1 Corinthians 16

Now about the money being collected for God's people: do exactly what I told the churches in Galatia to do.

1Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye.

Note"Saints" in the King James does not mean specially holy individuals. It translates a word meaning people set apart, and Paul uses it of ordinary church members; here it refers specifically to the believers in Jerusalem, who were in financial need. "As I have given order" means as I gave instructions, not as I placed an order. Galatia was a Roman province in central Asia Minor, in what is now Turkey.

2On the first day of every week, each of you should set aside some money at home and save it up, in an amount that matches how well things have gone for you. Then no collection will have to be taken when I come.

2Upon 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.

NoteThe first day of the week is Sunday. In the Jewish calendar the seventh day, Saturday, was the Sabbath, so the first day was an ordinary working day. "Lay by him in store" means to put money aside privately and let it build up over time, rather than bringing it to a meeting each week.

3When I arrive, I will send the men you have approved, along with letters, to carry your gift to Jerusalem.

3And when I come, whomsoever ye shall approve by your letters, them will I send to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem.

NoteThe Greek can be read two ways, and translators divide over it: either Paul will send letters along with the men the Corinthians have approved, or the Corinthians will approve those men by means of their own letters. Letters of recommendation were the standard way a traveler carrying other people's money was vouched for at the far end of a journey. "Liberality" here means a generous gift, not a state of mind.

4And if it seems right for me to go as well, they will travel with me.

4And if it be meet that I go also, they shall go with me.

Note"Meet" in 1611 English means fitting or appropriate. It has nothing to do with meeting someone.

5I will come to you after I pass through Macedonia, since I am going to travel through Macedonia.

5Now I will come unto you, when I shall pass through Macedonia: for I do pass through Macedonia.

NoteMacedonia was the Roman province covering northern Greece, including Philippi and Thessalonica. Corinth lay to the south, in the province of Achaia. Paul is writing from Ephesus, across the Aegean Sea, and describes an overland route that reaches Corinth last.

6It may be that I will stay with you a while, or even spend the winter there, so that you can help me on my way, wherever I go next.

6And it may be that I will abide, yea, and winter with you, that ye may bring me on my journey whithersoever I go.

Note"Bring me on my journey" means to send a traveler off equipped: provisions, money, and often companions for the next stage. It was a recognized courtesy owed to traveling teachers. Wintering mattered because sea travel across the Mediterranean largely shut down from roughly November to March, so a traveler caught by the season stayed put for months.

7I do not want to see you now only in passing. I hope to stay with you for some time, if the Lord allows it.

7For I will not see you now by the way; but I trust to tarry a while with you, if the Lord permit.

Note"By the way" in 1611 English means in passing, while on my way through. It is not the modern "by the way," meaning incidentally. "Tarry" means to stay or remain.

8But I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost.

8But I will tarry at Ephesus until Pentecost.

NoteEphesus was a major port city on the west coast of Asia Minor, in modern Turkey, and is where Paul was when he wrote this letter. Pentecost was a Jewish harvest festival held fifty days after Passover, falling in late spring; Paul uses it here simply as a fixed date on the calendar.

9A wide door has opened to me here for work that is doing real good, and there are also many people opposing me.

9For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries.

NoteAn open door was a common image in this period for an opportunity to get work done. "Effectual" means it is producing real results, not merely that it exists.

10If Timothy comes, make sure he has nothing to be afraid of while he is with you, because he is doing the Lord's work, just as I am.

10Now if Timotheus come, see that he may be with you without fear: for he worketh the work of the Lord, as I also do.

Note"Timotheus" is the Greek form of the name; the person is Timothy, Paul's younger coworker.

11So no one should look down on him. Send him on his way in peace, so that he can come back to me, since I am expecting him along with the brothers.

11Let 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.

12About our brother Apollos: I strongly urged him to come to you with the brothers. He was not at all willing to come at this time, but he will come when he has a good chance.

