Глава 16

Conclusion of the message: orders, news and greetings (1–24) 1 Corinthians 16:1. When collecting for the saints, do as I decreed in the churches of Galatia. 1 Corinthians 16:2. On the first day of the week, let each of you put aside and save as much as his fortune allows, so as not to have to make preparations when I come. 1 Corinthians 16:3. When I come, those whom you choose, I will send with letters to bring your alms to Jerusalem. 1 Corinthians 16:4. And if it is decent for me to go, then they will go with me. Ap. gives orders to collect donations in favor of Jerusalem Christians. The “gathering for the saints” or Christians of Jerusalem (maybe the Apostle here calls the Jerusalem Christians simply saints in view of the special significance that the Church of Jerusalem had among other Churches cf. 2 Cor. 8:4, 9:1, 12) was carried out in view of the fact that the Jerusalem Christians were in more need of help than others. It is known that for those who apostate from the faith of their fathers - and such were the disciples of Christ in Jerusalem - life is always difficult, work is difficult for them (cf. James 2:6, 5:1-6). And so, since at the Apostolic Council Paul gave his word to take care of the poor Christians of Jerusalem (Gal. 2:10; Acts 11:27-30), he considered it his duty to encourage the Corinthians to collect alms for the poor Christians of Jerusalem. - “On the first day of the week.” that is, on every first day after the end of the week, or after Saturday. It was Sunday or the Lord's Day. From this it is clear that this day was celebrated even under the Apostles (cf. Acts 20:7). - “With letters”, i.e. with a letter of recommendation to Jerusalem (plural. the number επιστολαί has the meaning of the Latin litterae = letter). “If it’s decent.” Ap. probably means the amount of donations. If there are a lot of donations, then perhaps his personal participation in their distribution will be needed. 1 Corinthians 16:5. I will come to you when I have passed through Macedonia; for I am going through Macedonia. 1 Corinthians 16:6. Perhaps I’ll live with you, or spend the winter, so that you can accompany me wherever I go. 1 Corinthians 16:7. For I do not want to see you now in passing, but I hope to stay with you for some time, if the Lord allows. 1 Corinthians 16:8. I will remain in Ephesus until Pentecost, 1 Corinthians 16:9. For a great and wide door is open to me, and there are many adversaries. Ap. intends to visit Corinth after visiting Macedonia, and to stay in Corinth for a long time. Now he needs to stay until the 50th in Ephesus. - “I’m going through Macedonia”, that is, I’m going to go... - “They escorted me”, that is, they prepared everything necessary for me and my companions on the journey. - Ap. wrote the message around Easter 57. He expected to live a few more weeks in Ephesus, spend the summer in Macedonia, from where in the fall he would go to Corinth and spend the winter of 57-58 there. But some circumstances forced him to change his intention, and these circumstances seemed to be of a very serious nature (cf. 2 Cor. 2:1-4). - “Door”, i.e. the opportunity to spread the Gospel has opened. - “And there are many opponents.” This circumstance forces the Apostle to continue his stay in Ephesus. He must confront and overcome those who have hindered the Gospel. 1 Corinthians 16:10. If Timothy comes to you, see that he is safe with you; for he is doing the Lord’s work, just as I do. 1 Corinthians 16:11. Therefore, let no one despise him, but send him off in peace, so that he may come to me, for I am waiting for him with the brethren. 1 Corinthians 16:12. And as for brother Apollos, I asked him very much that he and his brothers would go to you; but he did not want to go now, but will come when it is convenient for him. Before the Apostle arrives in Corinth, Timothy may arrive there. Ap. asks the Corinthians to accept him and see him off properly. As for Apollos, he did not want to go to Corinth now and will come later. Ap. fears that the Corinthians might neglect what Timothy would say to them: he must have seemed to them too young to act as the leader of the Church (cf. 1 Timothy 4:12). - “I’m waiting for him with my brothers.” The ambassadors sent by the Corinthian Church to Paul had not yet left him at that time and were waiting for what Timothy would say about the mood of the Corinthians (v. 17). - “And as for brother Apollos...”. Ap. in view of the existence of Apollos' party in Corinth, he considers it necessary to say that he does not detain Apollos at all, as if fearing the strengthening of his party with his arrival in Corinth. Apollos himself did not want to go there, not wanting to give rise to being seen as seeking popularity at the expense of Paul's influence. - “With the brethren,” that is, with the Christians sent from the Corinthian Church. 1 Corinthians 16:13. Stay awake, stand firm in the faith, be courageous, be strong. 1 Corinthians 16:14. Let everything be done with love. 1 Corinthians 16:15. I ask you, brethren (you know the family of Stephen, that they are the firstfruits of Achaia and that they have dedicated themselves to the service of the saints), 1 Corinthians 16:16. be respectful to them and to everyone who cooperates and works. 1 Corinthians 16:17. I am pleased with the arrival of Stefan, Fortunatus and Achaic: they made up for your absence for me, 1 Corinthians 16:18. for they have calmed my spirit and yours. Read those. Ap. gives here several instructions of a general and specific nature. – “The Family of Stephen” – see 1 Cor. 1:16. - “The firstfruits of Achaia” - that is, baptized by Paul himself upon his very entry into the soil of Achaia or Greece. – “Promoting”, i.e. helping such figures as Stefanos. – “To the worker” (κοπιᾶν) – indicates hard work (cf. Gal. 4:11; Rom. 16:6) – “They have calmed my spirit and yours.” They dispelled misunderstandings about which Ap. had regarding the Corinthians, they explained to him the behavior of the Corinthians, which embarrassed the Apostle Paul. In addition, Ap. He already sees how, having arrived in Corinth, they calm the Corinthians with their messages about St. Paul and his attitude towards the Corinthians. 1 Corinthians 16:19. The churches of Asia greet you; Aquila and Priscilla and their home church greet you earnestly in the Lord. 1 Corinthians 16:20. All the brothers greet you. Greet each other with a holy kiss. 1 Corinthians 16:21. My personal greeting, Pavlovo. 1 Corinthians 16:22. Whoever does not love the Lord Jesus Christ is anathema, maran-afa. 1 Corinthians 16:23. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you, 1 Corinthians 16:24. and my love is with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen. First, there is a greeting from the Asian churches, and then a separate greeting from Aquila and Priscilla to those who were going to their house to worship. Then comes a greeting from the entire Church and from the Ap. Pavel. – Asia, that is, proconsular Asia, which embraced the southwestern part of Asia Minor. – “Aquila and Priscilla” - see Rome. 16:3. - “With my own hand.” Ap. only signed his messages, and the scribe wrote them under his dictation (cf. Rom. 16:22). - “Who doesn’t love.” Such people could have been among the Corinthian Christians (cf. 1 Cor. 12:3). – “Anathema” – see 1 Cor. 12:3. - “Maran-afa”. This is an expression of the Aramaic language as it was then spoken in Palestine. It means: “Come, our Lord!” (Marana tha!) Why does Ap add. This expression is difficult to say. - “My love is with you all.” These words were added by Ap. in order to show the Corinthians, whom he so sharply denounced in his letter, that he still loves them. You might be interested in: