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1
Corinthians Chapter Sixteen
I.
Content of the Chapter
Exhortations in Love
A. Principles concerning the collection (v.1-4):
1. One shall have part in the collection (v.1).
2. One shall present his gift regularly (v.2).
3. The gift should be sent by faithful one
(v.3-4).
B. The schedule of Paul’s journey (v.5-9);
C. The cordial exhortations (v.10-18);
D. Greeting
warning and blessing (v.19-24);
II.
Verse by Verse Commentary
1Cor. 16:1 “Now concerning the
collection for the saints
as I have given orders to the churches of
YLT: “And concerning the collection that for the saints
as I
directed to the assemblies of
The Background: there was a great famine in
Literal
Meaning: “now concerning the
collection for the saints”
“concerning”
it indicates that the teaching concerning
collection below is also according to the epistle from the Corinthians (see
1Cor. 7:1).
Someone thought that apostle Paul’s zeal in collection for the poor (see
Gal. 2:10) was a work of social welfare. Therefore
they imitated Paul to
promote social acts of charity. Actually
they misunderstood the scriptures as
well as the motive of Paul. Here
it mentions “the saints” clearly
i.e. those
who are of God in the church in
“As I have given orders to the churches of
“So you must do also”
it shows all the
local churches should apply the same principles in practice.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Paul firstly resolved the doubts about the
resurrection after death in the previous chapter and here mentioned the problem
of collection. The order itself contains its meaning. If man can divert our
sight from this age to the coming one
from material to spiritual
he will rely
on God more than on mammon
and will be more willingly to devote his money to
the Lord.
2) The more one knows he has been saved by
grace
the more he is willing to devote his money. The more one is unwilling to
devote his money
the more he cannot know the blessing of salvation that he has
obtained.
3) It is good that Christians are zealous in
helping the poor. However
we shall not reach for what is beyond our grasp
but
do what we can: a) provide for those of house (1Tim. 5:8); b) provide for those
of the house of God (James 2:15-16; 1John 3:17); c) provide for our neighbors.
1Cor. 16:2 “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.”
YLT: “on every first of the week
let each one of you lay by
him
treasuring up whatever he may have prospered
that when I may come then
collections may not be made;”
Literal
Meaning: “on the first day of the week”
on the Lord’s day
namely
the day of the
Lord’s resurrection (Matt. 28:1);
“Let each one of you lay something aside
storing up as he may prosper”
“each one of you”: everyone shall have part in the collection; “as he may
prosper”: in proportion to his prosperity; “store up”: be separated for
devoting to the Lord.
“That there be no
collections when I come”
concerning the collection
the earlier
planned
the better. And one shall put it into practice and not collect the
gift when it is urgently needed.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Here
we see that believers devote money
once a week
not settle accounts at the end of a month. Paul says on the first day of the week that man should settle account before God.
On the Lord’s day
it is a good that we break the bread and devote money to the
Lord. On one hand
we remember that how the Lord gives Himself to us. And on
the other hand
we see that we give to the Lord today.
2) The collection should be done “on the first
day of the week”. And the first day of the week is the day of the Lord’s
resurrection. Therefore
in the collection
there should not be the stink of
money
but the sweet odour of resurrection. It is not manifested the power of
money or the sum of money
but that how the risen power delivers man from the
bondage of money.
3) The collection of money on the risen day
also indicates that if we present something to God
we should do through the
risen life rather than our natural life.
4) If man has overcome the bondage of money and
is willing to use his money on the service of the Lord
it proves that he lives
in the realm of resurrection.
5) “Storing up as he may prosper
that there be no collections
when I come”
the portion that
God shall get should be separated from
not be mixed with men’s portion
and
should be kept in the church
not at home so that the house of God will have
food. Thus there will be collection in the house of God when it is needed.
6) “Storing up” ---- one should not appropriate
the Lord’s money
or borrow money from the Lord. We should confide in the Lord
and He will provide us all that we need. Since it is of God
it must be cast
into the collection box of the church instead of being held in your hands too
long
lest you should be enticed to appropriate the Lord’s money.
