seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
1 Corinthians 16:1 Now about the collection for the Lord’s people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do. 2 On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made. 3 Then, when I arrive, I will give letters of introduction to the men you approve and send them with your gift to Jerusalem. 4 If it seems advisable for me to go also, they will accompany me.
5 After I go through Macedonia, I will come to you—for I will be going through Macedonia. 6 Perhaps I will stay with you for a while, or even spend the winter, so that you can help me on my journey, wherever I go. 7 For I do not want to see you now and make only a passing visit; I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits. 8 But I will stay on at Ephesus until Pentecost, 9 because a great door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many who oppose me.
10 When Timothy comes, see to it that he has nothing to fear while he is with you, for he is carrying on the work of the Lord, just as I am. 11 No one, then, should treat him with contempt. Send him on his way in peace so that he may return to me. I am expecting him along with the brothers.
12 Now about our brother Apollos: I strongly urged him to go to you with the brothers. He was quite unwilling to go now, but he will go when he has the opportunity.
13 Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. 14 Do everything in love.
15 You know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the service of the Lord’s people. I urge you, brothers and sisters, 16 to submit to such people and to everyone who joins in the work and labors at it. 17 I was glad when Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus arrived, because they have supplied what was lacking from you. 18 For they refreshed my spirit and yours also. Such men deserve recognition.
19 The churches in the province of Asia send you greetings. Aquila and Priscilla[a] greet you warmly in the Lord, and so does the church that meets at their house. 20 All the brothers and sisters here send you greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss.
21 I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand.
22 If anyone does not love the Lord, let that person be cursed! Come, Lord[b]!
23 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you.
24 My love to all of you in Christ Jesus. Amen.[c]
a. 1 Corinthians 16:19 Greek Prisca, a variant of Priscilla
b. 1 Corinthians 16:22 The Greek for Come, Lord reproduces an Aramaic expression (Marana tha) used by early Christians.
c. 1 Corinthians 16:24 Some manuscripts do not have Amen.
Well.... long winded Paul has finished the first letter to the Corinthians. Well this should be a easy chapter.... but I'm going to the easy English site first anyway.... and Paul started this chapter off with a collection plate......
1. Paul had promised the leaders of the church in Jerusalem that he would remember the poor people in Jerusalem (Galatians 2:9-10). There had been a great lack of food (Acts 11:27-30). There were many Christian widows (Acts 6:1-6). There was probably a lack of paid work.
2. Paul wanted Christians to realise that faith must cause us to act practically. They could show their love for each other if they helped poor people by gifts of money. Paul used the word ‘charis’ to show that their money was a gift (1 Corinthians 16:3). He also talked about this gift in 2 Corinthians 8:4. There he used the Greek word ‘koinonia’ to emphasise that they were sharing with each other. It was an honour to give this help (2 Corinthians 9:12).
3. Paul was eager to unite Jewish and Gentile Christians. They were part of one church, with responsibility for each other.
‘Now I will write about’ shows that Paul was replying to questions from Corinth. They may have asked him
1. how to organise the collection of money;
2. what the arrangements were to send the money to Jerusalem.
The first day of the week’ was the day of the resurrection of Jesus. So it was a day on which Christians met for worship (Acts 20:7). So to set aside money on that day was part of their worship. It was a way to thank God. A single collection would produce some money. But regular collections over a period of time would produce more money. If one Christian was not as rich as another Christian, he would give less. The rich Christians should give more. But they all had the opportunity to share.
A number of people together would make travel safer. They would be carrying a large sum of money. They should be men that the local churches approved of. That would remove any idea that Christians were not honest. Acts 20:4 gives the names of some of these men.
Paul had said that he would send Timothy to visit them (1 Corinthians 4:17). From Acts 19:22, we learn that he sent Timothy with Erastus before him into Macedonia. Timothy was young (1 Timothy 4:12). Paul thought that some of the Christians in Corinth might not behave in a loving way towards a young man. So, he reminded them that Timothy was doing the same work as himself. They should help Timothy as they would have helped Paul. It is not clear whether Paul and some Christians with him were expecting Timothy. It could be that Timothy and Erastus would be returning from their journey with some other ‘*brothers’ to meet Paul.
Back in the day.... people would sew coins in their clothes to protect the coins while traveling. There weren't a lot of State Troopers in the days of Paul..... bandits were everywhere. The concept of transferring funds digitally was a long way off..... so the good people of Corinth needed to plan a safe route to get the money collected from Corinth to Jerusalem. So.... logistics had to be taught. It would have been more dangerous to send one guy weekly..... the bandits could figure out that schedule. It was decided that a bunch of men would go once a year..... there would be 52 collections in that shipment.... but with a few men to guard it....it would do a lot to lift the spirit of the Messianic Jews in Jerusalem.
That collection might also do a lot to mend the differences between the Gentiles in Corinth [having church services in a brothel building] and those Jews in Jerusalem [Circumcised and picky eaters]. I don't want to call it "buying affection" as some cynics might boast. This was one Christian being good to another Christian.... and being kind to one another just brings about a friendship naturally.
And then there is Timothy. Timothy was a kid. A teenager..... dealing with grown men.... who no doubt lorded their aged experience over the young kid. Timothy was a hard worker. Now.... I'm hoping to bury this notion in this paragraph.... but here goes..... Timothy was a young boy who was interested in making a trip to Corinth.... where he would be working side by side with male prostitutes. Timothy was naive..... a boy.... a hardworking Christian teen..... who would be rubbing shoulders with boys hardened by life. Paul, IMHO, is saying.... "hey, y'all keep an eye out for my boy Timothy".
Logistics.... are soothing to me. I like to have all my ducks in a row. I like having all the numbers in the proper columns. I follow recipes and actually read the instructions I get from Ikea. Paul wrote a letter to the Corinthians, who were having troubles combining those goody two shoes Messianic Jews in Corinth with those male and female Gentile prostitutes of the temple of Aphrodite in Corinth. The logistics were necessary because the church in Corinth met in a room in the temple of Aphrodite, a brothel. Gentiles and Jews meeting in a brothel talking about what Jesus told them..... what a concept..... and they were a peaceful church???? Apparently not..... but churches do have their issues.
Logistics.... plus some healing of hearts..... some help for the poor, widowed, orphans, and elderly..... a mission.... logistics.
