1 Corinthians 16
New King James Version
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: 2 (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. 3 And when I come, (C)whomever you approve by your letters I will send to bear your gift to Jerusalem. 4 (D)But if it is fitting that I go also, they will go with me.
Personal Plans(E)
5 Now I will come to you (F)when I pass through Macedonia (for I am passing through Macedonia). 6 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. 7 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.
8 But I will tarry in Ephesus until (I)Pentecost. 9 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 Corinthians 16:22 Gr. anathema
- 1 Corinthians 16:22 Aram. Marana tha; possibly Maran atha, Our Lord has come
1 Corinthians 16
The Message
Coming to See You
16 1-4 Regarding the relief offering for poor Christians that is being collected, you get the same instructions I gave the churches in Galatia. Every Sunday each of you make an offering and put it in safekeeping. Be as generous as you can. When I get there you’ll have it ready, and I won’t have to make a special appeal. Then after I arrive, I’ll write letters authorizing whomever you delegate, and send them off to Jerusalem to deliver your gift. If you think it best that I go along, I’ll be glad to travel with them.
5-9 I plan to visit you after passing through northern Greece. I won’t be staying long there, but maybe I can stay awhile with you—maybe even spend the winter? Then you could give me a good send-off, wherever I may be headed next. I don’t want to just drop by in between other “primary” destinations. I want a good, long, leisurely visit. If the Master agrees, we’ll have it! For the present, I’m staying right here in Ephesus. A huge door of opportunity for good work has opened up here. (There is also mushrooming opposition.)
10-11 If Timothy shows up, take good care of him. Make him feel completely at home among you. He works so hard for the Master, just as I do. Don’t let anyone disparage him. After a while, send him on to me with your blessing. Tell him I’m expecting him, and any friends he has with him.
12 About our friend Apollos, I’ve done my best to get him to pay you a visit, but haven’t talked him into it yet. He doesn’t think this is the right time. But there will be a “right time.”
13-14 Keep your eyes open, hold tight to your convictions, give it all you’ve got, be resolute, and love without stopping.
15-16 Would you do me a favor, friends, and give special recognition to the family of Stephanas? You know, they were among the first converts in Greece, and they’ve put themselves out, serving Christians ever since then. I want you to honor and look up to people like that: companions and workers who show us how to do it, giving us something to aspire to.
17-18 I want you to know how delighted I am to have Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus here with me. They partially make up for your absence! They’ve refreshed me by keeping me in touch with you. Be proud that you have people like this among you.
19 The churches here in western Asia send greetings.
Aquila, Priscilla, and the church that meets in their house say hello.
20 All the friends here say hello.
Pass the greetings around with holy hugs!
21 And I, Paul—in my own handwriting!—send you my regards.
22 If anyone won’t love the Master, throw him out. Make room for the Master!
23 Our Master Jesus has his arms wide open for you.
24 And I love all of you in the Messiah, in Jesus.
1 Corinthians 16
New American Standard Bible
Instructions and Greetings
16 Now concerning (A)the collection for [a](B)the saints, as (C)I directed the churches of (D)Galatia, so you are to do as well. 2 On (E)the first day of every week, each of you is to [b]put aside and save as he may prosper, so that (F)no collections need to be made when I come. 3 When I arrive, (G)whomever you approve, I will send them with letters to take your gift to Jerusalem; 4 and if it is appropriate for me to go also, they will go with me.
5 But I (H)will come to you after I go through (I)Macedonia; for I (J)am going through Macedonia, 6 and perhaps I will stay with you or even spend the winter, so that you may (K)send me on my way wherever I go. 7 For I do not want to see you now (L)just in passing; for I hope to remain with you for some time, (M)if the Lord permits. 8 But I will remain in (N)Ephesus until (O)Pentecost; 9 for a (P)wide door [c]for effective service has opened to me, and (Q)there are many adversaries.
