Catholic Commentary on 1 Corinthians 16

"Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love." (1 Corinthians 16:13-14)

The Collection for the Saints

Paul gives instructions about the collection for the Jerusalem church, the same project he mentions in Romans 15. On the first day of every week, each person should set aside a sum of money in keeping with their income, saving it up so that no collection has to be made when Paul arrives. The collection is to be sent to Jerusalem with men the Corinthians approve, perhaps accompanied by Paul. This practical arrangement reveals the early Church's financial discipline: systematic weekly giving, proportionate to income, set aside in advance, administered by accountable people. The Catechism grounds the obligation of financial stewardship in the Christian life in the universal destination of goods: what we have is not simply ours, and the Church's care for the poor is a constitutive element of her mission (CCC 2402).

Plans and People

Paul outlines his travel plans: through Macedonia, perhaps spending the winter in Corinth, then wherever the Lord directs. He expects to stay in Ephesus until Pentecost because a great door has opened for effective work and there are many who oppose him. He sends word about Timothy: if he comes, see that he has nothing to fear. Apollos he urged to visit but Apollos was not willing at this time. He commends the household of Stephanas, the firstfruits of Achaia, who have devoted themselves to the service of the saints, and urges the Corinthians to submit to such people and to everyone who joins in the work and labours at it.

The letter closes with a salutation in Paul's own handwriting, a final imprecatory warning against those who do not love the Lord, and one of the oldest liturgical formulas in the New Testament: Marana tha, Aramaic for come, Lord, or our Lord has come. The same cry appears in Revelation 22:20 as the final prayer of the Church. The Catechism identifies it as the purest expression of Christian hope: come, Lord Jesus (CCC 2817). Then the blessing: the grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. My love to all of you in Christ Jesus.

Living the Word

Brothers and sisters, the final exhortation of 1 Corinthians is a compressed summary of the entire letter: be on your guard, stand firm in the faith, be courageous, be strong, do everything in love. Five imperatives, one letter. You cannot separate the first four from the fifth. Strength without love is the Corinthian problem Paul has been correcting for sixteen chapters. Do everything in love. That is the whole of it.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, come. Marana tha. Be on guard over our hearts, let us stand firm in the faith, be courageous and strong in your service, and let everything we do be done in love. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with us all. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

16
The Collection for the Saints
(2 Corinthians 9:1–15)
1 Now about the collection for the saints, you are to do as I directed the churches of Galatia: 2 On the first day of every week, each of you should set aside a portion of his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will be needed. 3 Then, on my arrival, I will send letters with those you recommend to carry your gift to Jerusalem. 4 And if it is advisable for me to go also, they can travel with me.
Paul’s Travel Plans
(Romans 15:23–33)
 
5 After I go through Macedonia, however, I will come to you; for I will be going through Macedonia. 6 Perhaps I will stay with you awhile, or even spend the winter, so that you can help me on my journey, wherever I go. 7 For I do not want to see you now only in passing; I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits. 8 But I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost,* 16:8 That is, Shavuot, the late spring feast of pilgrimage to Jerusalem; it is also known as the Feast of Harvest (see Exodus 23:16) or the Feast of Weeks (see Exodus 34:22). 9 because a great door for effective work has opened to me, even though many oppose me.
Timothy and Apollos
(Philippians 2:19–30)
 
10 If Timothy comes, see to it that he has nothing to fear while he is with you, for he is doing the work of the Lord, just as I am. 11 No one, then, should treat him with contempt. Send him on his way in peace so that he can return to me, for I am expecting him along with the brothers.
 
12 Now about our brother Apollos: I strongly urged him to go to you with the brothers. He was not at all inclined to go now, but he will go when he has the opportunity.
Concluding Exhortations
 
13 Be on the alert. Stand firm in the faith. Be men of courage. Be strong. 14 Do everything in love.
 
15 You know that Stephanas and his household were the first converts in Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints. Now I urge you, brothers, 16 to submit to such as these, and to every fellow worker and laborer.
 
17 I am glad that Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus have arrived, because they have supplied what was lacking from you. 18 For they refreshed my spirit and yours as well. Show your appreciation, therefore, to such men.
Signature and Final Greetings
(Colossians 4:15–18; 2 Thessalonians 3:16–18)
 
19 The churches in the province of Asia † 16:19 Literally in Asia; Asia was a Roman province in what is now western Turkey. send you greetings.
 
Aquila and Prisca ‡ 16:19 Prisca is a variant of Priscilla; see Acts 18:2. greet you warmly in the Lord, and so does the church that meets at their house.
 
20 All the brothers here send you greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss.
 
21 This greeting is in my own hand—Paul.
 
22 If anyone does not love the Lord, let him be under a curse. Come, O Lord!§ 16:22 Greek Marana Tha! from a transliteration of the Aramaic, an exclamation of approaching divine judgment
 
23 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you.
 
24 My love be with all of you in Christ Jesus.
 
Amen.* 16:24 SBL, WH, and NA do not include Amen.

*16:8 16:8 That is, Shavuot, the late spring feast of pilgrimage to Jerusalem; it is also known as the Feast of Harvest (see Exodus 23:16) or the Feast of Weeks (see Exodus 34:22).

†16:19 16:19 Literally in Asia; Asia was a Roman province in what is now western Turkey.

‡16:19 16:19 Prisca is a variant of Priscilla; see Acts 18:2.

§16:22 16:22 Greek Marana Tha! from a transliteration of the Aramaic, an exclamation of approaching divine judgment

*16:24 16:24 SBL, WH, and NA do not include Amen.

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