United Commentaries

1Cor.16.1-4

Paul answers the Corinthians’ question about the offering for poor Christians in Jerusalem (Acts 24:17; Rom 15:25-27; 2 Cor 8–9; Gal 2:10).

1Cor.16.1

Galatia was a Roman province in Asia Minor (see Acts 16:6; 18:23).

1Cor.16.2

Christians met on the first day of each week (see Acts 20:7) rather than the last day of the week, as in the Old Testament (Exod 20:8; 34:21; Isa 58:13-14). The first day was the “Lord’s Day,” the day of the Lord’s resurrection (Mark 16:9; Luke 24:13-15; John 20:19; Rev 1:10).

The portion of the money you have earned is not specified; Paul later encouraged them to give as generously as they could (2 Cor 8:1-4; 9:6-13; cp. Luke 12:33-34; 21:1-4; 1 Tim 6:18-19).

1Cor.16.4

Paul did in fact deliver the gift to Jerusalem (Rom 15:25-26).

1Cor.16.5

Paul had traveled through Macedonia, a Roman province in the northern region of Greece, on his second missionary journey (Acts 15:36–18:22).

planning to travel through Macedonia: See Acts 19:21; 20:1-3.

1Cor.16.6-7

possibly all winter: Paul evidently made this visit (cp. Acts 20:2-3).

1Cor.16.8

Paul wrote this letter while in Ephesus (about AD 53–56; Acts 19:1–20:1).

Pentecost was in May or June.

1Cor.16.10

When Timothy comes: See 4:17. Timothy was Paul’s child in the faith and co-worker (see 1 Tim 1:2).

don’t intimidate him: Timothy may have been shy (2 Tim 1:6-8).

1Cor.16.11-12

Apollos: See study note on 1:12.

1Cor.16.17

Together with Stephanas (see also 1:16; 16:15), Fortunatus and Achaicus had apparently traveled from Corinth to visit Paul in Ephesus.

1Cor.16.19-24

As in other letters, Paul greets his friends and gives a benediction.

1Cor.16.19

Aquila and Priscilla (Greek Prisca) had previously moved from Corinth to Ephesus, where Paul was writing this letter (cp. Acts 18:1-3).

gather in their home: Aquila and Priscilla later continued this practice in Rome (see Rom 16:3-5).

1Cor.16.20

a sacred kiss: A kiss on the cheek was a common greeting.

1Cor.16.21

Paul takes up the pen and signs the letter in his own handwriting. As was common, Paul used a secretary to write this letter and others (see Rom 16:22; Gal 6:11; Col 4:18; 2 Thes 3:17).

1Cor.16.22

To be cursed is to be condemned by God (see also Rom 9:3; Gal 1:8-9).

Our Lord, come! This phrase was sometimes used in early Christian prayers (see also Rev 22:20).

1Cor.16.23-24

All of Paul’s letters close with a benediction similar to this one.

Paul invokes grace at both the beginning and the end of this letter (see 1:3).