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. 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. When I arrive, (G)whomever you approve, I will send them with letters to take your gift to Jerusalem; and if it is appropriate for me to go also, they will go with me.

But I (H)will come to you after I go through (I)Macedonia; for I (J)am going through Macedonia, 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. 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. But I will remain in (N)Ephesus until (O)Pentecost; 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. 1 Corinthians 16:1 I.e., the Christians in Jerusalem
  2. 1 Corinthians 16:2 Lit put with himself
  3. 1 Corinthians 16:9 Lit and effective
  4. 1 Corinthians 16:10 Lit is with you without reason to fear
  5. 1 Corinthians 16:15 Lit it is
  6. 1 Corinthians 16:15 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people
  7. 1 Corinthians 16:17 Or presence
  8. 1 Corinthians 16:17 Or made up for your absence
  9. 1 Corinthians 16:19 I.e., west coast province of Asia Minor
  10. 1 Corinthians 16:22 Gr anathema
  11. 1 Corinthians 16:22 Aramaic [Our] Lord, come!

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. 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) When I arrive, I will send with letters(E) those you recommend to carry your gracious gift to Jerusalem.(F) If it is suitable for me to go as well, they can travel with me.

Paul’s Travel Plans

I will come to you after I pass through Macedonia(G)—for I will be traveling through Macedonia— and perhaps I will remain with you or even spend the winter, so that you may send me on my way wherever I go. 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) But I will stay in Ephesus(I) until Pentecost,(J) 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. 1 Corinthians 16:2 Or Each Sunday
  2. 1 Corinthians 16:9 Lit for a door has opened to me, great and effective
  3. 1 Corinthians 16:11 With the brothers may connect with Paul or Timothy.
  4. 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.
  5. 1 Corinthians 16:22 Or Maran atha (an Aram expression transliterated into Gk) = Our Lord has come!

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.

Concerning the Collection for the Saints

16 Now concerning the collection for the saints, you should follow the directions I gave to the churches in Galatia. After the Sabbath ends,[a] each of you should set aside and save something from your surplus in proportion to what you have, so that no collections will have to be made when I arrive. When I arrive, I will send letters along with the men you approve to take your gift to Jerusalem. If it is worthwhile for me to go, too, they can go with me.

Plans for Travel

I will visit you when I go through Macedonia—for I intend to go through Macedonia— and will probably stay with you for a while[b] or even spend the winter with you.[c] Then you can send me on my way, wherever I decide to go. I do not want to visit with you now just in passing, because I hope to spend a longer time with you if the Lord permits. However, I’ll stay on in Ephesus until Pentecost, because a door has opened wide for me to do effective work, although many people are opposing me.

10 If Timothy comes, see to it that he does not have anything to be afraid of while he is with you, for he is doing the Lord’s work as I am. 11 Therefore, no one should treat him with contempt. Send him on his way in peace so that he may come to me, because I am expecting him along with the brothers.

12 Now concerning our brother Apollos, I strongly urged him to visit you with the other[d] brothers, but he was not inclined to do so just now. However, he will visit you[e] when the time is right.

Final Instructions

13 Remain alert. Keep standing firm in your faith. Keep on being courageous and strong. 14 Everything you do should be done lovingly. 15 Now I urge you, brothers—for you know that the members of the family of Stephanas were the first converts[f] in Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves to serving the saints— 16 to submit yourselves to people like these and to anyone else who shares their labor and hard work. 17 I am glad that Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus came here, because what was lacking they have supplied through you. 18 They refreshed my spirit—and yours, too. Therefore, appreciate men like that.

Final Greetings

19 The churches in Asia greet you. Aquila and Prisca[g] and the church in their house greet you warmly in union with the Lord. 20 All the brothers greet you. Greet one another with a holy kiss.[h] 21 I, Paul, am writing this greeting with my own hand.

22 If anyone doesn’t love the Lord,
    let him be anathema![i]
        Marana tha![j]

23 May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with you!
24 May my love remain[k] with all of you
    in union with the Messiah[l] Jesus.[m]

Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 16:2 Or On the first day of the week
  2. 1 Corinthians 16:6 The Gk. lacks for a while
  3. 1 Corinthians 16:6 The Gk. lacks with you
  4. 1 Corinthians 16:12 The Gk. lacks other
  5. 1 Corinthians 16:12 The Gk. lacks you
  6. 1 Corinthians 16:15 Lit. the first fruits
  7. 1 Corinthians 16:19 I.e. Priscilla
  8. 1 Corinthians 16:20 People customarily greeted their friends with a kiss.
  9. 1 Corinthians 16:22 This term means eternally condemned
  10. 1 Corinthians 16:22 This Aram. sentence means May our Lord come!
  11. 1 Corinthians 16:24 Or My love is
  12. 1 Corinthians 16:24 Or Christ
  13. 1 Corinthians 16:24 Other mss. read Jesus. Amen