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A Collection to Aid Jewish Christians

16 With regard to the collection for the saints, please follow the directions that I gave to the churches of Galatia:[a] On the first day of the week, each of you should set aside some income[b] and save[c] it to the extent that God has blessed you,[d] so that a collection will not have to be made[e] when I come. Then, when I arrive, I will send those whom you approve with letters of explanation to carry your gift to Jerusalem. And if it seems advisable that I should go also, they will go with me.

Paul’s Plans to Visit

But I will come to you after I have gone through Macedonia—for I will be going through Macedonia— and perhaps I will stay with you, or even spend the winter, so that you can send me on my journey, wherever I go. For I do not want to see you now in passing, since I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord allows. But I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost, because a door of great opportunity stands wide open for me,[f] but there are many opponents.

10 Now if Timothy comes, see that he has nothing to fear among you, for he is doing the Lord’s work, as I am too. 11 So then, let no one treat him with contempt. But send him on his way in peace so that he may come to me. For I am expecting him with the brothers.[g]

12 With regard to our brother Apollos: I strongly encouraged him to visit you with the other brothers,[h] but it was simply not his intention to come now.[i] He will come when he has the opportunity.

Final Challenge and Blessing

13 Stay alert, stand firm in the faith, show courage, be strong. 14 Everything you do should be done in love.

15 Now, brothers and sisters,[j] you know about the household of Stephanus, that as the first converts[k] of Achaia, they devoted themselves to ministry for the saints. I urge you 16 also to submit to people like this, and to everyone who cooperates in the work and labors hard. 17 I was glad about the arrival of Stephanus, Fortunatus, and Achaicus because they have supplied the fellowship with you that I lacked.[l] 18 For they refreshed my spirit and yours. So then, recognize people like this.

19 The churches in the province of Asia[m] send greetings to you. Aquila and Prisca[n] greet[o] you warmly in the Lord, with the church that meets in their house. 20 All the brothers and sisters[p] send greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss.

21 I, Paul, send this greeting with my own hand.

22 Let anyone who has no love for the Lord be accursed. Our Lord, come![q]

23 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you.

24 My love be with all of you in Christ Jesus.[r]

Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 16:1 tn Grk “as I directed the churches of Galatia, so also you yourselves do.”
  2. 1 Corinthians 16:2 tn Grk “set aside, storing whatever he has been blessed with.”
  3. 1 Corinthians 16:2 tn Grk “set aside, storing.” The participle θησαυρίζων (thēsaurizōn) indicates the purpose or result of setting aside the extra income.
  4. 1 Corinthians 16:2 tn “To the extent that God has blessed you” translates an awkward expression, “whatever has been prospered [to you].” This verb has been translated as an active with “God” as subject, taking it as a divine passive.
  5. 1 Corinthians 16:2 tn Grk “so that collections will not be taking place.”
  6. 1 Corinthians 16:9 tn Grk “for a door has opened wide to me, great and effective.”
  7. 1 Corinthians 16:11 tn Since Paul appears to expect specific delegates here and they were most likely men, the Greek word ἀδελφοί (adelphoi) here has not been translated as “brothers and sisters.”
  8. 1 Corinthians 16:12 tn Grk “with the brothers.”
  9. 1 Corinthians 16:12 tn Grk “it was simply not the will that he come now.”
  10. 1 Corinthians 16:15 tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:10.
  11. 1 Corinthians 16:15 tn Grk “firstfruits.”
  12. 1 Corinthians 16:17 tn Or “they have made up for your absence” (BDAG 70 s.v. ἀναπληρόω 3).
  13. 1 Corinthians 16:19 tn Grk “the churches of Asia”; in the NT “Asia” always refers to the Roman province of Asia. The Roman province of Asia made up about one-third of modern Asia Minor and was on the western side of it. Asia lay to the west of the region of Phrygia and Galatia. The words “the province of” are supplied to indicate to the modern reader that this does not refer to the continent of Asia.
  14. 1 Corinthians 16:19 sn On Aquila and Prisca see also Acts 18:2, 18, 26; Rom 16:3-4; 2 Tim 4:19. In the NT “Priscilla” and “Prisca” are the same person. Paul uses the name Prisca, while the author of Acts uses the diminutive form of the name Priscilla.
  15. 1 Corinthians 16:19 tc The plural form of this verb, ἀσπάζονται (aspazontai, “[they] greet”), is found in several good mss (B F G 075 0121 0243 33 1739 1881) as well as the Byzantine cursives. But the singular is read by an equally impressive group (א C D K P Ψ 104 2464). This part of the verse is lacking in codex A. Deciding on the basis of external evidence is quite difficult. Internally, however, the singular appears to have given rise to the plural: (1) The rest of the greetings in this verse are in the plural; this one was probably made plural by some scribes for purposes of assimilation; and, more significantly, (2) since both Aquila and Prisca are mentioned as the ones who send the greeting, the plural is more natural. The singular is, of course, not impossible Greek; indeed, a singular verb with a compound subject is used with some frequency in the NT (cf. Matt 13:55; Mark 8:27; 14:1; John 2:2; 3:22; 4:36, 53; Acts 5:29; 16:31; 1 Tim 6:4). This is especially common when “Jesus and his disciples” is the subject. What is significant is that when such a construction is found the emphasis is placed on the first-named person (in this case, Aquila). Normally when these two are mentioned in the NT, Priscilla is mentioned first (Acts 18:18, 26; Rom 16:3; 2 Tim 4:19). Only here and in Acts 18:2 (the first mention of them) is Aquila mentioned before Priscilla. Many suggest that Priscilla is listed first due to prominence. Though that is possible, both the mention of Aquila first here and the singular verb give him special prominence (cf. ExSyn 401-2). What such prominence means in each instance is difficult to assess. Nevertheless, here is a Pauline instance in which Aquila is given prominence. Too much can be made of the word order argument in either direction.
  16. 1 Corinthians 16:20 tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:10.
  17. 1 Corinthians 16:22 tn The Greek text has μαράνα θά (marana tha). These Aramaic words can also be read as maran atha, translated “Our Lord has come!”
  18. 1 Corinthians 16:24 tc Although the majority of mss (א A C D Ψ 075 M lat bo) conclude this letter with ἀμήν (amēn, “amen”), such a conclusion is routinely added by scribes to NT books because a few of these books originally had such an ending (cf. Rom 16:27; Gal 6:18; Jude 25). A majority of Greek witnesses have the concluding ἀμήν in every NT book except Acts, James, and 3 John (and even in these books, ἀμήν is found in some witnesses). It is thus a predictable variant. Although far fewer witnesses lack the valedictory particle (B F 0121 0243 33 81 630 1739* 1881 sa), their collective testimony is difficult to explain if the omission is not authentic.

