Paul’s Closing Remarks 1 Cor 16:1-24 CLICK TITLE FOR AUDIO
In the final chapter of 1 Corinthians, Paul deals with the following:
The collection for the saints – 1 Cor 16:1-4 – many saints in Jerusalem were poor. Gal 2:10 remember them. Rom 15:25-28 Paul took the gift. 2 he gave instructions about the collection like he did in Galatia. Receive the gift on the first day of the week (Sunday), so we receive our offerings on Sunday morning. As God hath prospered him [2 Cor 8:12; Eph 4:28]. No gatherings when I come. Testimony that he was not raising the money or personally benefiting from the offerings. 3 send somebody with me. 2 Cor 8:16-22 the great care in controlling the offering. 4 they can travel with me if I am going. At this point Paul wasn’t certain that he was going to Jerusalem.
Paul’s travel plans – Cor 16:5-9 – 5 he planned to visit Corinth in Achaia by way of Macedonia, of which Philippi was the chief city [Acts 16:12]. He traveled the following route Acts 17:1, 10, 15; Acts 18:1 on his second missionary journey. 6-7 He thought about wintering there. 8 he planned to tarry till Pentecost in Ephesus, which is in Asia, because 9 a great and effectual door was opened (for preaching the gospel) and he had many adversaries. Adversaries are a token of the opportunity [1 Cor 15:32].
Paul’s two companions – 1 Cor 16:10-12 – Timothy [10-11] and Apollos [12]. Paul sent Timothy [Phil 2:20, 1 Thes 3:2], his likeminded fellow laborer, to the Corinthians [1 Cor 4:17] because he worked in the ministry the way that Paul did. He charged them not to despise him [1 Tim 4:12] but to send him on to Paul from there. Paul desired Apollos [1 Cor 1:12, 3:5-6] to come to them but Apollos wanted to wait for a more convenient time.
Paul’s charge – 1 Cor 16:13-18 – Paul charged the Corinthians to do several things:
- Watch – this involves staying awake and praying Matt 26:38-41
- Stand fast in the faith – maintain their position in the faith, firmly fixed
- Quit like men – conduct yourselves as men, especially under stress
- Be strong – Eph 3:16; 6:10 in the Lord
- Let all things be done with charity – Col 3:14 charity is the bond of perfectness.
- Submit to our fellow laborers – yield to those who are like the household of Stephanas (among the first saved in Achaia); they are fully devoted and surrendered to the ministry
- Acknowledge those who have helped us – they supplied what we needed that you didn’t or couldn’t supply and they have refreshed our spirits. And he named the men who did this.
- Greet each other with an holy kiss – 20 – not on lips as affection between husband and wife or parents and children (holy), but with gentle contact. We shake hands, some hug, some kiss the cheek(s).
Paul’s salutations – 1 Cor 16:19-21 – Paul sent salutations from:
- The churches of Asia – principally, Ephesus, Laodicea, Colosse
- Aquila and Priscilla and their house church [Acts 18:1-2, 24-26] – they had been in Corinth and moved to Ephesus
- All the brethren
- Himself – 24
Conclusion: 1 Cor 16:22-24 Paul concluded this letter with three statements:
- Anathema (accursed) Maranatha (at his coming) to anyone who doesn’t love the Lord Jesus Christ.
- The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you – absolute necessity for our daily lives
- My love be with you – he loved them even though they didn’t love him as much as he loved them [2 Cor 12:15].