Final Thoughts

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About Money

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"Now concerning your contribution to the Saints." It seems strange to ask the mission church to contribute to the mother church. But the mother church in Jerusalem had long been persecuted. Even before the death of Christ, any Jew that openly followed Christ was removed from the synagogue and persecuted socially and economically. After the death and resurrection of Christ, an effort, once led by the man writing this book, was made to eliminate all believers in Christ. Few followers were able to find work and they existed on charity from the mission churches and rich converts like Nicodemus. These 4 verses contain instructions to the Church at Corinth concerning this offering.

From these verses we see that Paul had previously done this at other churches. The Churches of Galatia are mentioned here. Notice when the offering was to be taken. "On the first day of every week." This is evidence that these churches had changed by now to worshipping on the first day of the week and now on the Sabbath, or Saturday.

Notice the method to be used. "Everyone is to put something aside." Remember that the church at Corinth at that time was a rich church, one that was not persecuted and one that was in a city that was thriving economically. Paul is instilling in them something that was foreign to them in their pagan state, the desire to share with their less fortunate brothers. Notice he does not mention the tithe but simply instructs them to do it "regularly". He does not establish an amount accept to say, each was to give as God had prospered them.

Now, why did Paul want this done? He wanted this to be taken care of before he got there so that when he did come, he could take care of more important things. Stewardship is never a desirable topic. Secondly, money laid aside regularly is less painful and will amount to considerably more than a one time collection. But there was also a third and more important reason that Paul wanted this done, he was teaching them to be stewards of their money and to have compassion on the less fortunate.

Now how was this offering going to get to Jerusalem? People at the church would be selected when Paul arrived. They would be appointed to represent the church and given a letter from the leadership of the church and sent to Jerusalem with the money. We might ask why it was necessary for them to be identified with a letter as messengers from the church at Corinth, but there was a saying in those days, "Beware of strangers bearing rich gifts." This tactic was used by Jews seeking ways to get charges placed against the believers in Jerusalem, thus no money was accepted accept from certified messengers from churches that Paul and Barnabas had started or from Paul and Barnabas themselves. Paul often went with these messengers as his Roman citizenship gave them protection anywhere in the Roman empire.

A Future Visit

Next Paul tells them of his intention to visit them. On Paul's Second Missionary Journey, he was in Asia determined to go north and east when he received his call to go into Macedonia. He went into Macedonia and established churches at Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea and Corinth. He spent three years at Corinth at that time, before he returned to Jerusalem. During those three years he sustained himself by working with Aquila and Priscilla in the making of tents. He was on his Third Missionary Journey and was at Ephesus when he wrote this letter. Ephesus was across the Aegean Sea from Corinth a distance of about 200 miles, but Paul intended to go the long way, around the sea, a distance of about 700 miles.

Did Paul ever get back to Corinth? Yes. He left Ephesus on Pentecost, the first of June, and expected to spend the winter with the Corinthians. Notice why Paul waited so long before leaving for Corinth, "A wide door of effective work had opened to me." What was that "wide door"? It was the celebration of Pentecost. Thousands of Jews would flock into Ephesus for this week of celebration. An opportunity for witnessing that Paul could not miss.

Paul had much to say to the church at Corinth, too much just to pass through, besides it would be an ideal place to spend the winter. Also he had hoped to talk some of them into accompanying him on his rounds to the other churches close by. Paul had hoped to be there in 6 months but as we will see, he wrote his second letter to them 6 months later and he hadn't gotten there yet, but he did eventually make it.

Concerning Timothy

Paul was fond of Timothy, he often referred to him as his "beloved son". Timothy's father was Greek and his mother was a devout Jew. He lived in the Derby-Lystra area and was converted to Christianity on Paul's First Missionary Journey. On Paul's Second Journey, Paul took Timothy along to be his companion and secretary. Paul ordained Timothy and to make him more acceptable to the Jews he had him circumcised. Timothy had a problem, he was a young man. His youth made Paul realize that it would be some time before he could send Timothy on missions by himself. However, realizing by now that it was going to take him longer to get to Corinth than he originally thought, he sent Timothy on ahead to take care of some problems for him.

Notice what Timothy was to do. He was to correct any false doctrines that may have gotten into the church at Corinth and instruct, direct and if necessary, reprove them. This would have been a big job even for an older person, especially amongst those proud people. Proud Spirits cannot easily bear reproof. Paul suspected that Young Timothy might run into trouble so he sent along with him some instructions for the people there at Corinth.

"When Timothy comes......

