1 Corinthians 16:1-9

Butler's Comments

SECTION 1

Endow (1 Corinthians 16:1-9)

16 Now concerning the contribution for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do. 2On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that contributions need not be made when I come. 3And when I arrive, I will send those whom you accredit by letter to carry your gift to Jerusalem. 4If it seems advisable that I should go also, they will accompany me.

5 I will visit you after passing through Macedonia, for I intend to pass through Macedonia, 6and perhaps I will stay with you or even spend the winter, so that you may speed me on my journey, wherever I go. 7For I do not want to see you now just in passing; I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits. 8But I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost, 9for a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.

1 Corinthians 16:1-4 Ministering: The Corinthian Christians had a problem with giving. In an earlier communication with them Paul apparently mentioned the need for a contribution to relieve the suffering of their brethren in Judea. Now he writes to set forth apostolic directions on how to best collect that contribution. Evidently, between this letter (I Corinthians) and the next (II Corinthians) (a period of 4 or 5 monthsSpring to Fall of 57 A.D.), the Corinthians had some misunderstandings and misgivings about this collection for the saints in Jerusalem. In 1 Corinthians 16:1-4 Paul sounds as if he is ordering the people to give, whether they want to or not. Someone may have taken offense at his bluntness, so he wrote II Corinthians, Chapter s 8 and 9, to explain that all giving must be done willingly, as each man has purposed in his own heart, and not out of coercion. But it is a fact, that both of these are scriptural motives for Christian stewardship. Paul uses the Greek word logeias (lit. something counted, a collection) to describe what he had directed (Gr. dietaxa, given orders for as in the military) to the churches of Galatia. Now he commands the church at Corinth (Gr, poiesate, 2nd, Philippians 1 aor., imperative, You do!) to take up offerings, and tells them how to do it. They started to do what he ordered (see 2 Corinthians 8:10), but then they stopped. So he wrote later holding before them the example of the Macedonians and telling them they must not give as if it were an exaction. Jesus taught his stewardship lessons under the same two principles. First, Jesus is the Master, our King. He has every right to give his servants orders about the conduct of their stewardship. On the other hand, the obedience of the servant is to be done under an attitude of willingness and cheerfulness. If obedience has to be coerced and is resented, the servant of Christ is no better than the elder brother who stayed home but hated every minute of it, (see Luke 15:25-32).

This chapter is the crown of all the teaching of the first Corinthian letter. The epistle started with the reminder, God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship (Gr. koinonian, communion) of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord (1 Corinthians 1:9). Because of that fellowship with Jesus Christ, Christians have been called into partnership or communion with the whole church of Christ everywhere in the world. The Corinthians needed to know that their relationship to Christ also involved brotherhood with the whole world-wide church whether in Corinth, Macedonia, Galatia or Jerusalem. They must be led to share in supplying material needs and spiritual needs of all the brethren called unto the same fellowship (communion) as theyno matter where those brethren were. Perhaps Paul is ordering this lengthy and regular collection for benevolence as part of the therapy for their self-centeredness. Whoever would save his life shall lose it, but whoever would lose his life for Christ's sake and the Gospel's shall secure it.

Giving is not optional for the Christian. Every place Paul established a congregation of believers he taught them they must give. Jesus taught that to be his followers a person must be willing to give when one has hardly anything at all (the poor widow with two mites, Luke 21:1-4; Mark 12:41-44) and to give all when one has everything (the rich young ruler, Luke 18:18-30; Matthew 19:16-22; Mark 10:17-22). Giving is the very essence and breath of Christianity.

There were two reasons the Christians in Judea were needing financial help. First, a famine (Acts 11:28) had devastated the area; second, many of the Jews who had become Christian in Judea were being persecuted and their goods were being plundered (Hebrews 10:34) by their Hebrew persecutors. It is instructive to note the different Greek words the apostle uses to describe this contribution:

a.

logeias - a thing that has been counted, a collection. (1 Corinthians 16:1)

b.

charin - a gracious gift (1 Corinthians 16:3)

c.

koinonia - a taking part, a fellowship, a communion (2 Corinthians 8:4; 2 Corinthians 9:13)

d.

diakonia - a ministry, a deaconship (2 Corinthians 8:4)

e.

hadroteti - bountiful, abundance, liberal gift (2 Corinthians 8:20)

f.

eulogian - well-counted, blessed-counting (2 Corinthians 9:5)

g.

leitourgia - serviceable gift, a gift to serve, a liturgy (2 Corinthians 9:12)

h.

eleemosune - alms, gift of mercy, gift for the poor (Acts 24:17)

i.

prosphora - a sacrificial offering (Acts 24:17)

From all these synonyms we get a picture of Christian giving as systematic, liberal, willing, and purposeful. Stedman (op. cit.) notices the following outline in Paul's instructions here:

1.

