1 Corinthians 16: Teaching Believers on Giving

Read 1 Corinthians Chapter 16

Introduction: The final chapter of 1 Corinthians, 1 Corinthians 16, ends Paul’s first letter to the Corinthian church with practical instructions and personal notes. This chapter shows the heart of Paul who loves and cares for the welfare of the believers at Corinth, their unity, and their need to be supportive of one another. The chapter reminds believers today in year 2024, of the importance of generosity, being ready for the Lord’s work, the importance and value of strong Christian relationships, and the sustaining grace of Jesus.

I. Teaching on the Collection for the Saints (1 Corinthians 16:1-4)
Paul directs the Corinthian church on how to collect funds for the saints in Jerusalem, teaching the principle of regular, consistent, and collective giving (most churches today use the 10% tithe as the basis for members giving, but Christians giving is giving regardless of what percent it is according to Mark 9:41, Matthew 10:42, 2 Corinthians 9:7). This echoes the practices of the early church where generosity played a major role in their fellowship.  We can see  in Acts 11:29-30, the early church’s care and response to helping the brethren in need. Also in a verse already mentioned, 2 Corinthians 9:6-7, we read God loves a cheerful giver which teaches the important action of the believers to sow generously. Finally in Romans 15:25-27, we read about the importance of supporting the poor among the saints in Jerusalem.

II. Paul’s Travel Plans (1 Corinthians 16:5-9)
In these verses, Paul shares his travel plans, saying he would like to visit the Corinthians and stay with them. He points out the effectiveness of the open door for ministry at Ephesus, showing his desire to seize the opportunity to share the gospel and start churches. The Bible talks  about Ephesus in Acts 19:8-10, it mentions Paul’s ministry in Ephesus and the importance of the door that was opened for the preaching of the gospel. We read in Acts 16:6-10, Paul was on a missionary journey as he followed the guidance of the Holy Spirit, preached the gospel, and people were saved who started churches.

III. Encouragements and Warnings (1 Corinthians 16:10-12)
These verses show Paul encouraging the Corinthians to welcome Timothy warmly and mentions Apollos’ preaching plans. He sheds light on the need for the church to be open to God’s workers and respectful of their individual calling of God. Timothy’s heart was truly concerned for others and their need to be right with God as we can read in Philippians 2:19-22. In Acts 18:24-28, the Bible tells us about Apollos’ ministry and his eloquent preaching that changed many lives. Paul instructs the Corinthian church to honor these men as we can read in 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13, these verses are call to respect and honor those who labor among us. Something we still need to observe today.

IV. Final Exhortations and Greetings (1 Corinthians 16:13-24)
The chapter closes with Paul urging believers to remain vigilant, stand firm in the faith, and act with love. He sends personal greetings and points out the importance of love and fellowship in the body of Christ, ending the chapter with a blessing of grace. The Bible teaches in Ephesians 6:10-18, believers need to be strong in the Lord and to put on the full armor of God to resist the wiles of the devil. In Galatians 6:2, the Bible teaches we should bear one another’s burdens, as it fulfills of the law of Christ (love one another as Christ loved us). A final note to this chapter, The practice of greeting one another with a holy kiss was a sign of Christian love and fellowship (Romans 16:16).

Conclusion: 1 Corinthians 16 is a guide for believers and reminds us of our commitment to support one another, be it through giving or welcoming fellow believers. It calls us to be vigilant in our faith, be open to opportunities for ministry, and to act in love towards each other. In doing so, we follow the example of the early church and honor the relationships that bind us together in Christ. This chapter should inspire believers to support and encourage of one another as we await the return of our Lord.