AN OFFERING AND PRAYER REQUEST

Passage: 1 Corinthians 16:1-12

Key verse: 1

NIV

The Collection for the Lord’s People

16 Now about the collection(A) for the Lord’s people:(B) Do what I told the Galatian(C) churches to do. 2 On the first day of every week,(D) each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.(E) 3 Then, when I arrive, I will give letters of introduction to the men you approve(F) and send them with your gift to Jerusalem. 4 If it seems advisable for me to go also, they will accompany me.

Personal Requests

5 After I go through Macedonia, I will come to you(G)—for I will be going through Macedonia.(H) 6 Perhaps I will stay with you for a while, or even spend the winter, so that you can help me on my journey,(I) wherever I go. 7 For I do not want to see you now and make only a passing visit; I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits.(J) 8 But I will stay on at Ephesus(K) until Pentecost,(L) 9 because a great door for effective work has opened to me,(M) and there are many who oppose me.

10 When Timothy(N) comes, see to it that he has nothing to fear while he is with you, for he is carrying on the work of the Lord,(O) just as I am. 11 No one, then, should treat him with contempt.(P) Send him on his way(Q) in peace(R) so that he may return to me. I am expecting him along with the brothers.

12 Now about our brother Apollos:(S) I strongly urged him to go to you with the brothers. He was quite unwilling to go now, but he will go when he has the opportunity.

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Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

The Collection for the Saints

16 Now concerning[a] (A)the collection for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do. 2 On (B)the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, (C)as he may prosper, (D)so that there will be no collecting when I come. 3 And when I arrive, I will send (E)those whom you accredit by letter to carry your gift to Jerusalem. 4 If it seems advisable that I should go also, they will accompany me.

Plans for Travel

5 (F)I will visit you after passing through (G)Macedonia, for (H)I intend to pass through Macedonia, 6 and perhaps I will stay with you or even spend the winter, so that you may (I)help me on my journey, wherever I go. 7 For I do not want to see you now (J)just in passing. I hope to spend some time with you, (K)if the Lord permits. 8 But I will stay in Ephesus until (L)Pentecost, 9 for (M)a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and (N)there are many adversaries.

10 (O)When Timothy comes, see that you put him at ease among you, for (P)he is doing (Q)the work of the Lord, as I am. 11 So (R)let no one despise him. (S)Help him on his way (T)in peace, that he may return to me, for I am expecting him with the brothers.

Final Instructions

12 Now concerning (U)our brother Apollos, I strongly urged him to visit you with the other brothers, but it was not at all his will[b] to come now. He will come when he has opportunity.

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Footnotes
  1. 1 Corinthians 16:1 The expression Now concerning introduces a reply to a question in the Corinthians' letter; see 7:1; also verse 12
  2. 1 Corinthians 16:12 Or God's will for him
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

Christians in Corinth promised to participate in the offering for the poor Christians in Jerusalem. Now Paul asks them to prepare their gift in advance according to his instruction (2) so that they would not do it hurriedly when he showed up. To Paul, this offering was more than just material help; it was the evidence of God’s work through Paul’s ministry among the Gentiles. It was a show of the Gentile Christians’ practical appreciation of their indebtedness to the spiritual blessing of the Jewish Christians. Paul wanted to connect them to the Jewish Christians so that Jews and Gentiles would have unity in Christ. Christians’ offering must be done willingly and joyfully as the expression of their appreciation of and gratitude toward God’s grace. Giving to the needy is a part of worship and it enhances spiritual unity in the body of Christ.

Paul shared his travel plans and his present situation in Ephesus with the Corinthian Christians. He was expecting their prayer support for effective gospel work in the midst of many opponents. He asked them to accept Timothy as God’s servant with respect. He expressed his support for Apollos’ ministry so that they might welcome him on his visit. Paul humbly shared his prayer topics and asked for their prayer.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for blessing me to take part in world missions through prayer and offering. Help me to give sacrificially and pray earnestly.

One Word: A sacrificial giving with prayer support