Questions diverses

La collecte en faveur de l’Eglise de Jérusalem

16 Venons-en à la question[a] de la collecte en faveur de ceux qui, en Judée, font partie du peuple saint : j’ai déjà donné mes directives aux Eglises de la Galatie. Suivez-les, vous aussi.

Que tous les dimanches chacun de vous mette de côté, chez lui, une somme d’argent selon ce qu’il aura lui-même gagné, pour qu’on n’ait pas besoin d’organiser des collectes au moment de mon arrivée. Quand je serai venu, j’enverrai à Jérusalem, pour y porter vos dons, les hommes que vous aurez choisis, munis de lettres de recommandation. S’il vaut la peine que j’y aille moi-même, ils iront avec moi.

Les projets de Paul

Je compte venir chez vous après avoir traversé la Macédoine – car je vais passer par cette province. Peut-être séjournerai-je quelque temps chez vous, ou même y passerai-je l’hiver[b] : ce sera pour vous l’occasion de m’aider à continuer mon voyage vers ma destination.

En effet, je ne veux pas me contenter de vous voir en passant. Je compte demeurer quelque temps avec vous, si le Seigneur le permet. Pour le moment, je vais rester à Ephèse jusqu’à la Pentecôte, car j’y ai trouvé de grandes possibilités d’action – en même temps que beaucoup d’adversaires.

10 Si Timothée arrive, veillez à ce qu’il se sente à l’aise parmi vous, car il travaille à l’œuvre du Seigneur, tout comme moi.

11 Que personne ne le méprise donc. A son départ, fournissez-lui les moyens de revenir dans la paix auprès de moi, car je l’attends, lui et les frères qui l’accompagnent.

12 Quant à notre frère Apollos, je l’ai encouragé à plusieurs reprises à se joindre aux frères qui retournent chez vous, mais il n’a pas du tout l’intention d’entreprendre ce voyage maintenant. Il ira certainement dès qu’il en trouvera l’occasion.

Recommandations finales

13 Soyez vigilants, demeurez fermes dans la foi, faites preuve de courage, soyez forts. 14 Que l’amour inspire toutes vos actions.

15 Encore une recommandation, frères et sœurs : vous connaissez Stéphanas et sa famille. Vous vous souvenez qu’ils ont été les premiers à se convertir au Seigneur dans toute l’Achaïe. Vous savez qu’ils se sont spontanément mis au service des membres du peuple saint. 16 Soumettez-vous, vous aussi, à de telles personnes et à ceux qui partagent leur travail et leurs efforts.

17 Je suis heureux de la visite de Stéphanas, de Fortunatus et d’Achaïcus[c] : ils ont fait pour moi ce que votre éloignement vous a empêchés de faire. 18 Ils m’ont réconforté, comme ils l’ont souvent fait pour vous. Sachez donc apprécier de tels hommes.

Salutations

19 Les Eglises de la province d’Asie vous saluent. Aquilas et Prisca vous envoient leurs salutations au nom du Seigneur, ainsi que l’Eglise qui se réunit dans leur maison.

20 Tous les frères et sœurs vous saluent. Saluez-vous les uns les autres en vous donnant le baiser fraternel.

21 C’est moi, Paul, qui écris cette salutation de ma propre main. 22 Si quelqu’un n’aime pas le Seigneur, qu’il soit maudit[d].

Marana tha[e]. (Notre Seigneur, viens !)

23 Que la grâce du Seigneur Jésus soit avec vous !

24 Mon amour vous accompagne tous, dans l’union avec Jésus-Christ.

Amen !

Footnotes

  1. 16.1 Voir 7.1 et note.
  2. 16.6 Alors que la mer était fermée à la navigation et qu’il ne pouvait pas se rendre en Israël. Paul a effectivement passé trois mois d’hiver à Corinthe (Ac 20.3).
  3. 16.17 Sans doute, ces trois chrétiens de Corinthe avaient-ils apporté à Paul la lettre des Corinthiens.
  4. 16.22 Autre traduction : il n’a pas sa place parmi vous.
  5. 16.22 Expression araméenne. On peut aussi comprendre : Maran atha, ce qui veut dire : le Seigneur vient.