August 8th
1 Corinthians, 16
D
Exhortations & Benediction
The
collection
1: Now concerning the collection for
the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. 2: Upon the
first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath
prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come. 3: And when I come,
whomsoever ye shall approve by your letters, them will I send to bring your
liberality unto Jerusalem.
Last
word & personal messages
4: And if it be meet that I go also,
they shall go with me. 5: Now I will come unto you, when I shall pass through Macedonia: for I do pass through Macedonia.
6: And it may be that I will abide, yea, and winter with you, that ye may bring
me on my journey whithersoever I go. 7: For I will not see you now by the way;
but I trust 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. 10: Now if Timotheus come, see that he may be with you
without fear: for he worketh the work of the Lord, as I also do. 11: Let no man
therefore despise him: but conduct him forth in peace, that he may come unto
me: for I look for him with the brethren. 12: As touching our brother Apollos,
I greatly desired him to come unto you with the brethren: but his will was not
at all to come at this time; but he will come when he shall have convenient
time.
In this final chapter Paul gives
instruction regarding the collection of money by the believers. But this is not
the ordinary collection made by the believers to maintain their own work for
God. This is the famine relief which Paul and Barnabas had administered. This
is a collection for the poor believers in Jerusalem
and Judea who had faced a famine. Paul
collected money from the Gentile churches and took it to Jerusalem and put it in the hands of the
Apostles and Elders there who no doubt put it into the hands of the deacons.
Some say that Paul gives us an example to worship on the Sabbath in the Acts.
It is true that in Pauls missionary work he did attend Synagogue on the Sabbath
day, This is because This is the day that the Jews attend the Synagogue. Paul
remained a Law keeping Jew in order to be able to preach to the Jews. However
when churches were established and if they were predominantly Gentiles
congregations then the Churches usually met on the first day of the week. So Paul says when you meet on the first day of the
week let every believer lay to one side a gift of money according to how God
has prospered him. There was no idea of a tithe among the Gentiles. They gave
in relation to how God has prospered them. Paul says do this every week so that
there does not need to be a collection when l come. Then Paul says pick out
from among you some believers who are trustworthy and give them letters of
introduction and if l am able l will accompany them to Jerusalem with your famine aid. Paul says l
will come to you when l pass through Macedonia and l might be able to
stay a while, perhaps for the winter when no sailing is available. I will not
be able to see you just now but l will see you later, if God allows me. I will
stay at Ephesus
till Pentecost because a great opportunity is open to me there and the ministry
seems to be particularly effect, but there are many opponents. If Timothy comes
to see you allow him to work with you without being afraid. He is a great man
and he does the work of the Lord the same as l do. Nobody must look down on him
but give him every blessing so that he will be able to come to me. I wanted
Apollos to come to you but at the moment he did not think it was the right
time, He will come when the time is right.
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