7) “There be no collections when I come” –-- the devotion of money is not according
to transient inspiration
but according to your heart and desire ---- you set a
number and put it into practice
thus forming a habit and keeping it
faithfully. Even though you meet difficulty
you should keep your vow to the
Lord and give to the Lord firstly and then remain for yourself. Thus
you must
be blessed by God.
8) What God looks on is not the number that we
devote
but our heart to Him.
1Cor. 16:3 “And when I come
whomever
you approve by your letters I will send to bear your gift to
YLT: “and whenever I may come
whomsoever ye may approve
through letters
these I will send to carry your favour to
Literal
Meaning: “and when I come”
Paul was at
“Whomever you approve by
your letters
I will send to bear your gift to Jerusalem”
Paul did not handle
or directly appoint someone to deal
with the gift
but gave the gift to those who were approved by the church
thus
avoiding arousing suspicion of appropriating the money of the church.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Money is not the accordance of power. It is
not that who presents the money has the power
let alone those who present more
money.
2) Paul
as an apostle
had the right to decide
and choose and send someone to deal with the gift. However
he did not use this
it
but asked the Corinthians to approve someone by themselves
which showed
that Paul took heed of not letting the power destroy the harmony of the church
with the workers and provided for things honest so as not to give a handle to
others (see 2Cor. 8:20-21).
1Cor. 16:4 “But if it is fitting that I
go also
they will go with me.”
YLT: “and if it be meet for me also to go
with me they shall
go.”
1Cor. 16:5 “Now I will come to you when
I pass through
YLT: “And I will come unto you
when I pass through
Literal
Meaning: “when I pass through
“Now I
will come to you”
Paul had indeed
passed through those parts and exhorted the disciples with much discourse
he
came to
1Cor. 16:6 “And it may be that I will
remain
or even spend the winter with you
that you may send me on my journey
wherever I go.”
YLT: “and with you
it may be
I will abide
or even winter
that ye may send me forward whithersoever I go
”
Literal
Meaning: “it may be that I will
remain
or even spend the winter with you”
it might refer to the three months during which
Paul stayed in
“That you may send me on my journey”
“send … on … journey”
it referred to
prayers and blessings as well as provisions of the necessities and equipment on
the journey (see Rom. 15:24). However
Paul had mentioned in this epistle that
he was unwilling to add economic burden to the Corinthians (see 1Cor. 9:7-12).
1Cor. 16:7 “For I do not wish to see
you now on the way; but I hope to stay a while with you
if the Lord permits.”
YLT: “for I do not wish to see you now in the passing
but I
hope to remain a certain time with you
if the Lord may permit;”
Literal
Meaning: “for I do not wish to see you
now on the way”
it meant that
Paul was unwilling to stay in
“But I hope to stay a while with you
if the Lord permits”
he hoped that the Lord would permit him
to stay longer.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Some Christians set their routes as they
wish without relying on the Lord’s will at all. Such attitude is condemned by
James (see James 4:13-16).
2) There are also some Christians who seem to
very spiritual and never prearrange their journey but set out on a journey
suddenly according to the guidance of the Lord hither and thither. This is also
not the example shown by Paul. The general way is that one makes his plan and
also follows the guidance of the Lord. “If the Lord permits”
one can walk
according to the plan. If not
one shall altar his plan.
1Cor. 16:8 “But I will tarry in
YLT: “and I will remain in
Literal
Meaning: “but I will tarry in
“Until Pentecost”
it indicated that this book was written before Pentecost of that year.
1Cor. 16:9 “For a great and effective
door has opened to me
and there are many adversaries.”
YLT: “for a door to me hath been opened -- great and
effectual -- and withstanders many.”
Literal
Meaning: “for a great and effective
door has opened to me”
at that time even the wicked spirit said it knew Paul (Acts 19:15). And
many people believed (Acts 19:18). Many of those that practiced curious arts
brought their books and burnt them before all. The books were fifty thousand
pieces of silver (Acts 19:19). Luke recorded in the
Book of Acts
“thus with might the word of the Lord increased and prevailed” (Acts 19:20).
“And there are many
adversaries”
the adversaries
came from the Jews and influential officials and businessmen (see Acts 19:9-10
33-34; 20:20-21).