10 Now if (R)Timothy comes, see that he [d]has no reason to be afraid while among you, for he is doing (S)the Lord’s work, as I also am. 11 (T)So do not look down on him, anyone. But (U)send him on his way (V)in peace, so that he may come to me; for I expect him with the brothers.
12 Now concerning our brother (W)Apollos, I strongly encouraged him to come to you with the brothers; and it was not at all his desire to come now, but he will come when he has the opportunity.
13 (X)Be on the alert, (Y)stand firm in the faith, (Z)act like men, (AA)be strong. 14 All that you do must be done (AB)in love.
15 Now I urge you, brothers and sisters: you know the (AC)household of Stephanas, that [e]they are the (AD)first fruits of (AE)Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves to (AF)ministry to (AG)the [f]saints; 16 I urge that (AH)you also be subject to such as these and to everyone who helps in the work and labors. 17 I rejoice over the [g](AI)coming of Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus, because they have [h]supplied (AJ)what was lacking on your part. 18 For they (AK)have refreshed my spirit and yours. Therefore (AL)acknowledge such men.
19 The churches of [i](AM)Asia greet you. (AN)Aquila and Prisca greet you heartily in the Lord, with (AO)the church that is in their house. 20 All the brothers and sisters greet you. (AP)Greet one another with a holy kiss.
21 The greeting is in (AQ)my own hand—that of Paul. 22 If anyone does not love the Lord, he is to be [j](AR)accursed. [k](AS)Maranatha! 23 (AT)The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. 24 My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.
Footnotes
- 1 Corinthians 16:1 I.e., the Christians in Jerusalem
- 1 Corinthians 16:2 Lit put with himself
- 1 Corinthians 16:9 Lit and effective
- 1 Corinthians 16:10 Lit is with you without reason to fear
- 1 Corinthians 16:15 Lit it is
- 1 Corinthians 16:15 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people
- 1 Corinthians 16:17 Or presence
- 1 Corinthians 16:17 Or made up for your absence
- 1 Corinthians 16:19 I.e., west coast province of Asia Minor
- 1 Corinthians 16:22 Gr anathema
- 1 Corinthians 16:22 Aramaic [Our] Lord, come!
1 Corinthians 16
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Collection for the Jerusalem Church
16 Now about the collection(A) for the saints: You should do the same as I instructed the Galatian(B) churches. 2 On the first day of the week,[a](C) each of you is to set something aside and save in keeping with how he prospers, 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 gracious gift to Jerusalem.(F) 4 If it is suitable for me to go as well, they can 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, for 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[b]—yet many oppose me. 10 If Timothy comes, see that he has nothing to fear from you, because he is doing the Lord’s work,(L) just as I am. 11 Therefore, no one should look down(M) on him. Send him on his way in peace so he can come to me, for I am expecting him with the brothers.[c]
12 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) act like a man, be strong. 14 Your every action must be done with love.(P)
15 Brothers, 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 pleased 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) greet you.(V) Aquila and Priscilla(W) greet you warmly in the Lord, along with the church that meets in their home.(X) 20 All the brothers greet you. Greet one another with a holy kiss.(Y)
21 This greeting is in my own hand[d](Z)—Paul. 22 If anyone does not love the Lord, a curse be on him. Marana tha that is, Lord, come![e] 23 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you.(AA) 24 My love be with all of you in Christ Jesus.
Footnotes
- 1 Corinthians 16:2 Or Each Sunday
- 1 Corinthians 16:9 Lit for a door has opened to me, great and effective
- 1 Corinthians 16:11 With the brothers may connect with Paul or Timothy.
- 1 Corinthians 16:21 Paul normally dictated his letters to a secretary, but signed the end of each letter himself; Rm 16:22; Gl 6:11; Col 4:18; 2Th 3:17.
- 1 Corinthians 16:22 Or Maran atha (an Aram expression transliterated into Gk) = Our Lord has come!
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.