Giving is to be a universal Christian practice - as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do.

2.

Giving is in celebration of Christ's resurrection - On the first day of the week.

3.

Giving is personal - ... each of you is to put something aside.

4.

Giving should be planned and with regularity - ... put something aside and store it up.

5.

Giving is not to be measured by amount but by motive - ... as he may prosper.

6.

Giving should be done without special pressure - ... so that contributions need not be made when I come.

7.

Giving should be applied faithfully to that for which it has been given - ... I will send those whom you accredit by letter.

The Greek syntax of 1 Corinthians 16:2 is interesting: kata mian sabbatou hekastos humonpar heauto titheto thesaurizon ho ti ean euodotai. , Upon the first of the week each of you by himself is to deposit the things being stored up however he is prospered. You see, they were storing up their offerings constantlyevery daythen on Sunday they took their personal collection and deposited it in the congregational offering. In the culture of the first century, most people were paid at the end of every day for their labor (see Matthew 20:8). Every day they stored up part of their daily wages, according to how much they were paid, and deposited it on the Lord's Day (first day of the week). This is clearly an assertion that in the first century church there was a time (first day of the week) and a responsible administering (deposit) for money given by Christians to the Lord's work. It is also a clear indication that the early Christians met on the first day of the week to worship and share in the Lord's work.

The Greek word euodotai is a combined word from eu, meaning well or good, and hodos, meaning road or journey or path. It is translated in 1 Corinthians 16:2, prosper. Christians are to give according to the goodness of the road they travel. If God has given a man a hard row to hoe (hard times, poverty) he should give whatever he is able to give. He must give something, but it may be very little compared to what others have to give. But that is all right with God. It does not need to be a tithe (10 percent) There is nowhere in the New Testament that tithing is commanded for the Christian. The Christian's relationship is on a much higher level than tithing. The expectation for a Christian is loving, self-sacrificing, responsible stewardship of 100 percent of all with which he has been entrusted. He will give as he believes the Lord has given to him, and what he retains he will not consider his own but he will use it wisely and frugally to serve Christ in the best manner possible and bring glory to his name. We cannot give more than we have. God knows that (2 Corinthians 8:12), and accepts it. God is singularly interested in the readiness of mind and heart to give. With God, motive is all important (see Matthew 6:2-4; Matthew 6:19-21). Great sums of money may be given (see Luke 21:1-4; Mark 12:41-44) but if the motive is self-righteousness, it is an abomination with God, (see Isaiah 1:10-17; Micah 6:6-8).

Paul anxiously guarded against exacting contributions for the Lord's work through special pressures. He said, ... so that contributions need not be made when I come. He really said, in Greek, hina me hotan eltho tote logeiai ginontai, lest whenever I come then collections there are. Why this instruction?

Because the apostle knew that when he was personally present he had a tremendous impact on people. He did not want their giving to be because they were moved by his preaching or by his stories of what God had done, or in any other way to be pressured. No professional fund raisers would have been permitted in the early churches. Paul says, in effect, Do not bring out the thermometer; do not put on a three-ring circus, with people running down the aisle bringing pledges to meet a predetermined goal. I do not want that. Your giving is to come out of a heart that has been moved by the grace of God. God does not want giving on any terms other than those. Giving must be without special pressure.

(Ray C Stedman, op. cit., p. 327)

Finally, Paul advises the church at Corinth of its responsibility to insure that the collection for the needy gets to Judea as intended. The apostle offers to help deliver the money if he is needed, but he will let the Corinthian congregation decide who the messengers shall be.

These are principles, based on apostolic authority, the church will do well to follow closely in every age. They are never outdated or irrelevant. We have so much in America! We are so prosperous, in comparison with the rest of the world. God has certainly given Americans, considering our liberties as well as our material endowments, an easier row to hoe than the majority of the world's people. Of course, we do not expect unbelievers in America to give to the Lord's work as they have been prospered. But it is doubtful that most Christians in America give as they have been prospered. Let us repent, and do it!

