1 Corinthians 16:1-12

G. The collection for the Jerusalem believers 16:1-12

I have chosen to include this section with the others that deal with questions the Corinthians had asked Paul rather than with Paul’s concluding comments because it begins "peri de" (1 Corinthians 7:1; 1 Corinthians 7:25; 1 Corinthians 8:1; 1 Corinthians 12:1; 1 Corinthians 16:12; cf. 1 Corinthians 8:4). Probably they had asked about the collection Paul was assembling in a letter or through messengers. This is the least confrontational section in this epistle, though we can detect tension here too. Problems over this collection emerge clearly in 2 Corinthians.

"Most ancient letters were brief, and a large number were business-related. Whereas most of Paul’s correspondence more closely resembles philosophers’ letters discoursing on moral topics, he is ready to address business as well." [Note: Keener, 1-2 Corinthians, p. 136.]

"This chapter may seem unrelated to our needs today, but actually it deals in a very helpful way with three areas of stewardship: money (1 Corinthians 16:1-4), opportunities (1 Corinthians 16:5-9), and people (1 Corinthians 16:10-24). These are probably the greatest resources the church has today, and they must not be wasted." [Note: Wiersbe, 1:621.]