12As 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.

NoteApollos was a teacher who had worked in Corinth after Paul; earlier in this letter Paul mentions Corinthians lining up in rival groups behind one leader or another. The Greek phrase behind "his will was not at all to come" can be read as Apollos's own wish or as God's will in the matter, and readers have long taken it both ways. "Convenient time" in 1611 English means a suitable opportunity, not merely a handy moment.

13Stay awake and watchful. Stand firm in the faith. Be brave. Be strong.

13Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.

Note"Quit you like men" uses "quit" in an old sense meaning acquit or conduct yourselves. It renders a single Greek verb formed from the word for a grown man, which in ordinary Greek usage meant to behave with courage.

14Let everything you do be done in love.

14Let all your things be done with charity.

Note"Charity" in 1611 English meant love in the broad sense. It had not yet narrowed to mean giving money to the poor. It is the same word Paul used throughout chapter 13.

15Brothers, I am asking something of you. You know the household of Stephanas: they were the first people in Achaia to believe, and they have given themselves to serving God's people.

15I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,)

Note"Firstfruits" is a farming term: the first portion of a harvest, gathered before the rest comes in. Applied to people, it means the earliest converts in a region. "Addicted themselves" uses "addict" in its 1611 sense of devoting or attaching oneself to something, with no suggestion of compulsion or dependency. Achaia was the Roman province covering southern Greece, with Corinth as its capital.

16I am asking you to place yourselves under the lead of people like them, and of everyone who works and labors alongside us.

16That ye submit yourselves unto such, and to every one that helpeth with us, and laboureth.

17I am glad that Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus have come, because they supplied what was missing on your side.

17I am glad of the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus: for that which was lacking on your part they have supplied.

NoteFortunatus and Achaicus are Latin names of a kind common among slaves and freed slaves. "That which was lacking on your part" is open in the Greek: it can mean these three men made up for the absence of the rest of the Corinthians, or that they supplied a need the church itself had left unmet.

18They refreshed my spirit, and yours as well. So give men like these the recognition they deserve.

18For they have refreshed my spirit and yours: therefore acknowledge ye them that are such.

19The churches in the province of Asia send you greetings. Aquila and Priscilla greet you warmly in the Lord, and so does the church that meets in their house.

19The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house.

Note"Asia" here means the Roman province of Asia, occupying the western end of modern Turkey, with Ephesus as its chief city. It does not mean the continent. Aquila and Priscilla were a married couple Paul had lived and worked with in Corinth; Priscilla is the familiar form of the name Prisca. Christians had no separate buildings at this date, so a congregation met in the home of a member whose house was large enough to hold it.

20All the brothers here greet you. Greet one another with a holy kiss.

20All the brethren greet you. Greet ye one another with an holy kiss.

NoteA kiss on the cheek was a normal greeting between family members and close associates in this culture, roughly where a handshake or hug would stand now. "Holy" marks it as the greeting exchanged among fellow believers.

21I, Paul, am writing this greeting with my own hand.

21The salutation of me Paul with mine own hand.

NotePaul normally dictated his letters to a scribe and then took the pen himself for the closing lines. The visible change of handwriting served as his signature and showed the recipients the letter was genuinely from him.

22If anyone does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be under a curse. Our Lord, come!

22If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha.

Note"Anathema" is a Greek word left untranslated here; it means something handed over to destruction, placed under a curse. "Maranatha" is not Greek at all but Aramaic, the everyday language of Palestinian Jews, and its sense depends on where the syllables are divided: "marana tha" means "our Lord, come," while "maran atha" means "our Lord has come." The King James prints the two words together as though they were one phrase, but they are separate, and only the first is a curse.

23May the undeserved kindness of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

23The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Note"Grace" translates a word meaning generous favor shown to someone who has done nothing to earn it. It was also the ordinary word used in closing a letter.

24My love be with all of you in Christ Jesus. Amen.

24My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.