1 Corinthians 16:5-9 Missions: If we did not know the humble nature of Paul, and did not know his passion for being self-supporting by plying his trade of tent-making, we would think him a bit presumptuous to invite himself to be the guest of the Corinthians. Paul undoubtedly has another motive for inviting the Corinthians to support him in his intended missionary work. He would want to allow them the privilege of sharing in the fruits of his labors (see Philippians 4:17; 2 Corinthians 11:7-11; 2 Corinthians 12:13).

Paul established the church in Corinth (Acts 18:1 ff.) in A.D. 51 on his 2nd missionary journey. He remained there a year, and returned to Palestine via Syria (Acts 18:18-22). He began his third missionary journey in A.D. 54 going first through Galatia and Phrygia (Acts 18:23), then to Ephesus (Acts 18:24). During a three-year stay at Ephesus (Acts 18:24-28; Acts 19:1-41) he wrote I Corinthians. Leaving Asia Minor (Acts 20:1-4) he went to Macedonia. From Macedonia he wrote II Corinthians. Then he went on down into Greece where he spent three months, visiting Corinth again after about a six-year absence. While at Corinth, in 57 A.D., he wrote the epistle to the Romans. In our text here (1 Corinthians 16:5) Paul writes from Ephesus of his plan to visit Corinth after passing through Macedonia.

Paul intended to stay with the Corinthians. He was passing through Macedonia toward (Gr. pros, preposition denoting direction) Corinth. He intended to stay at Corinth in order that (Gr. hina, conjunction denoting purpose, aim or goal) they might speed him on his journey, (Gr. propempsete, aorist imperative active verb, meaning, you will furnish me with things necessary for a journeysee Titus 3:13; 3 John 1:6). He did not want to see them just in passing. He intended to spend some time with them, if the Lord permits. He would need to be housed, fed, perhaps even given financial assistance (even though he usually earned his own livingActs 20:33-35; 1 Corinthians 4:9-18; 2 Corinthians 11:7-12; 2 Corinthians 12:14-18; 1 Thessalonians 2:5-9; and he taught other Christians to do the same1 Thessalonians 4:9-12; 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15). There were certainly times when Paul did take financial aid (Philippians 4:15-19) and he said he had a right to take such aid in his ministry (1 Corinthians 9:1 ff.). Some preachers, evangelists and missionaries, in this affluent twentieth century, are forced to surrender full-time ministries because of lack of financial support. Perhaps the major reason for insufficient financial pay to ministers of the gospel is that many Christian people do not believe a minister works hard enough to deserve pay equal to those who do manual labor, or equal to those professionals who have invested in years of training and apprenticeship. Most ministers of the gospel today are being paid a salary about equal to janitors and public school teachersmost of whom must take a second job to make ends meet. Ministers with families have difficulty staying out of debt and conducting a full-time ministry on that kind of pay. Most preachers and missionaries never complain. They go right on struggling, feeling the psychological pressures of living each day on the edge of insolvency. They do it because they have a servant's heart. But even the ox (let alone the human servant) is worthy of his hire (1 Corinthians 9:8-12).

The apostle intended to stay at Corinth. He needed assistance. He was going to be put to the test in Ephesus. He would be run through the psychological grinder there. As he was writing he could see a wide door for effective work opening for him but there were many adversaries. It would be hard work, taxing every mental and emotional fiber of his being. The financial aid he might expect from Corinth would boost his spirit. But he would also be looking for some spiritual encouragement through his stay in Corinth. Even the greatest of the apostles needed human comfort. Some of the most pathos-filled words in all the Bible are those of Paul in the Roman prison awaiting death when he asked Timothy to do your best to come to me soon (2 Timothy 4:9-18). Paul may have also had in mind the same reason he took financial aid from Philippi. He may have wanted Corinth to have the blessing of participating in the future fruits of his ministry (see Philippians 4:17). Whatever his reasoning, it appears he did not receive financial aid from Corinth. He apologizes (2 Corinthians 11:7-11; 2 Corinthians 12:13) for having done them a disservice for not having demanded it! Any group of Christians that does not pay its preacher sufficient wages to relieve him of financial anxiety, does not help him prepare for retirement, and does not encourage him by understanding how hard he labors, is doing itself a disservice! Such a church could never realize the satisfaction of sharing in the fruits of his labor.

