me.
Paul's Travel Plans
5 (B) After I have gone through Macedonia, I hope to see you 6 and visit with you for a while. I may even stay all winter, so that you can help me on my way to wherever I will be going next. 7 If the Lord lets me, I would rather come later for a longer visit than to stop off now for only a short visit. 8 (C)(D) I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost, 9 because there is a wonderful opportunity for me to do some work here. But there are also many people who are against me.
10 (E) When Timothy arrives, give him a friendly welcome. He is doing the Lord's work, just as I am. 11 Don't let anyone mistreat him. I am looking for him to return to me together with the other followers. So when he leaves, send him off with your blessings.
12 I have tried hard to get our friend Apollos to visit you with the other followers. He doesn't want to come just now, but he will come when he can.
Personal Concerns and Greetings
13 Keep alert. Be firm in your faith. Stay brave and strong. 14 Show love in everything you do.
15 (F) You know that Stephanas and his family were the first in Achaia to have faith in the Lord. They have done all they can for God's people. My friends, I ask you 16 to obey leaders like them and to do the same for all others who work hard with you.
17 I was glad to see Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus. Having them here was like having you. 18 They made me feel much better, just as they made you feel better. You should appreciate people like them.
19 (G) Greetings from the churches in Asia.
Aquila and Priscilla, together with the church that meets in their house, send greetings in the name of the Lord.
20 All the Lord's followers send their greetings.
Give each other a warm greeting.
21 I am signing this letter myself: PAUL.
22 I pray that God will put a curse on everyone who doesn't love the Lord. And may the Lord come soon.
23 I pray the Lord Jesus will be kind to you.
24 I love everyone who belongs to Christ Jesus.
1 Corinthians 16
New Life Version
Gifts for the Poor
16 I want to tell you what to do about the money you are gathering for the Christians. Do the same as I told the churches in the country of Galatia to do. 2 On the first day of every week each of you should put aside some of your money. Give a certain part of what you have earned. Keep it there because I do not want money gathered when I come. 3 When I get there, I will give letters to the men you want to send. They will take your gift to Jerusalem. 4 If I can go, they can go with me.
Plans for a Visit
5 I want to visit you after I have gone through the country of Macedonia for I am going through there. 6 I may be staying with you and even spend the winter with you. Then you can send me on my way to the next place. 7 I do not want to stop now. I want to spend some time with you when I can stay longer, if that is what the Lord wants. 8 I will stay in the city of Ephesus until the special day to remember how the Holy Spirit came on the church. 9 A wide door has been opened to me here to preach the Good News. But there are many who work against me.
10 If Timothy comes, receive him and help him so he will not be afraid. He is working for the Lord as I am. 11 Everyone should respect him. Send him on his way to me in peace. I expect to see him and some of the other Christians soon. 12 I wanted brother Apollos to go with the other Christians to visit you. But he is not sure he should go now. He will come when he can.
13 Watch and keep awake! Stand true to the Lord. Keep on acting like men and be strong. 14 Everything you do should be done in love.
15 You know that the families of Stephanas were the first Christians in the country of Greece. They are working for the Lord in helping His people. 16 I ask you to listen to leaders like these and work with them as well as others like them. 17 I am happy that Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus came here. They have helped me and you would have also if you had been here. 18 They have made me happy. They would have made you happy also. Show them you are thankful for their help.
19 The churches in the countries of Asia say hello. Aquila and Priscilla and the Christians who meet in their house say hello with Christian love. 20 All the Christians here greet you. Greet each other with a kiss of holy love. 21 I, Paul, am writing the last part of this letter with my own hand. 22 If anyone does not love the Lord, let him be kept from being with Christ. The Lord is coming soon! 23 May you have the loving-favor of our Lord Jesus. 24 I love you all through Christ Jesus. Let it be so.
1 Corinthians 16
New King James Version
Collection for the Saints
16 Now concerning (A)the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also: 2 (B)On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come. 3 And when I come, (C)whomever you approve by your letters I will send to bear your gift to Jerusalem. 4 (D)But if it is fitting that I go also, they will go with me.
