1 Corinthians 16:19-24
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
19 [a]The churches of Asia send you greetings. Aquila and Prisca together with the church at their house send you many greetings in the Lord.(A) 20 All the brothers greet you. Greet one another with a holy kiss.(B)
21 I, Paul, write you this greeting in my own hand.(C) 22 If anyone does not love the Lord, let him be accursed.[b] Marana tha.(D) 23 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you.(E) 24 My love to all of you in Christ Jesus.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 16:19–24 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).
- 16:22 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!”
1 Corinthians 16:19-24
New International Version
Final Greetings
19 The churches in the province of Asia(A) send you greetings. Aquila and Priscilla[a](B) greet you warmly in the Lord, and so does the church that meets at their house.(C) 20 All the brothers and sisters here send you greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss.(D)
21 I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand.(E)
22 If anyone does not love the Lord,(F) let that person be cursed!(G) Come, Lord[b]!(H)
23 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you.(I)
24 My love to all of you in Christ Jesus. Amen.[c]
Footnotes
- 1 Corinthians 16:19 Greek Prisca, a variant of Priscilla
- 1 Corinthians 16:22 The Greek for Come, Lord reproduces an Aramaic expression (Marana tha) used by early Christians.
- 1 Corinthians 16:24 Some manuscripts do not have Amen.
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