Usually people ignore the final chapters of many of Paul’s letters. They are usually filled with last minute instructions, greetings, and signatures. We don’t know who many of the people are, and already know who Paul is, so we skip over these sections. But in 1st Corinthians 16 there are some neat little nuggets that we can find that help us understand the mechanics of everyday life as a maturing apprentice of Jesus the Messiah, and the mechanics of everyday ministry.
First off we look at the topic of giving—everyone’s favorite subject!
1 – 4
The latter part of the first century was tough on believers everywhere, but more so in Jerusalem. Both Jews and Romans began ganging up on the Christians, plus the area suffered several famines. This series of bad circumstances provided a wonderful opportunity to do some growing in the lives of believers many hundreds of miles removed from the situation.
You know, often we think of how bad it is that we face difficulty, but how often the Lord actually uses a bad thing in our lives to prompt something good in others. Bad things are going to happen, but it helps to know that God is powerful enough to work them for good in our life and in others, even if we never see it!
Let’s look at how this worked:
�Everyone was to give, but the amount was up to each person.
�The giving was regular (each Sunday)
�They were to bring it to the church
�Paul didn’t want anyone concerned about appearances when he was there, either the temptation to feel superior by openly giving a large amount, or inferior by not giving anything at all during such a collection.
Giving is an important component of being a part of the body of Christ. Each one of us should be giving to the church. What I like here is that the amount was up to each person and dependent, not on some external goal, but an individual circumstance. And while this was about money in particular, sometimes our abundance or lack is something else—talent, time, or other tangible things like property. Perhaps you have an abundance of money but a lack of time—you can still pray how God wants you to be a giver.
The money was to come to the church. It’s amazing how quickly things come up that will steal away the things we have set aside to give to the Lord if we hold on to it until the right time. Last month our car broke down and it would have been mighty tempting to use the money we had set aside to the Lord for that. But in our case, when we get paid we not only set aside the money but then give it before we can get out hands on it! That’s just a good principal.
Paul also didn’t want the giving to be dependent on what he or other people thought about or reacted to the giving. Jesus said not to let our left hand know what our right hand was doing in terms of giving. Your gift is between God and you.
This has another interesting effect. Now the Corinthians are on notice. Paul is coming. They couldn’t act like they were going to be so giving then just not do it. In the same way it is important for us to follow through. As James said “let you yes be yes and your no no!”
I should also point out that there is no New Testament law of tithing. You should give but there is no minimum, and no maximum as well!
5 – 10
This section might be more like “Paul’s travel itinerary” and not all that important to us. But actually it contains some vital information when coupled with what happened.
We find the narrative of this time in Acts 19 and 20. Paul has been spending time in Ephesus and wants to go through Macedonia on his way to Corinth then on to Jerusalem. He doesn’t want a quick overnight visit but to stay for a while. This is really prudent on Paul’s part because of the dysfunction in Corinth. His hunch played out big time.
Paul didn’t want to leave right away because of ministry opportunities. Now you might think that would mean throngs of people coming to Christ and everyone treating you well. Such was not the case. In fact, in Acts 19 there is the story of the Ephesian riot caused by Demetrius the silversmith who made little Diana statues for people to worship. Paul could have easily gotten himself killed in that riot.
Things going well from a human stand point doesn’t mean they going well in the Lord – and vice versa – when times are hard it may be a wider door for ministry than you ever dreamed. Don’t let the arbiter be the external circumstances but God’s leading in your heart.
Paul actually got himself into a lot of trouble with the Corinthians through this. He was delayed in his coming to them and they later claimed as a reason not to trust Paul. He uses 2 Corinthians 1:15 – 2:4 to explain. As we’ll see when we get to that section—changing plans does not mean you are not hearing from God!
10 – 11
Paul did send Timothy on ahead with Erastus who was a Corinthian believer (Romans 16:23 ). Timothy was a young minister (Acts 16 ) and Paul may have worried that the harsh treatment he had received would also await Timothy, who was timid enough as it was. Further, Paul wants them to provide for Timothy’s needs and send him back.
In Acts 20 we see that it seems Timothy stayed on in Corinth and left with Paul as he journeyed towards Jerusalem to present the gift.
