1 Corinthians 16

1 Corinthians 16:1

As to the charitable collection desired of you for the Christians in Judea, who, through persecution and the public calamities of their nation, have been reduced to great poverty, I give you the same directions which I gave to the Christian brethren of Galatia, whose ready compliance therewith will I hope excite you to benevolence, who are much their superiors in temporal wealth as well as in spiritual gifts

1 Corinthians 16:2

Upon every first day of the week, when you, as other Christians, assemble for public worship, in commemoration of our Saviour’s resurrection, let every one of you, according to his income or the success of his business, lay by him a certain proportion, and put it into the common stock for the poor, that when I come to visit you and receive it, every thing may be ready

1 Corinthians 16:3

And whomsoever of your brethren ye think most proper, prudent, compassionate, and faithful, I will readily concur in their being appointed to carry into our brethren in Judea: 4. And, if it be thought of any advantage to that benevolent and pious design for me to accompany them, I shall readily grant them all the assistance and encouragement I am capable of

1 Corinthians 16:5

Now, if the Lord will, I am determined to visit you whenever I have finished this tour through Macedonia, which I intend to begin as soon as I can have finished my present work at Ephesus

1 Corinthians 16:6

And I hope that, after I have continued among you a considerable time, for our mutual edification and comfort, some of you will kindly and respectfully accompany me to some other place

1 Corinthians 16:7

For such is my ardent affection towards you, and concern for your welfare, that I cannot think of paying you only a transient visit, but wish and expect, through the sovereign disposal of the Lord, to continue some time to assist you in your spiritual affairs

1 Corinthians 16:8

But I find it needful for me to stay here at Ephesus till I shall have but just enough time to go up to Jerusalem at the feast of Pentecost, which I purpose to attend, that I may make known what I have preached, and with what success, to the multitudes of Jews and proselytes who assemble there on such occasions

1 Corinthians 16:9

For here at Ephesus the Lord has given me a great opportunity of boldly and successfully preaching the gospel; and I am called to make a resolute stand against the subtle and furious enemies of my person and ministrations

1 Corinthians 16:10

Meanwhile, if Timothy, my dearly beloved and faithful fellow labourer, whom I have sent to you, arrive safe, see that ye receive and treat him in a friendly, peaceable, and orderly, manner; and let him not be discouraged or insulted by any of your factious preachers, for he comes to you upon the same important business, and with the same temper and sincere affection for you, as I wish to come

1 Corinthians 16:11

Let none of you think to behave disrespectfully towards him, or slight what he delivers to you in the name and authority of Jesus Christ, because of his youth or bodily infirmities, but use him kindly: and when he returns to me, which I long for, I expect that you will furnish him for his journey, and some of you attend him for his protection

1 Corinthians 16:12

I entreated our dear and eloquent brother Apollos, whom some of you admire, to come to you with the bearers of this letter, in hopes of his exerting himself to extinguish your party divisions; but, being afraid that his presence might rather encourage the party which is zealous for him, or be interpreted as an attempt to ingratiate himself, he absolutely refused to come just now, but intends to see you whenever it may appear more seasonable

1 Corinthians 16:13

And, to conclude my directions at this time, I beseech you to keep a watchful eye upon all those that would, either by craft or terror, seduce you from the truth or holiness of the gospel; watch over your own deceitful and inconstant spirits; watch unto prayer, and every other duty; stand fast in the knowledge, faith, love, profession, and practice, of the important truths which have been preached unto you, living by faith on them, and appearing zealous in their defence. Notwithstanding all opposition or danger, prudently, boldly, and resolutely cleave to the truths and ways of the Lord, resisting sin, and every temptation thereto, and performing duty like men ripened in judgment, strong in grace, and firmly established in Christ

1 Corinthians 16:14

And see that whatever ye do, in the maintenance or practice of the truths of Christ, be done with meekness and love, for promoting the peace, holiness, and edification of others, as well as your own

1 Corinthians 16:15

And I earnestly beg that you will shew a particular respect to the family of Stephanos, which were the first converts to Christ in your country, and a pledge and earnest of the great multitudes which have since been converted, and which have all along behaved themselves as the sincere disciples and faithful servants of the Lord Jesus, and have, in an orderly manner, devoted themselves to assist and supply his ministers or poor members

1 Corinthians 16:16

Instead of being carried away by new upstarts, take your direction or pattern in a respectful manner, from such as have already signalized themselves in faithfulness to Christ and his church, or in the laborious spread of the gospel. 17, 18. I am extremely glad that ye sent me your letter by such prudent and worthy brethren, who gave me a more clear and comfortable account of your church affairs than your letter did, and who, to your honour, by their Christian behaviour, as well as by their candid and charitable representations, exceedingly quieted and refreshed my spirit. I hope that ye will shew to such valuable, faithful, and affectionate, brethren the highest regard

1 Corinthians 16:19-21

The Christians here in Lesser Asia, particularly Aquila and Priscilla, and their pious family, along with me, send you their Christian good wishes of all temporal or spiritual prosperity: and see that ye in every pure, tender, and affectionate, manner express your regard one to another. 3