Bible Study 1 Corinthians 16: 1-24

 

A Commentary of the Book of 1 Corinthians 

By Dr. Barry L. Jenkins

Text Used: King James Version

Bible Study 1 Corinthians 16: 1-24

Text:

16 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. 2 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. 3 And when I come, whomsoever ye shall approve by your letters, them will I send to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem. 4 And if it be meet that I go also, they shall go with me.

5 Now I will come unto you, when I shall pass through Macedonia: for I do pass through Macedonia. 6 And it may be that I will abide, yea, and winter with you, that ye may bring me on my journey whithersoever I go. 7 For I will not see you now by the way; but I trust to tarry a while with you, if the Lord permit. 8 But I will tarry at Ephesus until Pentecost. 9 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.

The first epistle to the Corinthians was written from Philippi by Stephanas, and Fortunatus, and Achaicus, and Timotheus.

Verse by verse commentary:

Verse 1: “Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye.”

Paul had solicited funds for the destitute believers in overpopulated and famine-stricken Jerusalem. This offering was collected from the churches in Galatia, Macedonia, and Achaia.

Verse 2: “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.”

The early church's practice of meeting on Sunday serves as evidence for the necessity of regular giving. Giving should not be sporadic—only occurring when one feels generous, specially led, or instructed for a specific need—but consistently maintained.

The New Testament does not mandate a specific amount or percentage for contributions to the Lord's work. All giving is intended to be a free-will offering, entirely at the discretion of the giver, based on their ability. This differs from the Old Testament system of tithing, which was equivalent to a tax (approximately 23% annually) used to fund the national government of Israel, support public festivals, and provide welfare.

Verse 3: “And when I come, whomsoever ye shall approve by your letters, them will I send to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem.”

Sending their offering via trustworthy and compassionate members of their own congregation would be a fitting demonstration of their respect and brotherly love for their struggling brethren. This approach would show genuine compassion and Christian concern for their suffering fellow believers, ensuring the gift was not mishandled. Furthermore, undertaking such a long and potentially risky journey or voyage to deliver their donation would strongly indicate their wholehearted commitment to this service. Therefore, we should not only offer charitable relief to our poor fellow Christians but also ensure the method of delivery clearly conveys our compassion and solicitude for them.

Verse 4: “And if it be meet that I go also, they shall go with me.”

The Apostle Paul, although primarily dedicated to "the word and prayer" rather than "serving tables," was always ready to initiate or assist with charitable work when the opportunity arose. He offered to accompany the Corinthians' messengers to Jerusalem to deliver their contributions to the suffering brethren, demonstrating his commitment to ensuring their generosity had its intended effect. This willingness to engage in acts of charity was not a distraction from his preaching but rather a great aid to its success, showcasing his compassionate and benevolent nature.

Verse 5: “Now I will come unto you, when I shall pass through Macedonia: for I do pass through Macedonia.”

Paul wrote his letter to the Corinthians at the close of his three-year stay in Ephesus, likely entrusting its delivery to Timothy. Paul's initial itinerary included following Timothy shortly thereafter, intending to visit Corinth both before and after a trip to Macedonia. However, he was compelled to alter these plans, delaying his visit to Corinth until after a more extended period in Ephesus and a stop in Macedonia, where he planned to stay for a longer duration.

Verse 6: “And it may be that I will abide, yea, and winter with you, that ye may bring me on my journey whithersoever I go.”

"Whithersoever I go" indicates that Paul is uncertain of his immediate destination. Does this imply that the esteemed Apostle to the Gentiles lacked a comprehensive plan or divine itinerary from the Lord detailing his every movement? No; he states that the Lord simply directs his path incrementally. Paul occupies the enviable state of being divinely uncertain. He is not fully assured of his next course of action. I find great solace in reading about Paul's lack of foresight regarding his future. Neither Paul nor I are given a complete road map by the Lord; He merely guides us on a daily basis. We remain in a state of glorious uncertainty.

Verse 7: “For I will not see you now by the way; but I trust to tarry a while with you, if the Lord permit.”

Paul states here that his intention is to visit Corinth, contingent upon the Lord's permission. Should we not make plans? Indeed, we absolutely should formulate plans, but these plans must always be subservient to the will of God. We should be prepared to alter them. We should be willing to reorder our affairs. When Paul embarked on his missionary journeys, he did not adhere to a rigid schedule. He proceeded as directed by the Lord.

Verse 8: “But I will tarry at Ephesus until Pentecost.”

