1 Corinthians 16: Stand Firm in Love
Paul closes with instructions on giving, travel plans, and commendations, urging the church to be watchful, strong, and to do everything in love.
1 Corinthians 16 (WEB)
1 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I commanded the assemblies of Galatia, you do likewise.
2 On the first day of the week, let each one of you save, as he may prosper, that no collections be made when I come.
3 When I arrive, I will send whoever you approve with letters to carry your gracious gift to Jerusalem.
4 If it is appropriate for me to go also, they will go with me.
5 But I will come to you when I have passed through Macedonia, for I am passing through Macedonia.
6 But with you it may be that I will stay, or even winter, that you may send me on my journey wherever I go.
7 For I do not wish to see you now in passing, but I hope to stay a while with you, if the Lord permits.
8 But I will stay at Ephesus until Pentecost,
9 for a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.
10 Now if Timothy comes, see that he is with you without fear, for he does the work of the Lord, as I also do.
11 Therefore let no one despise him. But set him forward on his journey in peace, that he may come to me; for I expect him with the brothers.
12 Now concerning Apollos, the brother, I strongly urged him to come to you with the brothers; and it was not at all his desire to come now; but he will come when he has an opportunity.
13 Watch! Stand firm in the faith! Be courageous! Be strong!
14 Let all that you do be done in love.
15 Now I beg you, brothers (you know the house of Stephanas, that it is the first fruits of Achaia, and that they have set themselves to serve the saints),
16 that you also be in subjection to such, and to everyone who helps in the work and labors.
17 I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus; for that which was lacking on your part, they supplied.
18 For they refreshed my spirit and yours. Therefore acknowledge those who are like that.
19 The assemblies of Asia greet you. Aquila and Priscilla greet you much in the Lord, together with the assembly that is in their house.
20 All the brothers greet you. Greet one another with a holy kiss.
21 This greeting is by me, Paul, with my own hand.
22 If any man doesn’t love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be accursed. Come, Lord!
23 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
24 My love to all of you in Christ Jesus. Amen.
1 Corinthians 16 (KJV)
1 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye.
2 Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.
3 And when I come, whomsoever ye shall approve by your letters, them will I send to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem.
4 And if it be meet that I go also, they shall go with me.
5 Now I will come unto you, when I shall pass through Macedonia: for I do pass through Macedonia.
6 And it may be that I will abide, yea, and winter with you, that ye may bring me on my journey whithersoever I go.
7 For I will not see you now by the way; but I trust to tarry a while with you, if the Lord permit.
8 But I will tarry at Ephesus until Pentecost.
9 For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries.
10 Now if Timotheus come, see that he may be with you without fear: for he worketh the work of the Lord, as I also do.
11 Let no man therefore despise him: but conduct him forth in peace, that he may come unto me: for I look for him with the brethren.
12 As touching our brother Apollos, I greatly desired him to come unto you with the brethren: but his will was not at all to come at this time; but he will come when he shall have convenient time.
13 Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.
14 Let all your things be done with charity.
15 I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,)
16 That ye submit yourselves unto such, and to every one that helpeth with us, and laboureth.
17 I am glad of the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus: for that which was lacking on your part they have supplied.
18 For they have refreshed my spirit and yours: therefore acknowledge ye them that are such.
19 The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house.
20 All the brethren greet you. Greet ye one another with an holy kiss.
21 The salutation of me Paul with mine own hand.
22 If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maran-atha.
23 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
24 My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen. The first epistle to the Corinthians was written from Philippi by Stephanas, and Fortunatus, and Achaicus, and Timotheus.
1 Corinthians 16 (ASV)
1 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I gave order to the churches of Galatia, so also do ye.
2 Upon the first day of the week let each one of you lay by him in store, as he may prosper, that no collections be made when I come.
3 And when I arrive, whomsoever ye shall approve, them will I send with letters to carry your bounty unto Jerusalem:
4 and if it be meet for me to go also, they shall go with me.
5 But I will come unto you, when I shall have passed through Macedonia; for I pass through Macedonia;
6 but with you it may be that I shall abide, or even winter, that ye may set me forward on my journey whithersoever I go.
7 For I do not wish to see you now by the way; for I hope to tarry a while with you, if the Lord permit.
8 But I will tarry at Ephesus until Pentecost;
9 for a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries.
10 Now if Timothy come, see that he be with you without fear; for he worketh the work of the Lord, as I also do:
11 let no man therefore despise him. But set him forward on his journey in peace, that he may come unto me: for I expect him with the brethren.
12 But as touching Apollos the brother, I besought him much to come unto you with the brethren: and it was not at all his will to come now; but he will come when he shall have opportunity.
13 Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.
