Now concerning the collection for the saints,
as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, you do
the same.
On the first day of the week (Sunday) let every one of you set his
contributions aside,
as God has prospered him, so that there are no collections
when I come.
This was a real smart move on Paul’s part,
don’t you think? Everyone knows how uncomfortable it is when money is
collected for any reason, so to avoid this awkward occasion, Paul tells them
to do it before his visit to them, and that way, he doesn’t have to discuss
it, which avoids any feelings of shame and/or pride for anyone.
And when I come, whoever you shall approve by your
letters,
I will send them to bring your generosity to Jerusalem.
And if it’s proper that I go to Jerusalem also, they shall go with me.
Now I will visit you, when I pass through Macedonia:
because I do plan to pass through Macedonia.
And it may be that I will stay with you for the winter,
that you may bring me on my journey wherever I go.
For I will not see you now on the way;
but I trust to stay a while with you, if the Lord permit.
But I will stay at Ephesus until Pentecost.
For a great door and opportunity is opened to me there,
and there are many adversaries.
If this letter was written before Paul went
to Ephesus for the first time, he must have heard that there were many
unbelievers there who he could convert. If it was written after he went to
Ephesus, he must have meant that he thought this was a good time to return
there because although he had stayed in Ephesus for two years, he had to
leave sooner than he planned when there was an uproar because people were
beginning to believe in Jesus instead of their goddess Diana, which brought
Ephesus great revenues. You can read about this in
Acts Chapter 19.
In either case, Paul knew that the people there needed the Lord.
As Paul closes his letter, he gives some
instruction and loving advice to the Corinthians.
Now if Timotheus visits, see that he may be with you
without fear:
for he worketh the work of the Lord, as I also do.
Let no man therefore hate him:
but send him forth in peace, that he may visit me:
for I look for him with the brethren.
Timothy, as you know from the book of Acts, was beloved of
Paul, and Paul sent him to various places to minister to the people that he
had brought the Gospel to. In other words Paul would establish a Church and
Timothy would check in on the Churches Paul established. Naturally, he
wanted the Corinthians to make him feel at home.
As concerning our brother Apollos,
I greatly hoped for him to visit you with the brethren:
but his wish was not at all to come at this time;
but he will come when he shall have convenient time.
I beseech you, brethren, (you know the house of Stephanas,
that it is the first fruits of Achaia (the first to become
Christians in Achaia),
and that they have dedicated themselves to the ministry of
the saints,)
that you make your hospitality available to them,
and to every one that helps with us, and labors for Jesus.
I’m glad Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus are coming
to visit:
because that which I needed from you, they have supplied.
They have refreshed my spirit and yours:
therefore acknowledge people like them.
The churches of Asia greet you.
Aquila and Priscilla greet you much in the Lord,
with the Church that is in their house.
All the brethren greet you.
Greet one another with an holy kiss.
The salutation of me Paul with mine own hand.
Paul oft times writes this at the end of
his letters. Perhaps it was rare for people to write letters back in those
days, or maybe it was an assurance of authenticity to say that you wrote the
letter yourself.
If any man does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be accursed.
The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.
There you have it! Congratulations, you’ve just finished the study of The
First Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians! That is quite an
accomplishment because Paul’s letter to the Romans, and this letter to the
Corinthians are the two longest letters in the Bible that Paul wrote. When
we come back, remember the quiz that we talked about in the first chapter of
this letter? You can see how much you learned by testing yourself with the
questions in this little quiz. After that, we’ll be opening a second letter
that Paul wrote to the people of Corinth, right here at Daily Bread. God
bless!
