November 26, 2025
1 Corinthians 16 ESV
Now concerning the collection for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do. On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come. And when I arrive, I will send those whom you accredit by letter to carry your gift to Jerusalem. If it seems advisable that I should go also, they will accompany me. I will visit you after passing through Macedonia, for I intend to pass through Macedonia, and perhaps I will stay with you or even spend the winter, so that you may help me on my journey, wherever I go. For I do not want to see you now just in passing. I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits. But I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost, for a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries. When Timothy comes, see that you put him at ease among you, for he is doing the work of the Lord, as I am. So let no one despise him. Help him on his way in peace, that he may return to me, for I am expecting him with the brothers. Now concerning our brother Apollos, I strongly urged him to visit you with the other brothers, but it was not at all his will to come now. He will come when he has opportunity. Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love. Now I urge you, brother—you know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints— be subject to such as these, and to every fellow worker and laborer. I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus, because they have made up for your absence, for they refreshed my spirit as well as yours. Give recognition to such people. The churches of Asia send you greetings. Aquila and Prisca, together with the church in their house, send you hearty greetings in the Lord. All the brothers send you greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss. I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. If anyone has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed. Our Lord, come! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.
Discussion Questions:
1) Verses 1-4: What instructions does Paul give the Corinthian brethren about a donation for other brethren?
2) Verses 5-9: What does Paul say about his travel plans and his work among the brethren?
3) Verses 10-24: What final admonitions does Paul give to the Corinthian ecclesia and what instructions does he give about their relationship with the brethren he mentions?
Discussion Summary:
Verses 1-4: Paul gives instructions for the collection of money for the poorer brethren in the Jerusalem ecclesia (Romans 15:26,27). He wants this freewill offering to be planned and considered, not a last-minute decision. The money is to be set aside on the first day of the week (Sunday), but kept with the individual as at that time the brethren met together in homes and rented buildings. Perhaps this particular day indicated the motivation that was behind the Corinthian brethren’s donations. It was a day of being with other Christians and a day commemorating the Lord’s resurrection. It spoke to the recognition of the body members throughout the world and the grace that was given to us through the death of Jesus Christ.
Verses 5-9: Paul wrote this letter to the Corinthians from the city of Ephesus in Asia Minor. Acts 19:10 tells us that he lived there for 3 years. During this time a door of opportunity had opened and he was able to establish many ecclesias throughout the area such as Thyatira, Sardis and Laodicea. However, this meant that he was not able to visit Corinth whenever he wanted. He keenly felt a responsibility to all of the Churches he had founded in Asia Minor, Macedonia, and Achaia.
He planned his life and journeys around his service to the brethren. His own interests are not even mentioned. His decisions were made according to the opportunities being opened or closed. He looked to the Lord to show him these opportunities as indicated by the phrase “if the Lord permits.”
Verses 10-24: One of the reasons that Paul wrote this letter to the Corinthians was because they were on a path of separation. They were dividing themselves as following either Paul or Peter or Apollos or Christ. We see that Paul did not harbor envy or a desire to excel above others because he himself urged Apollos to return to Corinth and help straighten this matter out (verse 12). Apollos was unable to go. So instead, Paul decided to send Timothy who he hoped would continue to encourage the brethren along the lines of this letter.
Timothy seems to be young (1 Timothy 4:12) and unsure of himself (1 Timothy 5:23) and so Paul urges the Corinthian brethren to treat him kindly and with respect. This was necessary to say as some of the brethren in Corinth did not even respect Paul’s authority.
In verse 20, Paul urges the brethren to greet one another with a “holy kiss.” This could convey a deeper meaning than just a gesture of greeting when we consider the other kiss mentioned in scripture – the kiss of betrayal by Judas (Matthew 26:48,49).
In verse 22, Paul commands the brethren that if they don’t love Jesus they will be accursed. This word “love” is from the Greek word “phileo” which has the thought of a brotherly, warm love. This same word is used in John 21:17 when Jesus appeared to Peter after his denials. Jesus asked Peter if he loved him. When Peter replied that he did, Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.” In other words, if Peter truly loved the resurrected Lord he would be showing that love to Jesus’ followers.
Perhaps this final strong message is to remind the Corinthian brethren that their problems with each other in the ecclesia was a very serious matter and a repudiation of their love for the Lord. This principle applies in the ages to come as well (Matthew 25:40).
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