This was his plan, subject to the Lord's providence.

Verse 9: “For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries.”

It remains true today that numerous adversaries exist. Any individual who advocates for the Word of God faces considerable opposition. This was the experience of Paul, and it has also been my own. Nevertheless, the Lord provides opportunities that no man can stop. Thus, we observe Paul, profoundly content and finding joy in the will of God. If the Lord desires him to proceed to Corinth, he will comply.

Verse 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.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.”

Paul is instructing the church in Corinth to receive Timothy, notwithstanding his youth, as he is a minister of the Word of God.

Verse 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.”

Paul's counsel here parallels his later advice to Timothy (1 Tim. 4:12). It seems Timothy struggled with self-assurance, making it vital for the community to respect him and for him to live in such a way that no one could justly look down on him.

Verse 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.”

Paul addressed the Corinthians' apparent request in their letter for Apollos to return. Though the Corinthians displayed an improper attitude, Paul respected their desire. Apollos, however, was unwilling to go immediately but indicated he would come at a later time.

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

The Corinthians must be watchful, steadfast, grown-up, powerful, and charitable.The Greek verb andrizesthei, translated as "quit you like men," originates from the root word aner, meaning adult male. This word inherently conveys two concepts: (i) being male, as opposed to female, and (ii) being an adult, as opposed to a child. In the ancient world, the word strongly emphasized both masculinity (versus feminineness) and maturity (versus childishness). The command "quit you like men" served as a call to manliness, defined by qualities such as courage, bravery, resoluteness, and strength. The apostle Paul used this phrase to urge Christians to discard all fear, insecurity, nervousness, and reluctance, demanding they rise up to fulfill their duties with courage and strength.

Verse 14: “Let all your things be done with charity.”

The Corinthian Christians were commanded to demonstrate watchfulness, steadfastness, courage, and strength, yet these qualities were meaningless without love. All such actions were to be performed with a meek, humble, and loving spirit.

Verse 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,)”

Stephanas and his household, early converts in Corinth (located in Achaia, the southern province of Greece), were significant figures. Paul himself baptized Stephanas. At the time this letter was penned, Stephanas was visiting Paul in Ephesus. The term "addicted" immediately brings to mind substance abuse. However, these individuals were devoted to the ministry of the saints.

Verse 16: “that ye submit yourselves unto such, and to every one that helpeth with us, and laboureth.”

He exhorts the Corinthians to be submissive to those who arrive to serve them.

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

They apparently constituted the delegation that delivered the letter from the Corinthian church to Paul. Paul informs the Corinthians that these three Christian men were so commendable that they compensated for the shortcomings of the entire church.

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

"Refreshed my spirit" likely refers to the encouragement Paul received due to their willingness to travel to seek his counsel and return it to Corinth. This suggests that a renewed relationship between Paul and the Corinthians was developing.

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

The city of Ephesus, the location where 1 Corinthians was composed, was the chief city in the Roman province of Asia. This province is situated in the southwestern part of the Anatolian peninsula, which is now part of modern Turkey. Because of their significant involvement during Paul's initial trip to Corinth, Aquila and Priscilla were familiar figures to the Corinthian congregation.

Verse 20: “All the brethren greet you. Greet ye one another with an holy kiss.”

The "holy kiss" served as a customary greeting within the early church. While this practice was prevalent in both Judaism and Roman society, the addition of the word "holy" signified the profound importance of this greeting among believers, symbolizing their unique bond as brothers and sisters in Christ.

Verse 21: “The salutation of me Paul with mine own hand.”

Paul would typically conclude the letter, which had been written by a professional scribe up to this point, by personally adding a few words as his signature.

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

Paul emphasized the apostolic authority of his entire letter by writing the powerful word, "Anathema," with his own hand. This is not a general curse for all unbelievers, but a specific judgment against those who reject the authority of the message contained within the letter. Paul also included the Aramaic phrase, Marana tha (or Maran atha), meaning "Our Lord has come." His use of this transliterated phrase demonstrates a familiarity with the worship practices common among the early church in Palestine.

Verse 23: “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.”

The verse concludes with the apostle's customary benediction.

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

The first epistle to the Corinthians was written from Philippi by Stephanas, and Fortunatus, and Achaicus, and Timotheus.

Following an extensive epistle consisting primarily of severe rebukes, these affectionate words arrive unexpectedly. Paul has not overlooked the pastoral requirements of his congregation.