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) If the “great and effective door” is really opened by the Lord
there must be “many adversaries”.
2) If there is a great and effective door
there must be also persecutions of the world. However
the more the gospel is
opposed
the more widely and further the gospel will be preached.
1Cor. 16:10 “And if Timothy comes
see
that he may be with you without fear; for he does the work of the Lord
as I
also do.”
YLT: “And if Timotheus may come
see that he may become without
fear with you
for the work of the Lord he doth work
even as I
”
Literal
Meaning: “and if Timothy comes”
Paul sent Timothy to
“See that he may be with you without fear”
Timothy seemed to be cowardly by nature
(see 1Tim. 4:12; 2Tim. 1:7)
so Paul asked believers in
“For
he does the work of the Lord
as I also do”
Paul trained Timothy to serve the Lord by
setting himself as an example
for he himself labored in the work of the Lord
(see Acts 20:35). Therefore
Timothy learned his example.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Now
there are many young workers of the
Lord in the church at present that are unwilling to learn the examples of the
labor of Paul and Timothy and yet earnestly desire to obtain the position and
honor as that of Paul.
2) There are also some elder workers of the
Lord who closely hold the power and ask the young workers to this or that. Some
of them even fear that other workers trespass on their “domain”. They admire
the effect of Paul’s works
but have ignored the spirit of Paul’s works.
1Cor.
16:11
“Therefore let no one despise him. But send him on his
journey in peace
that he may come to me; for I am waiting for him with the
brethren. ”
YLT: “no one
then
may despise him; and send ye him forward
in peace
that he may come to me
for I expect him with the brethren;”
Literal
Meaning: “therefore let no one despise
him”
since the church in
“But send him on his journey in peace
that he may come to
me”
Paul here appealed to the church in
“For I am waiting for him with the brethren”
“brethren”
might refer to Timothy and Erastus
who are sent by Paul to
1Cor. 16:12 “Now concerning our brother
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.”
YLT: “and concerning Apollos our brother
much I did entreat
him that he may come unto you with the brethren
and it was not at all will
that he may come now
and he will come when he may find convenient.”
Literal
Meaning: “now concerning our brother
Apollos
I strongly urged him to come to you with the brethren”
believers in
“But he was quite unwilling to come at this time; however
he will come when he has a convenient time”
Possibly
Apollos was unwilling to come to
We can see the friendship of Paul and
Apollos from this verse. Division was only the problem among believers in
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Most probably
Apollos here was unwilling to
go to
2) “Fellow workers” should not “attack one
another”
but “provide for one another”. It is profitable to provide one anther
in spirit. Paul and Apollos are indeed the examples for all those who serve the
Lord.
3) Though Paul was the fellow worker in the
Lord earlier
he does not constrain Apollos who was in the Lord later. Fellow
workers should take responsibility for the Lord respectively and receive the
commandments from the Lord
but not purpose to control the whole work of the
Lord or direct other workers without giving any freedom in spirit.
1Cor. 16:13 “Watch
stand fast in the
faith
be brave
be strong.”
YLT: “Watch ye
stand in the faith; be men
be strong;”
Literal
Meaning: “watch
stand fast in the
faith”
“faith” refers to the objective faith; “stand
fast”
be not moved by any heresy
here especially the heresy that the dead
will not be raised up.
“Be brave
be strong”
“be brave”: be grown up in life; “strong” here
has two aspects of meaning:
a) Be strong in faith and stand fast;
b) Be strong in mind and no longer be children
(see 1Cor. 14:20)
for fear of being tossed and carried about by every wind of
teaching (see Eph. 4:14).
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1)
“Be brave
be strong”
not be easy life
but be a strong and
brave man; do not seek the work that you are able to do
but seek the power
that can fulfill your work; Thus
what you have done cannot be counted as a
sign
but you yourself is a sign.
2)
Facing with the
power of the darkness in the last days
the church should be soldiers of God:
a) watch (Eph. 6:18); b) stand fast (Eph. 6:13-14); c) be brave ---- be not
frightened in anything by the opposers (Phil.1:28); d) be strong (Eph. 6:10);
1Cor. 16:14 “Let all that you do be done
with love.”
