Collection for the Jerusalem Church
1 Now about the collection a for the saints: Do the same as I instructed the Galatian b churches. 2 On the first day of the week, c each of you is to set something aside and save in keeping with how he is prospering, so that no collections will need to be made when I come. d 3 When I arrive, I will send with letters e those you recommend to carry your gift to Jerusalem. f 4 If it is suitable for me to go as well, they will travel with me.
Paul’s Travel Plans
5 I will come to you after I pass through Macedonia g—for I will be traveling through Macedonia— 6 and perhaps I will remain with you or even spend the winter, so that you may send me on my way wherever I go. 7 I don’t want to see you now just in passing, since I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord allows. h 8 But I will stay in Ephesus i until Pentecost, j 9 because a wide door k for effective ministry has opened for me —yet many oppose me. 10 If Timothy comes, see that he has nothing to fear while with you, because he is doing the Lord’s work, l just as I am. 11 So let no one look down m on him. Send him on his way in peace so that he can come to me, because I am expecting him with the brothers.
12 Now about our brother Apollos: n I strongly urged him to come to you with the brothers, but he was not at all willing to come now. However, he will come when he has an opportunity.
Final Exhortation
13 Be alert, stand firm in the faith, o be courageous, be strong. 14 Do everything in love. p
15 Brothers and sisters, you know the household of Stephanas: They are the firstfruits q of Achaia r and have devoted themselves to serving the saints. I urge you 16 also to submit to such people, and to everyone who works and labors with them. 17 I am delighted to have Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus present, because these men have made up for your absence. 18 For they have refreshed my spirit s and yours. Therefore recognize t such people.
Conclusion
19 The churches of Asia u send you greetings. v Aquila and Priscilla w send you greetings warmly in the Lord, along with the church that meets in their home. x 20 All the brothers and sisters send you greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss. y
21 This greeting is in my own hand z—Paul. 22 If anyone does not love the Lord, a curse be on him. Our Lord, come! 23 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. a 24 My love be with all of you in Christ Jesus.
E. Questions about the collection and Paul’s plans (16:1–9). 16:1–4. A final Corinthian question remains about “the collection for the saints” (16:1a; see also Rm 15:25–28; Gl 2:10). From the content of Paul’s reply, their questions seem to have been more concerned with the nature and timing of their own participation than with the collection itself or the rationale behind it. The Corinthians are advised to do as Paul has already directed the Galatian churches to do (16:1b). (Paul’s reference must be to a message sent orally or in writing; the Letter to the Galatians contains no explicit reference to the collection or directions for contributors.) Each person is to save up a weekly contribution, so that Paul may not have to make a special appeal at the time of his arrival (16:2). When he arrives, he will give the appropriate letters of introduction to those appointed by the church to carry the gift to Jerusalem (16:3; cf. Ac 20:4). Whether Paul will accompany them himself is uncertain as he writes this letter (16:4; though it seems almost certain that he did, and that the collection is the reason for a journey to Jerusalem in Ac 20–21).
16:5–9. Paul now coordinates the instructions for the collection with his own plans. At this point (though as 2 Co 1:15–17 indicates, his plans were modified), Paul’s hope is to come to Corinth after passing through Macedonia (16:5), to stay at Corinth (perhaps even for the winter), and then to continue his journey wherever that may take him (16:6–7). But he does not intend to begin his journey or leave Ephesus (from where this letter is written) until Pentecost; the opportunity for ministry, despite opposition, is simply too great to be abandoned too quickly (16:8–9).
16:10–14. Paul’s response to the Corinthians’ questions is now concluded, but his mention of his own plans leads him to relay to his readers what news he has of other persons with whom he and his readers are acquainted. They can expect a visit from Timothy, and when he arrives, they should give him no cause for fear to act and speak openly (16:10). Instead, they are to overcome his fears with their acceptance of his ministry and send him back to Paul in peace (16:11). (Whether “the brothers” mentioned here are traveling with Timothy or waiting for him with Paul is uncertain.)
16:15–18. Paul then commends to his readers those from the household of Stephanas, the first converts in Achaia (16:15a). They have devoted themselves to the service of the Lord’s people and consequently deserve the same submissive respect as others from outside the church who function as teachers and leaders (16:15b–16).
16:19–21. As in the opening of this letter, Paul now reverts to the elements that were customary in the closing of a letter in his era. First are closing greetings sent by Paul and by others. The others mentioned include “the churches of Asia” (among which Paul is now working), Aquila and Priscilla (who earlier hosted Paul and worked alongside him in his initial mission in Corinth, departing and journeying with him to Ephesus, where they chose to remain), “the church [at Ephesus] that meets in their home,” and “all the brothers and sisters” (either the rest of the Ephesian believers or Paul’s fellow workers in the Ephesian ministry) (16:19–20a). The warmth of their greeting to the Corinthians is to be conveyed symbolically with the Corinthians embracing one another in the way that these others would embrace them if they were present (16:20b). Paul’s final greeting in his own hand (16:21) serves a double purpose: authenticating this letter as his own (Gl 6:11; Col 4:18; 2 Th 3:17) and indicating that it was probably composed, as was customary, by dictation (Rm 16:22).
16:22–24. Next, again as was usual, one finds a final short message (16:22). Originating perhaps as part of an early Christian worship service (in which the response to the words found here may have been, “If anyone loves the Lord, let him be blessed”), these words remind the readers that in the end, love for the Lord is the paramount quality of Christian faith and as such should unite all believers. Similarly the cry “Our Lord, come!” is also probably cited from the liturgical context of worship that was meant to unite all believers. [Maranatha]