1 Corinthians 16
1 All right. Now I want to talk to you about something else. I will answer the question you asked me about the money that you want to give to God’s people in Jerusalem. You know, I talked to the people in the churches in Galatia country, and I told them how to give money to God’s people in Jerusalem, and I want you to do it the same way.
2 Do it like this. On the 1st day of every week, each of you can pick out some of the money that you got that week, and keep it in a separate place. I will come to you soon, and you will have this money ready for me. You will not have to quickly look around and try to find it when I get there.
3 And you can pick a few of your men to take that money to Jerusalem and give it to God’s people there. But wait for me to get to you at Corinth. Then I will write some letters to tell the Jerusalem mob that each of these men is a good man. They can take those letters with them.
4 And I might go with them, too, if I think it is the right thing for me to do.
5 But before I get to Corinth I have to go through Macedonia country, and after that I will visit you.
6 Maybe I will stay with you for a while. I might even stay till the end of the cold weather time, and then you can give me the things I will need for my trip to the next place.
7 You see, I want to stay here in Ephesus city for a little while, and then I can come to you. And when I come, I don’t want to stay a short time then go to another place, but I want to stay with you for some time. If our leader, Jesus, agrees with this plan, I hope I can stay with you for a little longer time.
8 But right now I will stay here till that day called Pentecost comes.
9 You see, God has given me the chance to do great and powerful things for him here. But there are a lot of people here that are trying to stop me.
10 I want to talk to you now about Timothy. He is doing God’s work, the same as me. So if he comes to visit you, make him feel good with you there. Don’t let anyone make trouble for him,
11 and don’t let anyone rubbish him. And when he gets up to come here to me, you mob help him and give him what he needs for his trip. I’m waiting for him here, and I’m waiting for the other Christians that are coming with him.
12 And now I want to tell you about our friend Apollos. When those other Christians got up to go and visit you, I really wanted Apollos to go with them and visit you, too. I kept telling him to go, but he reckoned that it was not the right time. He will visit you later, when he gets the chance.
13 Now I want to tell you this. Stay awake, and keep watching what is going on, so you will be ready for anything. Never stop believing in God. Always be brave and strong in your spirits.
14 And keep on loving God and other people all the time, and do things to help them.
15 You know about Stephanas and his family. They were the first people in Achaia country to believe in Jesus. And they have decided to always help God’s people. So, my friends, I strongly ask you this.
16 I want you to agree with them, and do what they want. And do the same for anyone that works hard for God, like they do.
17 I was very happy when Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus came to me here. You see, you mob were too far away, and you couldn’t help me, but instead, they came and helped me.
18 They made my spirit happy, just like they made your spirits happy. Let them know, and let anyone like them know, that you are happy with them for the good things they do.
19 The people in the churches here in Asia country say hello to you. And so do Aquila, and his wife Priscilla, and the Christians that meet in their house. They know that you belong to Jesus, and they love you, and they say hello to you.
20 All the Christians here say hello to you. And you, too, whenever you meet each other, show that you love each other in a special way.
21 Look, I’m now writing this part of this letter with my own hand, so that you can know for sure that it is me, Paul, sending this letter to you.
22 And I want to say this to anyone that doesn’t love our leader, Jesus, “God will punish you.” And I’m telling Jesus, “Please come back soon.”
23 I’m asking our leader, Jesus, to be good to all of you.
24 I love all of you that belong to Jesus Christ. From Paul
Cross-references
109
- 1Rom 12:13, Rom 15:25–26, Gal 2:10, Act 24:17, Phm 1:5
- 2Luk 16:10, Act 20:7
- 3Act 6:1–6, 1Co 11:34, 1Co 4:19–21
- 4Rom 15:25
- 5Act 19:21, 1Co 4:19, Act 20:1–3
- 6Act 15:3, Rom 15:24, Act 20:38, Tit 3:12, Act 27:12, Act 28:11
- 7Act 18:21, Jas 4:15, 1Co 4:19, Rom 1:10
- 8Act 2:1, 1Co 15:32, Act 18:19
- 9Act 14:27, Col 4:3, Php 3:18, Act 19:8–10, 1Co 15:32
- 101Co 15:58, Php 2:19–22, 1Co 4:17, Rom 16:21, 1Th 3:2, Act 16:1, 1Th 4:12
- 111Ti 4:12, Tit 2:15, Act 15:33, 1Co 16:6, 1Co 16:10, 1Th 4:8, Luk 10:16
- 121Co 1:12, 1Co 3:5, Act 18:24–19:1, 1Co 3:22, Tit 3:4, Act 24:25, Mrk 6:21
- 13Eph 6:13–18, Eph 6:10, 1Co 15:58, Gal 5:1, Php 4:13
- 141Pe 4:8, 1Ti 1:5, 1Co 12:31–14:1, Gal 5:22, Rom 13:8–10
- 151Co 1:16, Rom 16:5, Rom 15:25, Rom 16:2, 1Pe 4:10, 1Ti 5:10, Rom 12:13
- 161Th 5:12, Rom 16:12, Eph 5:21, 1Th 1:3, Php 4:3
- 17Php 2:30, Phm 1:13
- 18Phm 1:7, Rom 15:32, 1Th 5:12, Col 4:8, 1Th 3:6–7
- 19Act 18:2, Phm 1:2, Rom 16:3–5, 2Ti 4:19, 1Pe 1:1, Act 18:18, Rom 16:15
- 20Rom 16:16, 1Th 5:26, 1Pe 5:14, Rom 16:23, Php 4:22, Rom 16:21
- 21Col 4:18, Gal 6:11, 2Th 3:17, Rom 16:22, Phm 1:19
- 22Eph 6:24, Mat 10:37
- 23Rom 16:20, Rom 16:23
- 241Co 14:16, Mat 6:13, 1Co 4:14–15, 1Co 16:14, Php 1:8
Topics in this chapter
44
Achaia, Achaicus, Alms, Anathema Maran-Atha, Apollos, Asia, Benedictions, Beneficence, Blessing, Charitableness, Church, Commandments, Communion, Corinth, Courage, Decision, Door, Family, Fellowship, Fortunatus, Galatia, Giving, God, House, Joy, Liberality, Love, Minister, Christian, Missions, Paul, Pentecost, Perseverance, Poor, Priscilla, Reverence, Salutations, Stephanas, Submission, Timothy, War, Watchfulness, Will, Worship, Zeal, Religious