YLT: “let all your things be done in love.”
Literal
Meaning: “love”: the perfect
and divine love in the original; the whole sentence indicates that the love of
God should be shed out of us.
The previous verse focuses on keeping faith
and this verse focuses on
the conduct. The previous verse deals with the false teachers
and this verse
talks about treating brothers truly. The previous verse emphasizes the position
of truth and this verse emphasizes the attitude of service
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) God loves us and has saved us and has put
such love into our hearts and thus become the foundation and motive of our
life.
2) The first epistle to
the Corinthians speaks of gifts
and the principle of using the gifts is love. Therefore
this book is also a
book that talks about love. Love is the principle of our conduct.
3) If the church wants to oppose the outward
enemy
she should be in harmony inwardly first. If the church desires to resist
the attack of the heresy
she should look upon one another first (1Cor. 12:25).
1Cor. 16:15 “I urge you
brethren--you
know the household of Stephanas
that it is the firstfruits of Achaia
and that
they have devoted themselves to the ministry of the saints--”
YLT: “And I entreat you
brethren
ye have known the
household of Stephanas
that it is the first-fruit of Achaia
and to the
ministration to the saints they did set themselves --”
Literal
Meaning: “I urge you
brethren--you
know the household of Stephanas”
“you know”: here Paul remind them; “the household
of Stephanas”: the house that Paul baptized (see 1Cor. 1:16);
“That it is the first-fruits
of Achaia”
the first house that believed the Lord in the
church at
“And that they have devoted themselves to the ministry of
the saints--”
“they”: the whole
family; “have
devoted themselves to the ministry of the saints”: have committed themselves to the ministry of the
saints;
1Cor. 16:16 “that you also submit to
such
and to everyone who works and labors with us.”
YLT: “that ye also be subject to such
and to every one who
is working with and labouring;”
Literal
Meaning: “that you also submit to
such”
it suggests that
some believers in Corinth might not accept Stephanas; Paul encourages them to
submit to such saints who serve the Lord
for only those who serve others match
the Lord’s condition of “being great and being first”: “whoever will be great
among you
shall be your servant; and whoever will be first among you
let him
be your bondman” (Matt. 20:26-27).
“And to everyone who works and labors with us”
it indicates that we should appreciate
their labor and receive their guidance.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) The household of Stephanas “have
devoted themselves to the ministry of the saints” (v.15) and the apostle says that believers
“should submit to such”. Therefore
spiritual power comes from humble service.
2) Those who truly love the Lord and the church
are worthy of being honored.
1Cor. 16:17 “I am glad about the coming
of Stephanas
Fortunatus
and Achaicus
for what was lacking on your part they
supplied.”
YLT: “and I rejoice over the presence of Stephanas
and
Fortunatus
and Achaicus
because the lack of you did these fill up;”
Literal
Meaning: “I am glad about the coming
of Stephanas
Fortunatus
and Achaicus”
the three ones might be the brethren whom were sent
by the church in
“For what was lacking on your part they supplied”
the passions of the three brothers to
Paul made him feel that they had offset the indifference of the church in
1Cor. 16:18 “For they refreshed my
spirit and yours. Therefore acknowledge such men.”
YLT: “for they did refresh my spirit and yours; acknowledge
ye
therefore
those who such.”
Literal
Meaning: “for they refreshed my spirit
and yours”
the fellowship
and relationship of believers should be kept in spirit
not in the affection of
soul so as not to cause abnormal unions or divisions.
“Therefore acknowledge such men.” “Acknowledge”: thorough knowledge
or the
knowledge of one’s identity;
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Those who can provide something for others
and refresh their spirits should be “acknowledged”. This is a principle of
spiritual power. Spiritual power comes from spiritual provision. Where there is
no provision
there is no power.
2) The first epistle to
the Corinthians makes mention of
both taking away someone from the church and acknowledging someone
for the
church is a lump as well as a body. All the organs in one body affect one
another. What can destroy the whole lump should be taken away from the church
(1Cor. 5). Meanwhile
what can make all joyful and profitable should be
honored.
