1 Corinthians 16:1-2
Now concerning the collection for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do. On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Paul doesn't just say "give generously," he points to a pattern established by other churches. This shows that generosity isn't just a good idea, but a way of life woven into the fabric of Christian community, something to be learned and replicated.
Paul is concluding his letter to the Corinthians, a church he had a complex relationship with. He's addressing practical matters of Christian life and community, and here he shifts to a significant financial undertaking: collecting funds for believers in Jerusalem who were facing hardship. This directive builds upon previous instructions he’d given to other churches and sets the stage for further details he'll provide about the process.
Ever wonder if giving to others is really a command? Paul doesn't tiptoe around it here. He links a specific act of generosity directly to his apostolic authority.
A Divine Mandate
Paul opens this section by saying, "Now concerning the collection for the saints." The Greek word used here for "collection" (logia) can refer to an offering or a gathering of funds. This wasn't a casual suggestion; it was a matter Paul felt compelled to address directly.
Apostolic Authority
He didn't just bring it up; he stated, "as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do." This shows that the directive to support fellow believers wasn't just Paul's idea, but something he had already established as a pattern and instruction for other churches. He's speaking with the authority given to him by Christ.
This wasn't just about money changing hands. Paul's instructions reveal a deeper purpose: unity and care that transcends geography and background.
Supporting 'The Saints'
The phrase "the saints" in this context refers to believers, particularly those facing hardship or poverty. While the specific need is often understood to be the impoverished believers in Jerusalem, the principle is broader.
A Unified Body
Paul consistently taught about the unity of the body of Christ. Generosity across different regions and economic statuses was a tangible way to express this spiritual unity. It was a practical demonstration that all believers, Jew and Gentile alike, were one in Christ, sharing in both blessings and burdens.
This collection was an act of love and solidarity, ensuring that the needs of fellow believers were met, strengthening the bonds within the wider Christian community.
Understand the original words
logia · Greek Noun
A financial or material contribution gathered for a specific charitable or religious purpose, often associated with providing for the needs of the poor or the work of the ministry.
hagios · Greek Noun (Adjective used as a noun)
Those who have been set apart and made holy by God through faith in Christ; the common designation for all believers in the New Testament.
diatassō · Greek Verb
A formal order, instruction, or regulation given by an authority, in this context specifically the apostolic instructions given by Paul to the local congregations.
mia sabbaton · Greek Noun phrase
Refers to the Lord's Day (Sunday), the day set aside by the early church for gathering, worship, and the breaking of bread in celebration of Christ’s resurrection.
The collection Paul mentions wasn't just about charity; it was a profound act of unity, bridging the gap between Jewish and Gentile believers during a time of significant ethnic and religious tension within the early church.
c. AD 49-50
Council of Jerusalem
A pivotal meeting where early church leaders decided that Gentile converts did not need to follow all Jewish laws, including circumcision, addressing a major point of tension and enabling wider evangelism.
c. AD 53-54
Paul's Third Missionary Journey Begins
Paul embarks on his extensive third missionary journey, which included extended stays in Ephesus and travel through regions like Galatia and Corinth.
c. AD 55— this verse
Collection for Jerusalem Believers Urged
Paul actively encourages believers in various Gentile churches, including Corinth and Galatia, to contribute financially to aid the suffering Jewish believers in Jerusalem.
c. AD 55
Trouble in Corinth
During Paul's time in Ephesus, he receives troubling news from Corinth about internal divisions, moral issues, and doctrinal disputes, prompting him to write 1 Corinthians.
This passage describes the cheerful and generous giving of the Macedonian churches, providing a model for the Corinthians, similar to how Paul points to the Galatians as an example in 1 Corinthians 16:1.
2 Corinthians 9:6-7Paul emphasizes that giving should be done cheerfully and not under compulsion, a principle that likely underpins his instructions for the collection for the saints.
Acts 11:29-30This shows an earlier instance where disciples in Antioch decided to send relief to the brothers living in Judea, demonstrating a precedent for organized inter-church support.
Romans 15:25-26Paul mentions his current journey to Jerusalem to deliver a contribution for the poor among the saints there, directly referencing the purpose of the collection he is organizing.
Paul doesn't just say "give generously," he points to a pattern established by other churches. This shows that generosity isn't just a good idea, but a way of life woven into the fabric of Christian community, something to be learned and replicated.
Paul is concluding his letter to the Corinthians, a church he had a complex relationship with. He's addressing practical matters of Christian life and community, and here he shifts to a significant financial undertaking: collecting funds for believers in Jerusalem who were facing hardship. This directive builds upon previous instructions he’d given to other churches and sets the stage for further details he'll provide about the process.
Paul is concluding his letter to the Corinthians, a church he had a complex relationship with. He's addressing practical matters of Christian life and community, and here he shifts to a significant financial undertaking: collecting funds for believers in Jerusalem who were facing hardship. This directive builds upon previous instructions he’d given to other churches and sets the stage for further details he'll provide about the process.
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euodoō · Greek Verb
To succeed or thrive, specifically in a financial or material sense; biblically, it is recognized that God is the source of all increase and resources.
c. AD 56
Paul Writes 1 Corinthians
From Ephesus, Paul pens this letter to address the specific issues facing the Corinthian church, including instructions on the collection for the saints.
c. AD 57
Collection Delivered to Jerusalem
Paul eventually delivers the collected funds to the church in Jerusalem, fulfilling his promise and strengthening the bond between Gentile and Jewish believers.
"Now concerning the collection for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do. On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no…" — Paul doesn't just say "give generously," he points to a pattern established by other churches. This shows that generosity isn't just a good idea, but a way of life woven into the fabric of Christia…
