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1 Corinthians 16

1Now concerning the collection for the holy ones: do as I directed the assemblies of Galatia. 2On the first day of each week, each of you should set something aside with himself, saving as he prospers, so that collections will not have to take place when I come. 3When I arrive, I will send those you approve, with letters, to carry your gift to Jerusalem. 4If it is fitting for me to go as well, they will go with me.

5I will come to you after I pass through Macedonia, for I am going through Macedonia. 6Perhaps I will stay with you, or even spend the winter, so that you may send me on my way wherever I go. 7For I do not want to see you now just in passing; I hope to remain with you for some time, if the Lord permits. 8But I will remain in Ephesus until Pentecost, 9for a great and effective door has opened for me, and there are many opponents.

10If Timothy comes, see that he can be with you without fear, for he does the Lord's work just as I do. 11So let no one treat him with contempt. Send him on his way in peace, so that he may come to me, for I am expecting him with the brothers. 12Now concerning our brother Apollos: I urged him strongly to come to you with the brothers, but it was not at all his will to come now. He will come when he has an opportunity.

13Stay awake, stand firm in the faith, be courageous, be strong. 14Let everything you do be done in love.

15I urge you, brothers—you know the household of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia and that they devoted themselves to serving the holy ones— 16that you too be subject to such people and to everyone who works and labors with them. 17I rejoice at the arrival of Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus, because they have made up for your absence. 18For they refreshed my spirit and yours. So recognize people like these.

19The assemblies of Asia greet you. Aquila and Prisca greet you warmly in the Lord, together with the assembly in their house. 20All the brothers greet you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. 21This greeting is in my own hand—Paul's. 22If anyone does not love the Lord, let him be accursed. Our Lord, come! 23The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. 24My love be with all of you in Christ Jesus.

Translation notes 4

16:1–4 — The collection. The holy ones are the believers receiving the gift at Jerusalem. “With himself” follows the instruction for each person to set money aside; the text does not explicitly prescribe a centralized weekly offering. “With letters” may describe Paul's sending of the approved delegates or the community's written approval. “Gift” renders a word also used for grace.

16:5–12 — Travel and plans. The door is an image of opportunity amid opposition. “Send me on my way” includes practical help for the journey. The Greek does not name whose will prevented Apollos's immediate visit; “his” supplies Apollos as the likely referent, while God's will is another possibility.

16:13–18 — Courage and service. “Be courageous” translates an established exhortation whose form evokes acting as a man; it addresses the community, not only its males. “Stay awake” preserves the vigilance image. The household is called “firstfruits,” the harvest image for the first converts in Achaia. “Your absence” interprets a literal “your lack”: the visitors supplied what the distant community could not personally provide, not necessarily a moral failure.

16:19–24 — Final greetings. Asia is the Roman province in western Asia Minor, not the whole modern continent. Prisca is the form of the name in the base, also known as Priscilla. “Brothers” can include the community's women. The personal handwriting is distinguished from the preceding letter without identifying a scribe. “Our Lord, come!” translates the Aramaic expression divided as Marana tha in the base; another division gives “Our Lord has come.” The curse is not softened. The base has “the Lord” in verse 22, “the Lord Jesus” in 23, and no final “Amen.”