1Cor. 16:19 “The churches of
YLT: “Salute you do the assemblies of
Literal
Meaning: “the churches of Asia greet
you”
“Asia” was a province in
“Aquila and Priscilla … with the church that
is in their
house”
Aquila and Priscilla had built the church in
“Greet you heartily in the Lord”
all of them greet heartily and warmly
for they
are saints in the Lord.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Wherever the couple of Aquila and Priscilla moved
they always opened their house for
the gathering of the church (see
2) The friendship of brothers and sisters are
not on account of familiarity
but of the fact that we are of the Lord and love
for the sake of the Lord.
1Cor. 16:20 “All the brethren greet you.
Greet one another with a holy kiss.”
YLT: “salute you do all the brethren; salute ye one another
in an holy kiss.”
Literal
Meaning: “all the brethren greet you”
the greeting in the previous verse is
corporate
and here it is personal.
“Greet one another with a holy kiss”
“greet … with a kiss”
the manner of the
easterners’ greeting was adopted by the church (see 1Pet. 5:14). Now the
Orthodox Church in
1Cor. 16:21 “The salutation with my own
hand--Paul's.”
YLT: “The salutation of Paul with my hand;”
Literal
Meaning: it seemed Paul
habitually added a greeting at the end of his epistle
which meant affixing his
seal on the epistle (see Col. 4:18; Philemon 19; 2Thess. 3:17).
1Cor. 16:22 “If anyone does not love the
Lord Jesus Christ
let him be accursed. O Lord
come!”
YLT: “if any one doth not love the Lord Jesus Christ -- let
him be anathema! The Lord hath come!”
Literal
Meaning: “if anyone does not love the
Lord Jesus Christ”
one’s love to the Lord is an important element of a
Christian. Here
the “love” is not the divine
superior or perfect love
but
totally individual
friendly
common and imperfect love. If we even have not
such love to the Lord
it is not right.
“Let him be accursed”
“be accursed”: it is “be excommunicated” in the original;
“O Lord
come!”
---- It is the transliteration of Aramaic in the original. Possibly
it was an
idiom in the early church for the purpose of reminding one another or it was a
prayer that hastens the Lord’s coming.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) “If anyone does not love the Lord Jesus Christ
let him be
accursed”. The Lord so loves us and gave his life to save us
unconditionally so that we can enjoy into the abundant grace. If we do not love
the Lord
we are truly devoid of gratitude and only worthy of being accursed.
2) If one does not love the Lord
everything is
of no value. He lives in curse all his life like those who are in the world and
will be judged by the Lord when He comes again.
1Cor. 16:23 “The grace of our Lord Jesus
Christ be with you.”
YLT: “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ with you;”
Literal
Meaning: this is a habitual
blessing of Paul (see Gal. 6:18; Eph. 6:24; Phil. 4:23). At the outset of this
book
Paul wishes grace be with them (1Cor. 1:3) and here he still wish the
grace of Jesus Christ be with them at the end of this book
thus giving us a feeling
of being encircled by grace.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) The whole life of believers starts from
God’s grace and ends in God’s grace. This grace is bestowed by the Lord of the
church to those who are of Him.
2) Christians need the Lord’s grace in life all
the time.
1Cor. 16:24 “My love be with you all in
Christ Jesus. Amen.”
YLT: “my love with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.”
Literal
Meaning: though Paul treated
believers in
Enlightenment
in the Word: though Paul judged
the church in
III.
Outlines of the Spiritual Lesson
What Believers Should Know About the
Collection for the Saints
A. Time ---- on the first day of the week (v.2a);
B. Way ---- lay …
aside and store up (v.2b);
C. Deliverance ---- let the faithful one send
(v.3-4);
See the Bowel of Paul from His Exhortations
and Greetings
A. He cared about believers in many places and
the work of the gospel (v.5-9).
B. He was concerned about the situation that
the young fellow workers might be faced with (v.10-11).
C. He honored the guidance of his fellow worker
received from God (v.12).
D. He exhorted the immature believers
(v.13-14).
E. He rejoiced over the labor of serving the
saints (v.15-18).
F. He cared whether believers loved the Lord or
loved one another (v.19-24).
──
Caleb Huang《Christian Digest Bible
Commentary Series》
Translated by Mary Zhou