Applebury's Comments

The Collection for the Saints (1-9)

Text

1 Corinthians 16:1-9. Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I gave order to the churches of Galatia, so also do ye. 2 Upon the first day of the week let each one of you lay by him in store, as he may prosper, that no collections be made when I come. 3 And when I arrive, whomsoever ye shall approve, them will I send with letters to carry your bounty unto Jerusalem: 4 and if it be meet for me to go also, they shall go with me. 5 But I will come unto you, when I shall have passed through Macedonia; for I pass through Macedonia; 6 but with you it may be that I shall abide, or even winter, that ye may set me forward on my journey whithersoever I go. 7 For I do not wish to see you now by the way; for I hope 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.

Commentary

Now concerning the collection.The familiar now concerning does not introduce some problem that was disrupting the life and harmony of the church. It suggests Paul's concern for the people he knew and loved. He had a lasting concern for the saints in Judea. Before his conversion he had persecuted them and had tried to make havoc of the church of God (Galatians 1:13; Galatians 1:23). Some time after his conversion when Agabus came to Antioch and predicted a famine over all the world, the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren that dwelt in Judea; which also they did, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul (Acts 11:27-30). Still later when Paul was in conference in Jerusalem with Cephas and John and James, he was asked to remember the poor in Judea. This, he said, he was very eager to do (Galatians 2:1-10).

Although Paul was the apostle to the Gentiles, he never forgot his own Jewish people (Romans 9:1-3), but he seemed to be particularly concerned about those from the Jews who had turned to Christ as he had done. In all his labors among the Gentile converts to Christianity, he urged that the suffering saints in Judea be remembered and that offerings be sent for their relief. See 2 Corinthians 8:1-24; 2 Corinthians 9:1-15.

As I gave order.The apostle did not hesitate to lay down regulations to be followed by the church in fulfilling their obligations to others. He had already reminded them that what he was writing was the commandment of the Lord (1 Corinthians 14:37). He had given the same orders to the churches in Galatia.

upon the first day of the week.The expression clearly indicates the first day of every week. Each one was to participate in the collection. He was to set aside an amount which he was to determine on the basis of his being prospered.

no collections be made when I come.Some take this to mean that the members of the church were to put their weekly offerings into a common treasury. Paul's concern was that the money be ready when he came. In order to have it so, it was necessary for the brethren to begin early and set it aside on every first day of the week. Each one could have brought what he saved when Paul arrived. It would be difficult to say just how they did it. The important thing was to save regularly for the offering so that it would be ready when Paul arrived. He did not want to spend time waiting for them to get it together after he came. Most people will find it easier to save something each week than to get a large sum ready at one time.

whomsoever ye shall approve.Paul was careful about handling funds that belonged to others. The people were to approve the ones to take the offering to Jerusalem. He was willing to go along if it should be the thing to do, but he was not giving his critics an opportunity to condemn him in the handling of the collection. A good example for all who handle church funds!

them will I send with letters.Those who were to be appointed by the church to perform this task were to have letters of commendation from Paul to the brethren in Jerusalem. This is further evidence of his concern that everything be done in a manner that was above criticism. The Lord's people were giving the money for the suffering saints of the Lord and the Lord's servants were taking every precaution to have it done for His glory.

But I will come unto you.Paul planned for the future. Sometimes he was hindered in carrying out his plans. He had already written of his intention to visit them in connection with other matters (1 Corinthians 4:18-21). He looked forward to the visit with joy and hope that the problems would be taken care of and that the collections would be made by the time he arrived. His trip was to take him through Macedonia, but he planned to stay through the winter at Corinth.

that ye may set me forward.It is not likely that he had in mind any financial support (1 Corinthians 9:15). Luke records the facts of the farewell which the Ephesian elders gave Paul at Miletus (Acts 20:36-38). Something like it may have been in his mind as he wrote this word to the brethren at Corinth.

if the Lord permit.Paul was always conscious of the Lord's hand in all of his plans and journeys. See also James 4:15.

a great and effectual door.Paul was at Ephesus when he wrote the epistle. He planned to stay there until Pentecost. This does not suggest that he was planning to keep the feast there but rather that he was aware of the great door of opportunity before him to do an effective work for the Lord.

Ephesus was the third great radiating center of early Christianity. Jerusalem was the first; Antioch was the second. All Asia heard the gospel as a result of Paul's work at Ephesus (Acts 19:9-10). The apostles did not neglect the rural areas, but they concentrated their efforts on the great centers of population from Jerusalem to Rome.

there are many adversaries.This was another reason for remaining at Ephesus. Paul was not one to run because of opposition. He was confident that the Lord would always lead him in triumph in Christ in every place as he proclaimed the gospel (2 Corinthians 2:14-17). He was eager to preach the gospel in Rome also, for it is the power of God (Romans 1:16).