12
Apollos was a strong apologist for the faith. Aquila and Priscilla met him in Acts 18 in Ephesus where they gave him some more accurate information about Jesus. He then set about strongly debating with the Jews. The way Paul brings up the matter it suggests that perhaps the Corinthians asked Paul to send Apollos their way. Given the Corinthians predilection for dynamic speakers, it’s no wonder. Some had undoubtedly wanted to side with Apollos, as the whole baptism debacle in chapter 1:12: “I am of Paul, I am of Apollos”.
But by the time Paul wrote the letter, Apollos wasn’t with him anymore and was acting independently, so Paul could only ask. The answer from him was “not now.”
13 – 14
There is a whole message right in these two verses. In a way, this sums up all that Paul has written to them in this book.
They were be alert or “on guard”; the words mean “to keep awake”. The Corinthians had let a lot of bad stuff into their congregation both from without and from within. Those enemies included division (1:10), pride (3:18), sin (5:1), disorder (14:40), and bad theology (15:12).
They were also to “stand firm in the faith.” The word “stand firm” is the Greek steko (stay-ko). I like that – stay. It literally means to remain stationary. The Corinthians were beginning to waiver in their faith, moving away from the gospel in some of their beliefs.
“Be brave and strong” To be “brave” is literally “man up”. And to be strong is a passive “be empowered”. The easy road is the one that just accepts whatever others dish out in terms of false doctrine and whatever the flesh puts in front of us in terms of desires. It takes courage to stand up to these things. Don’t be a passive Christian but allow the Holy Spirit to empower you to stand firm.
And the “your every action must be done in love.” All this manliness can lead to coldness. As we’ve talked about at length, your faith and works and gifts are meaningless unless you act redemptively in the lives of others, seeing past the wrongs into how you can sacrificially help another to be comforted for the failures of the past, redeemed in the present, and look to a bright future full of hope in the Lord.
So to put shoe leather on this, Paul points out those whom they knew that could be used as examples of just the things he is talking about:
15 – 18
Staphanas was a household that Paul mentions as having baptized in chapter 1. We don’t know what they were doing, but we do see that Paul is holding them up as wonderful examples of the right way to go about living as a believer. Paul encourages the Corinthians to literally put themselves in obedience to the members of this household. Perhaps they had been disrespected, but Paul wants them recognized for what they are—shining examples of apprentices, and to follow their lead.
These three men had brought Paul the letter from the Corinthians containing all of the questions that he answered in this letter. He wanted to be with them but these men made up for their absence. He desires for them to be recognized for taking the time out of their lives to travel to Ephesus to deliver the letter.
19 – 20
Paul had started many churches but they were all united in Jesus Christ. Wherever you go, the commonality of our beliefs tie us together in ways that are beyond our understanding. When Margaret and I traveled to Kenya, we had instant fellowship with these people, many of whom did not even speak our language. But we all worshipped the same Lord.
Aqulia and Priscilla had stayed in Corinth for a time with Paul (Acts 18:1-3 ), so they would have been familiar to them. Greeting with a kiss was and is a common Middle Eastern greeting.
21 – 24
Paul must have signed the letter himself. Now that’s an autograph I’d love to have! I love how Paul adds this zinger at the end. And it’s true. If you don’t have the love of Jesus in you, through a relationship with Him, then you are cursed, which basically means an eternal separation from all that is good. Then in the next words he says Maranatha, which means in Aramaic “our Lord has come.” It’s also the word John uses at the end of the Revelation. Oh would Jesus come back soon to make all of this wrong into right!
Though the letter was a hard one for them to receive, Paul wants them to know, like a loving father, that he loves them despite the discipline he brings.
Conclusions�
Giving to God and others is a sign of maturity
Not always demanding your way is a sign of maturity (they were to wait patiently for Paul to come to them)
The easy way is to give way to the flesh, but being courageous is the way of maturity and stability
There’s nothing wrong with admiring and even imitating those that are getting it right, as long as the ultimate worship is to Jesus Christ.
We should aspire to be like Stephanas—looked up to and emulated as one who did the things of courage.
Even when God speaks tough things to us, it is out of love, not anger.