14 Let all that ye do be done in love.
15 Now I beseech you, brethren (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have set themselves to minister unto the saints),
16 that ye also be in subjection unto such, and to every one that helpeth in the work and laboreth.
17 And I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus: for that which was lacking on your part they supplied.
18 For they refreshed my spirit and yours: acknowledge ye therefore them that are such.
19 The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Prisca salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house.
20 All the brethren salute you. Salute one another with a holy kiss.
21 The salutation of me Paul with mine own hand.
22 If any man loveth not the Lord, let him be anathema. Maranatha.
23 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
24 My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.
Summary
Paul closes his letter with practical matters that flow from all he has taught. He gives directions for the collection for the needy saints in Jerusalem: on the first day of every week, each person should set aside and save a sum in keeping with their income, so there will be no last-minute gathering when he arrives, and approved messengers will carry the gift to Jerusalem. He shares his travel plans—hoping to come through Macedonia and to stay a while, perhaps the winter, with the Corinthians—because a great and effective door has opened for him at Ephesus, where there are also many adversaries. He commends Timothy, asking that he be received without fear since he does the Lord's work, and explains that Apollos was unwilling to visit just now but will come at a better time. Then comes a stirring charge: be watchful, stand firm in the faith, be courageous, be strong, and let everything be done in love. Paul urges the church to submit to the household of Stephanas, the firstfruits of Achaia, who have devoted themselves to serving the saints, and he rejoices in the refreshing visit of Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus. He passes on greetings from the churches of Asia, from Aquila and Priscilla and the church in their house, and from all the brothers, calling them to greet one another with a holy kiss. Writing the final greeting in his own hand, he warns that anyone who does not love the Lord is accursed, prays for the Lord to come, and ends with grace and his love to all of them in Christ Jesus.
Main Characters
- Paul — The apostle who closes with instructions on giving and travel, a ringing charge to steadfast love, and a final greeting in his own hand.
- Timothy and Apollos — Coworkers Paul commends—Timothy to be welcomed without fear, and Apollos to come when the time is right.
- Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus — Faithful servants, the firstfruits of Achaia, who refreshed Paul's spirit and are worthy of the church's honor and submission.
- The wider church — Believers in Asia, Aquila and Priscilla, and all the brothers who send greetings, binding the Corinthians into the fellowship of the whole church.
Key Verse
1 Corinthians 16:14 (WEB)
Let all that you do be done in love.
Lessons Learned
- Generosity toward needy believers should be regular, planned, and proportionate.
- God opens effective doors for ministry even where adversaries abound.
- The church should welcome and honor faithful, self-giving servants.
- The whole Christian life is to be marked by watchful faith and love.
- Give regularly and proportionately. “On the first day of the week, let each one of you save, as he may prosper” (1 Corinthians 16:2, WEB). Generosity is planned, regular, and matched to our means.
- Open doors come with opposition. “A great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries” (1 Corinthians 16:9, WEB). Opportunity and opposition often arrive together.
- Stand firm and be strong. “Watch! Stand firm in the faith! Be courageous! Be strong!” (1 Corinthians 16:13, WEB). The Christian life calls for vigilance and courage.
- Let love govern everything. “Let all that you do be done in love” (1 Corinthians 16:14, WEB). Love is the final, all-embracing rule for the church's life.
- What principles for giving can we draw from Paul's instructions about the collection?
- What does Paul mean that a great door has opened even though there are many adversaries?
- Why does Paul take such care to commend and honor coworkers like Timothy and Stephanas?
- How do the commands to be watchful, stand firm, and be strong relate to the closing charge to do everything in love?
- If everything you did this week were truly done in love, what is one thing that would change?
- Paul calls for giving that is regular (each week), personal (each one), proportionate (as you prosper), and planned ahead (16:2). Generosity is not an afterthought but a steady, thoughtful part of the church's life and worship.
- An effective door for the gospel had opened at Ephesus, yet it came alongside many opponents (16:9). Paul sees opposition not as a reason to retreat but as a sign that real kingdom work is underway, and he stays to seize the opportunity.
- Paul honors faithful servants like Timothy, Stephanas, and others who have devoted themselves to the saints (16:10-18). His commendations model a church that recognizes, welcomes, and submits to those who serve, knitting the body together in mutual respect.
- Courage and steadfastness without love can become harsh, while love without firmness can drift; Paul joins them, calling for strong, watchful faith expressed in love (16:13-14). Together they describe a mature, Christlike church.
- This is a personal-application question. Invite members to imagine one relationship or task transformed if love truly governed it, and to take a concrete step in that direction. As leader, close the study where the letter does—resting in grace and the love of Christ that holds the whole church together.