1 Corinthians 16

CHAPTER 16

The Collection of Gifts

¹Now concerning ^athe collection for ^bthe saints, as ^cI directed the churches of ^dGalatia, so do you also.

²On ^athe first day of every week each one of you is to ¹set something aside, saving whatever he has prospered, so that ^bno collections be made when I come.

³And when I arrive, ^awhomever you may approve, I will send them with letters to carry your gracious gift to Jerusalem,

⁴and if it is fitting for me to go also, they will go with me.

⁵But I ^awill come to you after I go through ^bMacedonia, for I ^cam going through Macedonia;

⁶and perhaps I will stay with you, or even spend the winter, so that you may ^asend me on my way wherever I may go.

⁷For I do not wish to see you now ^ajust in passing, for I hope to remain with you for some time, ^bif the Lord permits.

⁸But I will remain in ^aEphesus until ^bPentecost,

⁹for a ^awide and effective door has opened to me, and ^bthere are many adversaries.

¹⁰Now if ^aTimothy comes, take care that he is with you without fear, for he is doing ^bthe Lord’s work, as I also am.

^11aSo let no one despise him. But ^bsend him on his way ^cin peace, so that he may come to me, for I expect him with the brothers.

¹²Now concerning ^aApollos our brother, I encouraged him greatly to come to you with the brothers, and it was not at all his desire to come now, but he will come when he has opportunity.

Final Instructions and Greetings

^13aBe watchful, ^bstand firm in the faith, ^cact like men, ^dbe strong.

¹⁴Let all that you do be done ^ain love.

¹⁵Now I exhort you, brothers (you know the ^ahousehold of Stephanas, that ¹they were the ^bfirst fruits of ^cAchaia, and that they have devoted themselves for ^dservice to ^ethe saints),

¹⁶that ^ayou also be in subjection to such men and to everyone who helps in the work and labors.

¹⁷And I rejoice over the ^1acoming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus, because they have ²supplied ^bwhat was lacking on your part.

¹⁸For they ^ahave refreshed my spirit and yours. Therefore ^brecognize such men.

¹⁹The churches of ^aAsia greet you. ^bAquila and Prisca greet you heartily in the Lord, with ^cthe church that is in their house.

²⁰All the brothers greet you. ^aGreet one another with a holy kiss.

²¹The greeting is in ^amy own hand—¹Paul.

²²If anyone does not love the Lord, he is to be ^1aaccursed. ^2bMaranatha.

^23aThe grace of the Lord Jesus be with you.

²⁴My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.