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: (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. And when I come, (C)whomever you approve by your letters I will send to bear your gift to Jerusalem. (D)But if it is fitting that I go also, they will go with me.

Personal Plans(E)

Now I will come to you (F)when I pass through Macedonia (for I am passing through Macedonia). 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. 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.

But I will tarry in Ephesus until (I)Pentecost. 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. 1 Corinthians 16:22 Gr. anathema
  2. 1 Corinthians 16:22 Aram. Marana tha; possibly Maran atha, Our Lord has come

Instructions and Greetings

16 Now concerning the money collected for [the relief of] the saints [in Jerusalem], you are to do the same as I directed the churches of Galatia to do. On the first day of every week each one of you is to put something aside, in proportion to his prosperity, and save it so that no collections [will need to] be made when I come. When I arrive, I will send whomever you approve with letters [of authorization] to take your gift [of charity and love] to Jerusalem; and if it is fitting for me to go too, they will accompany me.

I will visit you after I go through Macedonia, for I am only passing through Macedonia; but it may be that I will stay with you [for a while], or even spend the winter, so that you may send me on my way to wherever I may go afterward. For I do not wish to see you right now just in passing, but I hope to remain with you for some time [later on], if the Lord permits. But I will stay in Ephesus until [a]Pentecost, because a wide door for effective service has opened to me [in Ephesus, a very promising opportunity], and there are many adversaries.(A)

10 If Timothy comes, see to it that [you put him at ease, so that] he has nothing to fear in regard to you, for he is [devotedly] doing the Lord’s work, just as I am. 11 So allow no one to treat him with disdain [as if he were inconsequential]. But send him off [cordially, and speed him on his way] in peace, so that he may come to me, for I am expecting him [to come along] with the other brothers.

12 As for our brother Apollos, I have strongly encouraged him to visit you with the other brothers. It was not at all his desire to come now, but he will come when he has the opportunity.

13 Be on guard; stand firm in your faith [in God, respecting His precepts and keeping your doctrine sound]. Act like [mature] men and be courageous; be strong.(B) 14 Let everything you do be done in love [motivated and inspired by God’s love for us].

15 Brothers and sisters, you know that those of the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves for ministry to [b]God’s people—now I urge you 16 to be subject to such leaders [treating them with courtesy and respect], and to everyone who helps in the work and labors [for the benefit of yourselves and the church]. 17 I rejoice because Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus have arrived, for they have made up for your absence. 18 They have refreshed my spirit as well as yours. So fully acknowledge such men and deeply appreciate them.

19 The churches of Asia send you their greetings. Aquila and Prisca, together with the church [that meets] in their house, send you their warm greetings in the Lord. 20 All the believers greet you. Greet one another with a holy kiss.

21 This greeting is in my own hand—Paul. 22 If anyone does not love the Lord [does not obey and respect and believe in Jesus Christ and His message], he is to be accursed. Maranatha (O our Lord, come)! 23 The grace of our Lord Jesus [His unmerited favor, His spiritual blessing, His profound mercy] be with you. 24 My love be with all of you in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 16:8 Feast of the Harvest, also called Feast of Weeks.
  2. 1 Corinthians 16:15 Lit the saints.

16 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye.

Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.

And when I come, whomsoever ye shall approve by your letters, them will I send to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem.

And if it be meet that I go also, they shall go with me.

Now I will come unto you, when I shall pass through Macedonia: for I do pass through Macedonia.

And it may be that I will abide, yea, and winter with you, that ye may bring me on my journey whithersoever I go.

For I will not see you now by the way; but I trust to tarry a while with you, if the Lord permit.

But I will tarry at Ephesus until Pentecost.

For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries.

10 Now if Timotheus come, see that he may be with you without fear: for he worketh the work of the Lord, as I also do.

11 Let no man therefore despise him: but conduct him forth in peace, that he may come unto me: for I look for him with the brethren.

12 As touching our brother Apollos, I greatly desired him to come unto you with the brethren: but his will was not at all to come at this time; but he will come when he shall have convenient time.

13 Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.

14 Let all your things be done with charity.

15 I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,)

16 That ye submit yourselves unto such, and to every one that helpeth with us, and laboureth.

17 I am glad of the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus: for that which was lacking on your part they have supplied.

18 For they have refreshed my spirit and yours: therefore acknowledge ye them that are such.

19 The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house.

20 All the brethren greet you. Greet ye one another with an holy kiss.

21 The salutation of me Paul with mine own hand.

22 If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha.

23 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

24 My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.