ESV Global Study Bible :: Footnotes for 1 Corinthians 16

1 Cor. 16:1–12 The Collection for the Saints and Travel Plans. Paul explains how his future ministry will involve the Corinthians.

1 Cor. 16:1 Now concerning. See note on 7:1. collection. This is Paul’s collection of money for needy Jewish Christians in Jerusalem. (See Acts 24:17; Rom. 15:25–28, 31; 2 Corinthians 8–9.) Paul brought such offerings to the church in Judea more than once. (See Acts 11:27–30, to which Gal. 2:10 may refer.) On generosity among Christians, see 2 Cor. 8:9–15.

1 Cor. 16:2 first day of every week. A Jewish expression for Sunday. It is similar to the phrase used in the Gospels to describe the day when Jesus rose from the dead (Matt. 28:1; Mark 16:2; Luke 24:1; John 20:1). Christians gathered for worship on Sunday, not Saturday (see Acts 20:7).

1 Cor. 16:3 Paul would send the money with several representatives chosen by the Corinthian church. He took care to prevent even an appearance of misuse of funds.

1 Cor. 16:8 Pentecost. The “Feast of Weeks,” described in Lev. 23:15–22. It was a grain harvest celebration that ended 50 days after Passover. This means Paul was probably writing in the spring, between Passover and this final day of Pentecost.

1 Cor. 16:10 When Timothy comes. Timothy is apparently already on his way to Corinth. (See 4:17 and Acts 19:22.)

1 Cor. 16:12 Paul would not have urged Apollos to visit Corinth if he disagreed with his theology (see 1:12; 3:4; 4:6).

1 Cor. 16:13–24 Closing Admonitions and Greetings. Paul tells the Corinthians to persevere, love, and submit to good leaders. He then gives greetings from Christians in Asia.

1 Cor. 16:13 act like men. Compare Josh. 1:6–7; 9; 10:25; 1 Chron. 28:20.

1 Cor. 16:17 Perhaps these were the men who brought the Corinthians’ letter to Paul (7:1).

1 Cor. 16:19 the church in their house. Early Christian churches usually met in homes (compare Rom. 16:3–5) since they were usually small and Christianity was not recognized as a legal religion (see Acts 18:7; Col. 4:15; Philem. 2).

1 Cor. 16:20 holy kiss. See note on 2 Cor. 13:12–13. Many practices with symbolic meanings change from culture to culture (such as footwashing, or head covering for wives; see note on 1 Cor. 11:5–6). A “holy kiss” would not mean the same thing today that it did in the first century. Such commands are best obeyed by substituting an action (such as a handshake or hug or bow) that would have the same meaning today.

1 Cor. 16:21 I, Paul. Paul typically dictated his letters to secretaries (Rom. 16:22), but sometimes he would sign the letter by hand to authenticate it (2 Thess. 3:17), to give a personal farewell greeting (Col. 4:18), or to emphasize a point (Gal. 6:11; Philem. 19). In light of 1 Cor. 16:22, Paul’s personal signature here probably falls into the third category.

1 Cor. 16:22 Anyone who might say “Jesus is accursed” (12:3) is himself accursed. The phrase Our Lord, come! is Aramaic rather than Greek. It is probably an early Jewish Christian prayer for Jesus’ return (compare Rev. 22:20). It is additional evidence that early followers of Jesus gave him the same title they used for God the Father.