1 Corinthians 16
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
VI. Conclusion
Chapter 16
The Collection.[a] 1 Now in regard to the collection[b] for the holy ones, you also should do as I ordered the churches of Galatia.(A) 2 On the first day of the week each of you should set aside and save whatever he can afford, so that collections will not be going on when I come. 3 And when I arrive, I shall send those whom you have approved with letters of recommendation to take your gracious gift to Jerusalem. 4 If it seems fitting that I should go also,[c] they will go with me.
Paul’s Travel Plans.[d] 5 I shall come to you after I pass through Macedonia (for I am going to pass through Macedonia),(B) 6 and perhaps I shall stay or even spend the winter with you, so that you may send me on my way wherever I may go. 7 For I do not wish to see you now just in passing, but I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits.(C) 8 [e]I shall stay in Ephesus(D) until Pentecost, 9 because a door has opened for me wide and productive for work, but there are many opponents.(E)
10 If Timothy comes, see that he is without fear in your company, for he is doing the work of the Lord just as I am.(F) 11 Therefore, no one should disdain him. Rather, send him on his way in peace that he may come to me, for I am expecting him with the brothers. 12 Now in regard to our brother Apollos, I urged him strongly to go to you with the brothers, but it was not at all his will that he go now. He will go when he has an opportunity.(G)
Exhortation and Greetings. 13 Be on your guard, stand firm in the faith, be courageous, be strong. 14 Your every act should be done with love.
15 I urge you, brothers—you know that the household of Stephanas(H) is the firstfruits of Achaia and that they have devoted themselves to the service of the holy ones— 16 be subordinate to such people and to everyone who works and toils with them. 17 I rejoice in the arrival of Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus, because they made up for your absence, 18 for they refreshed my spirit as well as yours. So give recognition to such people.(I)
19 [f]The churches of Asia send you greetings. Aquila and Prisca together with the church at their house send you many greetings in the Lord.(J) 20 All the brothers greet you. Greet one another with a holy kiss.(K)
21 I, Paul, write you this greeting in my own hand.(L) 22 If anyone does not love the Lord, let him be accursed.[g] Marana tha.(M) 23 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you.(N) 24 My love to all of you in Christ Jesus.
Footnotes
- 16:1–4 This paragraph contains our earliest evidence for a project that became a major undertaking of Paul’s ministry. The collection for the church at Jerusalem was a symbol in his mind for the unity of Jewish and Gentile Christianity. Cf. Gal 2:10; Rom 15:25–29; 2 Cor 8–9 and the notes to this last passage.
- 16:1 In regard to the collection: it has already begun in Galatia and Macedonia (cf. 2 Cor 8), and presumably he has already instructed the Corinthians about its purpose.
- 16:4 That I should go also: presumably Paul delivered the collection on his final visit to Jerusalem; cf. Rom 15:25–32; Acts 24:14.
- 16:5–12 The travel plans outlined here may not have materialized precisely as Paul intended; cf. 2 Cor 1:8–2:13; 7:4–16.
- 16:8 In Ephesus until Pentecost: this tells us the place from which he wrote the letter and suggests he may have composed it about Easter time (cf. 1 Cor 5:7–8).
- 16:19–24 These paragraphs conform to the normal epistolary conclusion, but their language is overlaid with liturgical coloration as well. The greetings of the Asian churches are probably to be read, along with the letter, in the liturgy at Corinth, and the union of the church is to be expressed by a holy kiss (1 Cor 16:19–20). Paul adds to this his own greeting (1 Cor 16:21) and blessings (1 Cor 16:23–24).
- 16:22 Accursed: literally, “anathema.” This expression (cf. 1 Cor 12:3) is a formula for exclusion from the community; it may imply here a call to self-examination before celebration of the Eucharist, in preparation for the Lord’s coming and judgment (cf. 1 Cor 11:17–34). Marana tha: an Aramaic expression, probably used in the early Christian liturgy. As understood here (“O Lord, come!”), it is a prayer for the early return of Christ. If the Aramaic words are divided differently (Maran atha, “Our Lord has come”), it becomes a credal declaration. The former interpretation is supported by what appears to be a Greek equivalent of this acclamation in Rev 22:20 “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!”
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
King James Version
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.
1 Corinthians 16
English Standard Version
The Collection for the Saints
16 Now concerning[a] (A)the collection for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do. 2 On (B)the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, (C)as he may prosper, (D)so that there will be no collecting when I come. 3 And when I arrive, I will send (E)those whom you accredit by letter to carry your gift to Jerusalem. 4 If it seems advisable that I should go also, they will accompany me.
Plans for Travel
5 (F)I will visit you after passing through (G)Macedonia, for (H)I intend to pass through Macedonia, 6 and perhaps I will stay with you or even spend the winter, so that you may (I)help me on my journey, wherever I go. 7 For I do not want to see you now (J)just in passing. I hope to spend some time with you, (K)if the Lord permits. 8 But I will stay in Ephesus until (L)Pentecost, 9 for (M)a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and (N)there are many adversaries.
10 (O)When Timothy comes, see that you put him at ease among you, for (P)he is doing (Q)the work of the Lord, as I am. 11 So (R)let no one despise him. (S)Help him on his way (T)in peace, that he may return to me, for I am expecting him with the brothers.
Final Instructions
12 Now concerning (U)our brother Apollos, I strongly urged him to visit you with the other brothers, but it was not at all his will[b] to come now. He will come when he has opportunity.
13 (V)Be watchful, (W)stand firm in the faith, (X)act like men, (Y)be strong. 14 (Z)Let all that you do be done in love.
15 Now I urge you, brothers[c]—you know that (AA)the household[d] of Stephanas were (AB)the first converts[e] in Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves (AC)to the service of the saints— 16 (AD)be subject to such as these, and to every fellow worker and laborer. 17 I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus, because they have made up for (AE)your absence, 18 for they (AF)refreshed my spirit as well as yours. (AG)Give recognition to such people.
Greetings
19 The churches of Asia send you greetings. (AH)Aquila and Prisca, together with (AI)the church in their house, send you hearty greetings in the Lord. 20 All the brothers send you greetings. (AJ)Greet one another with a holy kiss.
21 I, Paul, write (AK)this greeting with my own hand. 22 If anyone has no love for the Lord, let him be (AL)accursed. Our Lord, come![f] 23 (AM)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 The expression Now concerning introduces a reply to a question in the Corinthians' letter; see 7:1; also verse 12
- 1 Corinthians 16:12 Or God's will for him
- 1 Corinthians 16:15 Or brothers and sisters; also verse 20
- 1 Corinthians 16:15 Greek house
- 1 Corinthians 16:15 Greek the firstfruits
- 1 Corinthians 16:22 Greek Maranatha (a transliteration of Aramaic)
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