• put him at ease among you...
• let no one despise him....
• aid him so the he can accomplish his work in peace...
• when he has completed his work, send him along in friendship and love.

Did Timothy accomplish his task? No. In Second Corinthians we will learn that later Paul had to send Titus to replace Timothy, however, Timothy did stay long enough to help organize the offering that was taken up to help the Saints at Jerusalem. He apparently went back to Corinth to be with Paul but it is not known if he accompanied Paul back to Jerusalem.

Concerning Apollos

We have only one verse here but it tells us so much about the relationship between Paul and Apollos. Remember back in chapter 1, Paul learned from Cleo's people that there were divisions in the church at Corinth. Some claiming to belong to Paul and some to Apollos. Paul reminded them that Christ was not divided and neither he nor Apollos was anything but that it was God that had given the increase and it was to Him that they belonged.

We see from this that there could have been some jealousy between Paul and Apollos, but there wasn't. To the contrary, they had great respect for each other. Perhaps Apollos left Corinth because of the divisions there but now it appears that Paul had urged him to go back. But Apollos would not go back to half a church, perhaps when they had resolved this problem, Apollos would go back, but for now, it was not his will.

Good Advice

In these verses Paul gives the Corinthians and us 4 pieces of good advice.

1. "Be watchful." The church there at Corinth had many problems. Divisions, problems with worship, improper behavior, false prophets, these were dangerous circumstances and they needed to keep a watchful eye less Satan take over their church.
2. "Stand firm in your faith." Know what you believe and stand firm in it. Do not be blown by every wind of doctrine. A firm and knowledgeable faith will ward off temptations and false prophets.
3. "Be strong and courageous." Do not be afraid to witness. Do not be afraid to live as a Christian should live. It was not easy to do this at Corinth. To do this often meant the giving up of old friends and associations.
4. "Let all that you do be done in love." Can you imagine what a church would be like if all of its members practiced this instruction? No greater witness can be made by any church than to do this.

A church that would make the greatest witness to the community will be "watchful concerning problems in the church and take care of them immediately when they occur, they will be known as church that stands firm in their faith and is not afraid to witness to that faith and lastly, they will do all things, in the church and in the community, in love.

Concerning Recommendations

Three worthy Christians are here given recommendations. Stephanas, who was the first man who, along with his family, were converted and baptized by Paul in Greece. It appears from this text that the whole family dedicated themselves to the Gospel of Christ. Stephanas, along with Fortunatus and Achaicus had been sent to Paul by the Corinthian church with a letter describing the problems that were plaguing them. It was in answer to that letter that Paul wrote this book. They appear to have been active and trusted members of the church and Paul probably used them to take this letter back to the church from Ephesus where Paul was when he wrote it. Notice he commends these three men for the service that they had done and suggests that the church seek their leadership.

Greetings

Paul sends greetings to the church at Corinth from the churches in Asia where he was. Paul established 9 churches in Asia. Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodicea, Colossie, Miletus, Perggamum, Ephesus and Smyrna. Seven of these churches get special treatment in the way of a direct message from God, in the Book of Revelation.

Then Paul sends greetings from Aquila and Priscilla (Prisca). This husband and wife team worked with Paul in the tent making business. They were Jews who were born in Pontus, in northern Asia Minor, who lived a short time in Rome but because of the anti-Semitic edict of Claudius in A.D. 49, they were forced to leave and go to Corinth. From Corinth they went to Ephesus and established a home and business there. They were still there and were with Paul when he wrote this letter. It would appear that they had started a mission church in their own home.

Paul also sends greetings to the church at Corinth from all the brethren at Ephesus. "Greet one another with a Holy Kiss." The "Holy Kiss" was an accepted way of greeting one another for a time in the early church, but was eliminated in Corinth because of the widespread disease. In the beginning, it was an expression of trust and love but was soon superseded by the hug, and later the handshake.

Signing Off

Paul probably dictated this letter to Timothy, but he signed it and wrote the last greeting (verses 21 thru 23) that they might know that it was truly from him. Then he makes one last statement of doctrine, "If anyone has no love for the Lord, let him be condemned." Those who do not love Him, cannot believe in Him. Therefore, they are doomed to perish.

"The Grace of the Lord Jesus be with you." Paul knew that this Grace was sufficient for all of their many problems. He could wish them nothing less.

"My love be with you all." He closes this letter with a declaration of his love for them there at Corinth. He had spent more time at that church than any other church. He had a deep affection for them and wanted only the best for them.

THE END OF THE BOOK OF FIRST CORINTHIANS

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