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1 Coríntios 16

ARC · Chapter 16/16

1Ora, quanto á collecta que se faz para os sanctos, fazei vós tambem como ordenei ás egrejas da Galacia.

2No primeiro dia da semana cada um de vós ponha de parte o que poder ajuntar, conforme a sua prosperidade, para que se não façam as collectas quando eu chegar.

3E, quando tiver chegado, enviarei aos que por cartas approvardes para que levem a vossa dadiva a Jerusalem.

4E, se a coisa fôr digna de que eu tambem vá, irão comigo.

5Irei, porém, ter comvosco depois de ter passado pela Macedonia (porque tenho de passar pela Macedonia).

6E bem pode ser que fique comvosco, e passe tambem o inverno, para que me acompanheis aonde quer que eu fôr.

7Porque não vos quero agora vêr de passagem, mas espero ficar comvosco algum tempo, se o Senhor o permittir.

8Ficarei, porém, em Epheso até ao Pentecostes;

9Porque uma porta grande e efficaz se me abriu; e ha muitos adversarios.

10E, se vier Timotheo, vêde que esteja sem temor comvosco; porque trabalha na obra do Senhor, como eu tambem.

11Portanto ninguem o despreze, mas acompanhae-o em paz, para que venha ter comigo: porque o espero com os irmãos.

12E, ácerca do irmão Apollos, roguei-lhe muito que fosse ter comvosco com os irmãos, mas, na verdade, não teve vontade de ir agora; irá, porém, quando se lhe offereça boa occasião.

13Vigiae, estae firmes na fé: portae-vos varonilmente, e fortalecei-vos.

14Todas as vossas coisas sejam feitas com caridade.

15Rogo-vos, porém, irmãos, pois sabeis que a familia de Estephanas é as primicias da Achaia, e que se tem dedicado ao ministerio dos sanctos,

16Que tambem vos sujeiteis aos taes, e a todo aquelle que juntamente obra e trabalha.

17Folgo, porém, com a vinda de Estephanas, e de Fortunato e de Achaico; porque estes suppriram o que da vossa parte me faltava.

18Porque recrearam o meu espirito e o vosso. Reconhecei pois aos taes.

19As egrejas da Asia vos saudam. Saudam-vos affectuosamente no Senhor Aquila e Prisca, com a egreja que está em sua casa.

20Todos os irmãos vos saudam. Saudae-vos uns aos outros com osculo sancto.

21Saudação da minha propria mão, de Paulo.

22Se alguem não ama ao Senhor Jesus Christo, seja anathema, maranatha.

23A graça do Senhor Jesus Christo seja comvosco.

24O meu amor seja com todos vós em Christo Jesus. Amen.

📖 Chapter study

Summary

Paul gives practical instructions about a collection of money to help the poor Christians of Jerusalem, speaks of his travel plans, and recommends several fellow workers. The letter closes with final greetings and a blessing.

Explanation

This final chapter is more administrative, but it reveals how Paul cared for both deep theological matters and concrete practical needs, such as gathering resources for those in need. The suggested arrangement — setting aside weekly an amount proportional to one's earnings — is one of the earliest biblical examples of systematic planning for generosity. Paul also expresses genuine affection for co-workers like Timothy and Apollos, and asks the church to receive them well, showing a model of teamwork in Christian ministry. The closing Aramaic expression, 'maranatha' ('Come, Lord'), reflects the living hope of Christ's return that sustained the early church. Today's practical application includes both planned generosity and care in honoring and supporting those who serve in God's work.

Fun facts

  • The Aramaic expression 'maranatha' (v. 22) is one of the very few Aramaic words preserved in the middle of a Greek text in the New Testament, showing how important this prayer of expectation for Christ's return was — important enough to cross the language barrier.
  • The collection for the 'saints' in Jerusalem mentioned here is the same one Paul details more extensively in 2 Corinthians 8 and 9, revealing how this project of mutual aid between churches in different regions occupied years of the apostle's ministry.