Personal Plans(E)
5 Now I will come to you (F)when I pass through Macedonia (for I am passing through Macedonia). 6 And it may be that I will remain, or even spend the winter with you, that you may (G)send me on my journey, wherever I go. 7 For I do not wish to see you now on the way; but I hope to stay a while with you, (H)if the Lord permits.
8 But I will tarry in Ephesus until (I)Pentecost. 9 For (J)a great and effective door has opened to me, and (K)there are many adversaries.
10 And (L)if Timothy comes, see that he may be with you without fear; for (M)he does the work of the Lord, as I also do. 11 (N)Therefore let no one despise him. But send him on his journey (O)in peace, that he may come to me; for I am waiting for him with the brethren.
12 Now concerning our brother (P)Apollos, I strongly urged him to come to you with the brethren, but he was quite unwilling to come at this time; however, he will come when he has a convenient time.
Final Exhortations
13 (Q)Watch, (R)stand fast in the faith, be brave, (S)be strong. 14 (T)Let all that you do be done with love.
15 I urge you, brethren—you know (U)the household of Stephanas, that it is (V)the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves to (W)the ministry of the saints— 16 (X)that you also submit to such, and to everyone who works and (Y)labors with us.
17 I am glad about the coming of Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus, (Z)for what was lacking on your part they supplied. 18 (AA)For they refreshed my spirit and yours. Therefore (AB)acknowledge such men.
Greetings and a Solemn Farewell
19 The churches of Asia greet you. Aquila and Priscilla greet you heartily in the Lord, (AC)with the church that is in their house. 20 All the brethren greet you.
(AD)Greet one another with a holy kiss.
21 (AE)The salutation with my own hand—Paul’s.
22 If anyone (AF)does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, (AG)let him be [a]accursed. (AH)O[b] Lord, come!
23 (AI)The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. 24 My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.
Footnotes
- 1 Corinthians 16:22 Gr. anathema
- 1 Corinthians 16:22 Aram. Marana tha; possibly Maran atha, Our Lord has come
1 Corinthians 16
New Living Translation
The Collection for Jerusalem
16 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. 2 On 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. 3 When I come, I will write letters of recommendation for the messengers you choose to deliver your gift to Jerusalem. 4 And if it seems appropriate for me to go along, they can travel with me.
Paul’s Final Instructions
5 I am coming to visit you after I have been to Macedonia,[a] for I am planning to travel through Macedonia. 6 Perhaps I will stay awhile with you, possibly all winter, and then you can send me on my way to my next destination. 7 This 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. 8 In the meantime, I will be staying here at Ephesus until the Festival of Pentecost. 9 There is a wide-open door for a great work here, although many oppose me.
10 When Timothy comes, don’t intimidate him. He is doing the Lord’s work, just as I am. 11 Don’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.[b]
12 Now 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.
13 Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous.[c] Be strong. 14 And do everything with love.
15 You know that Stephanas and his household were the first of the harvest of believers in Greece,[d] and they are spending their lives in service to God’s people. I urge you, dear brothers and sisters,[e] 16 to submit to them and others like them who serve with such devotion. 17 I am very glad that Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus have come here. They have been providing the help you weren’t here to give me. 18 They 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
19 The churches here in the province of Asia[f] send greetings in the Lord, as do Aquila and Priscilla[g] and all the others who gather in their home for church meetings. 20 All the brothers and sisters here send greetings to you. Greet each other with a sacred kiss.
21 HERE IS MY GREETING IN MY OWN HANDWRITING—PAUL.
22 If anyone does not love the Lord, that person is cursed. Our Lord, come![h]
23 May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with you.
24 My love to all of you in Christ Jesus.[i]
Footnotes
- 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.
- 16:22 From Aramaic, Marana tha. Some manuscripts read Maran atha, “Our Lord has come.”
- 16:24 Some manuscripts add Amen.
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