1Cor 16:1-4, 2Cor 8:9 | PNT | STEP | Concluding Words SUMMARY OF I CORINTHIANS 16: The Collections for the Saints. The First Day of the Week. His Work at Ephesus. Timothy Commended to Them. Various Friendly Admonitions. Closing Salutations. Now concerning the collection for the saints . The collection for the poor saints at Jerusalem is referred to more than once in Acts. It was first called for when "a great dearth" came upon the land ( ). The church at Jerusalem had been impoverished by the great liberality in its first years, and by the persecutions which followed. See also . References to this collection are found in . To the churches of Galatia . The directions to the churches of Galatia on this subject have not been preserved. Such hints as this and the reference to a lost letter to the church of Corinth ( ), show that all that Paul wrote has not come down to us.

‏ 1 Corinthians 16:1-4

Concluding Words SUMMARY OF I CORINTHIANS 16: The Collections for the Saints. The First Day of the Week. His Work at Ephesus. Timothy Commended to Them. Various Friendly Admonitions. Closing Salutations.

Now concerning the collection for the saints. The collection for the poor saints at Jerusalem is referred to more than once in Acts. It was first called for when "a great dearth" came upon the land (Ac 11:28-30). The church at Jerusalem had been impoverished by the great liberality in its first years, and by the persecutions which followed. See also Ac 24:17. References to this collection are found in Ro 15:26 2Co 8:1,2 9:1,2.

To the churches of Galatia. The directions to the churches of Galatia on this subject have not been preserved. Such hints as this and the reference to a lost letter to the church of Corinth (1Co 5:9), show that all that Paul wrote has not come down to us. Upon the first [day] of the week. This shows that the first day of the week was set apart and regarded by the church. The church assembled to break bread on that day (Ac 20:7).

Let every one of you lay by him in store. The usual view is that every one was directed to set aside something on the Lord's day and keep it until Paul came. This view is sanctioned by the translations and most of the commentators. Macknight renders: "On the first day of the week, let each one of you lay somewhat by itself, put it into the treasury". I believe Macknight is right; for (1) there were to be no collections when Paul came. That implies that the money was to be placed in the treasury. Otherwise, it would have to be collected. (2) "Thesaurizoon", rendered in the Common Version "in store", is a present participle, meaning literally, "putting into the thesaurus", or "treasury". (3) All church history testifies that the early church took up weekly collections on the first day of the week. See Pliny's Letter to the Emperor Trajan. (4) We know, from Acts, and from all early church history, that the church met on the first day of the week. It only remains to add that "par heauto", rendered by the translators "by him", is rendered with equal correctness, "by itself". Its form is that of the neuter reflexive pronoun.

As [God] hath prospered him. Each week every one is to give according to his ability. Whomsoever ye shall approve by [your] letters. The church should select its own messengers, giving them letters as credentials. He lets the Corinthians choose the bearers of their own bounty. If it be meet that I should go also. He did not then know whether he would go or not. In the outcome he did go (Ac 19:21 20:3)

‏ 2 Corinthians 8:9

For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. This is the chiefest of motives to giving.

Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor. Our Lord gave up all for us. He became poor that we might be rich in heavenly riches. If he gave himself for us, what shall we give for him? Compare Php 2:7. Christ parted with riches and took poverty; with glory and took humiliation; with bliss and took suffering, all for our sakes. The passage compares Christ's pre-existent state with that he had on earth.