Tyndale Open Study Notes1 Corinthians 16

Paul responds to the Corinthians' question about the donation for poor Christians in Jerusalem (Acts 24:17; Romans 15:25–27; Second Corinthians 8–9; Galatians 2:10).

Galatia was a Roman province in Asia Minor, modern-day Turkey (see Acts 16:6; 18:23).

Christians gathered on the first day of each week (see Acts 20:7) instead of the last day, as in the Old Testament (Exodus 20:8; 34:21; Isaiah 58:13–14). The first day was called the "Lord's Day," marking the day of the Lord's resurrection (Mark 16:9; Luke 24:13–15; John 20:19; Revelation 1:10). The amount of money to give was not specified. Paul later encouraged them to give as generously as possible (2 Corinthians 8:1–4; 9:6–13; compare Luke 12:33–34; 21:1–4; 1 Timothy 6:18–19).

Paul delivered the gift to Jerusalem (Romans 15:25–26).

• Paul traveled through Macedonia, a Roman province in northern Greece, during his second missionary journey (Acts 15:36–18:22).

• He planned to travel through Macedonia again (See Acts 19:21; 20:1–3).

or even spend the winter: Paul evidently did visit during the winter (compare Acts 20:2–3).

• Paul wrote this letter while he was in Ephesus, around AD 53 to 56 (Acts 19:1–20:1).

• Pentecost occurred in May or June.

• If Timothy comes: See 4:17. Timothy was Paul's spiritual child and co-worker (see 1 Timothy 1:2).

• see to it that he has nothing to fear: Timothy might have been shy or tentative (2 Timothy 1:6–8).

our brother Apollos: Refer to study note on 1 Corinthians 1:12.

Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus traveled from Corinth to visit Paul in Ephesus (see also 1:16; 16:15).

Like in his other letters, Paul greets his friends and offers a blessing.

• Aquila and Priscilla (also called Prisca in Greek) had moved from Corinth to Ephesus, where Paul wrote this letter (compare Acts 18:1–3).

• the church that meets at their house: Aquila and Priscilla later continued this practice in Rome (see Romans 16:3–5).

Greet one another with a holy kiss: People often greeted each other with a kiss on the cheek.

Paul ends the letter by writing a few words in his own handwriting. In those times, it was common for someone else to write down the letter as a secretary. Paul did this in this letter and in others (see Romans 16:22; Galatians 6:11; Colossians 4:18; 2 Thessalonians 3:17).

• To be cursed means to be condemned by God (see also Romans 9:3; Galatians 1:8–9).

• Come, O Lord!: Early Christians sometimes used this phrase in prayers (see also Revelation 22:20).

• All of Paul's letters end with a blessing like this one.

• Paul mentions grace at both the start and end of this letter (see 1:3).