Verse-by-verse explanation

  1. 1 Coríntios 16:1Paul shifts to the letter’s practical closing: he asks the Corinthians to take part in the collection of money for the poor Christians in Jerusalem, following the same model already given to the churches of Galatia.
  2. 1 Coríntios 16:2Setting money aside “upon the first day of the week” shows that Christians were already meeting on that day, Sunday, the day of the resurrection, and using the gathering to set the offering aside gradually, instead of collecting it all at the last minute when Paul arrived.
  3. 1 Coríntios 16:3The collection was money gathered by the Gentile churches to help the poor Christians in Jerusalem. Paul asks that each church choose trustworthy representatives, with letters of recommendation, to carry the money there safely, since traveling alone with money was risky.
  4. 1 Coríntios 16:4If the amount raised is large enough to justify it, Paul offers to personally accompany the representatives who will carry the offering to Jerusalem.
  5. 1 Coríntios 16:5Paul plans to visit Corinth after passing through Macedonia, a region already on his missionary travel route.
  6. 1 Coríntios 16:6He considers the possibility of spending the winter in Corinth, a season when sea travel became more dangerous, counting on their help to continue the journey afterward.
  7. 1 Coríntios 16:7Explains why he doesn’t want just a quick passing visit: he’d rather stay longer with them, if God allows it, instead of a short, shallow stop.
  8. 1 Coríntios 16:8For now, Paul says he’ll stay on in Ephesus, from where he probably writes the letter, until the Jewish feast of Pentecost.
  9. 1 Coríntios 16:9Justifies staying in Ephesus: there’s a great and important opportunity for preaching there, even with considerable opposition — work he doesn’t want to abandon halfway through.
  10. 1 Coríntios 16:10Asks that when Timothy arrives in Corinth, he be received without hostility, since he does the same work for the Lord that Paul does — probably a young coworker who could face resistance there.
  11. 1 Coríntios 16:11Reinforces the request: that no one treat Timothy with contempt, and that they help him journey back in peace, because Paul is waiting for him along with other brothers.
  12. 1 Coríntios 16:12Explains that he strongly urged Apollos, the same preacher mentioned in the factions of chapter 1, to visit Corinth, but he chose not to go right now — Apollos’s own decision, not Paul refusing him.
  13. 1 Coríntios 16:13A series of short commands before closing the letter: watch, stand firm in the faith, act with courage, be strong — a practical summary of everything the letter has asked.
  14. 1 Coríntios 16:14Sums it all up with a single principle: that everything the Corinthian church does, after so many corrections, be done with love — echoing chapter 13 directly.
  15. 1 Coríntios 16:15“The firstfruits of Achaia” calls Stephanas’s household the first converts of that region. Paul asks the church to recognize the natural leadership of those who had already been serving longer.
  16. 1 Coríntios 16:16Asks the church to submit to Stephanas and others like him (named in the next verse), who devoted themselves to serving the community — recognition of leadership through effort, not status.
  17. 1 Coríntios 16:17Paul is glad about the arrival of Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus, probably the messengers who carried the Corinthians’ letter to him, supplying the contact that distance didn’t allow.
  18. 1 Coríntios 16:18These three brought relief both to Paul and, indirectly, to the Corinthians themselves — which is why he asks the church to recognize and value people like them.
  19. 1 Coríntios 16:19Brings greetings from other churches in the region of Asia, including the couple Aquila and Priscilla, close coworkers of Paul, and the church that met in their house.
  20. 1 Coríntios 16:20The “holy kiss” was a greeting exchanged between fellow believers, a common custom of greeting at the time, without the romantic weight the word “kiss” carries today.
  21. 1 Coríntios 16:21Paul usually dictated his letters to a scribe, but he signs this final greeting in his own handwriting — a mark of authenticity to confirm the letter is truly his.
  22. 1 Coríntios 16:22“Anathema” is a solemn curse of exclusion, and “Maranatha” is an Aramaic expression meaning “the Lord is coming” or “come, Lord.” Paul ends the letter with these two strong words, reminding them that commitment to Christ is serious, and that He is coming back.
  23. 1 Coríntios 16:23The closing formula of Paul’s letters: he asks that the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with the Corinthians, ending in blessing after so many hard corrections.
  24. 1 Coríntios 16:24The letter’s final line: despite all the rebuke throughout the 16 chapters, Paul ends by affirming his love for all of them in Christ Jesus.

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