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1 Corintios 16

VBL · Chapter 16/16

1En cuanto a “recoger dinero para los hermanos creyentes”, les doy las mismas instrucciones que les di a las iglesias de Galacia.

2El primer día de la semana, todos deben apartar dinero del que han ganado. No quisiera que se recogiera dinero cuando estoy con ustedes.

3Cuando llegue, escribiré cartas de recomendación para la persona que escojan, y esa persona llevará sus donativos a Jerusalén.

4Si resulta que yo puedo ir también, entonces ellos pueden ir conmigo.

5Después de haber ido a Macedonia, tengo planes de ir a visitarlos. Debo pasar por allí de camino a Macedonia

6y puedo quedarme con ustedes por un tiempo, quizás por la temporada de invierno, y después podrán enviarme nuevamente de camino hacia donde voy.

7Esta vez no quiero ir a verlos por poco tiempo. Espero poder quedarme más tiempo con ustedes, si el Señor lo permite.

8Sin embargo me quedaré en Éfeso hasta el Pentecostés,

9porque se me ha presentado una gran oportunidad allí, aunque tengo también muchos opositores.

10Ahora, si Timoteo llega, asegúrense de que no tenga ningún temor de estar con ustedes, porque él está trabajando por el Señor tal como yo lo hago.

11No permitan que nadie lo menosprecie. Envíenlo con alegría en su viaje para que pueda venir a verme. Los hermanos, hermanas y yo estamos esperándolo.

12En cuanto a nuestro hermano Apolo: le insistí en que fuera a verlos junto con los otros creyentes, pero no tenía disposición de ir en el momento. Él irá a visitarlos cuando tenga la oportunidad de hacerlo.

13Estén alerta. Manténganse firmes en su confianza en Dios. Tengan valor. Sean fuertes.

14Todo lo que hagan, háganlo con amor.

15Ustedes saben que Estéfanas y su familia estaban entre los primeros conversos de Acaya, y se dedicaron a ayudar al pueblo de Dios. Les ruego, hermanos y hermanas,

16que respeten su liderazgo, y así mismo a todos los que ayudan en la obra con tanta dedicación.

17Me alegro de que Estéfanas, Fortunata y Acaico hayan llegado, porque lograron lo que ustedes no pudieron hacer.

18Ellos han sido fuente de mucho ánimo para mí, y para ustedes. Las personas como ellos merecen el reconocimiento de ustedes.

19Las iglesias de Asia envían su saludo. Aquila y Priscila, junto con la iglesia que se congrega en su casa, envían sus mejores deseos.

20Todos los hermanos y hermanas aquí envían su saludo. Salúdense unos a otros con afecto.

21Yo, Pablo, escribo este saludo con mi propia mano.

22Cualquiera que no ama al Señor debe ser excluido de la iglesia. ¡Ven Señor!

23Que la gracia de nuestro Señor Jesucristo esté con ustedes.

24Reciban mi amor para todos ustedes en Cristo Jesús. Amén.

📖 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 Corintios 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 Corintios 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 Corintios 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 Corintios 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 Corintios 16:5Paul plans to visit Corinth after passing through Macedonia, a region already on his missionary travel route.
  6. 1 Corintios 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 Corintios 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 Corintios 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 Corintios 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 Corintios 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 Corintios 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 Corintios 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 Corintios 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 Corintios 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 Corintios 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 Corintios 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 Corintios 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 Corintios 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 Corintios 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 Corintios 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 Corintios 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 Corintios 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 Corintios 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 Corintios 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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