1Co 16The apostle, in the preceding chapters having faithfully gone over the disorders and given instructions they needed concerning the ways they had fallen into, can now close the Epistle with a few remarks.
Verses 1-3 refer to the collection made for the poor saints at Jerusalem. Their poverty gave occasion for the Gentile assemblies to show their gratitude for the spiritual things ministered to them from Jerusalem (Rom. 15:26, 27). On the first day of the week, each was to devote what they felt right to give as God had prospered them, so that when Paul or those he sent came, the money would be ready for them. Here we see that each one carried his own purse, by the instruction of the Word through the apostle. The common purse ceased with the saints being scattered from Jerusalem (Acts 8), after the stoning of Stephen. Each one since then had to depend on God for himself. It was at this second time of bringing alms to his people (Acts 11:30; 24:17) that Paul was arrested and carried to Rome as a prisoner.
Verses 5-9. In the meantime, he would not come to see them. The Second Epistle tells us why to give them time to express their repentance with exercised consciences, but he intended to come when he passed that way. He would visit Ephesus, for there a great door and effectual was opened to him, and there were also many adversaries.
Verses 10-12 show us the liberty of the Spirit in ministry, independent of Paul's oversight. They were to keep Timothy, conducting him on his way in peace; recognizing him as a fellow laborer with the other brethren and Paul. Apollos, on the other hand, goes the way he believes the Lord would have him, and though Paul greatly desired him to go to Corinth, his will was not to go at the present time; but when he counted it the convenient time to go. then he would visit them. There is no opposition in serving according to the truth, and each servant is responsible to his own Master.
Verses 13 14 exhort the saints to watchful steadfastness in the faith. The Spirit adopts the saying of the Philistines here (1 Sam. 4:9) to encourage the Christians to faithfully fight against all evils that might come up.
Verses 15, 16. We get the house of Stephanas, the first ones converted to Christ in Achaia, that they gave themselves up to serve the saints, who in their turn were to submit themselves unto such, and to all who joined in the work and labored.
Verses 17, 18. There Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus filled up the lack in the Corinthians, so his need was supplied, and his spirit and theirs was accordingly refreshed, so that they also were to be acknowledged in their service.
Verses 19, 20. The assemblies of Asia saluted them. Aquila and Priscilla, and the assembly in their house, saluted them much. All the brethren greeted them, and they were to greet each other, as was the customary greeting of Christians, with an holy kiss.
Verse 21 tells us that others wrote what the apostle dictated, and then he put his salutation with his own hand (2 Thess. 3:17).
Verse 22. What a solemn truth is written here. "If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha;" which means, that such a person is eternally lost at the coming of the Lord. He may have passed as a Christian with men, but is lost forever.
Verses 23, 24. But the apostle's heart flows out to the Corinthians after all he has said, and now closes with, "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.”