The Truth comes to Corinth

Paul Gives Instruction on Collections for the Saints

1 Corinthians 16:1-4 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I directed the churches of Galatia, so do you also. On the first day of every week each one of you is to put aside and save, as he may prosper, so that no collections be made when I come. When I arrive, whomever you may approve, I will send them with letters to carry your gift to Jerusalem; and if it is fitting for me to go also, they will go with me. NKJV

Paul now shifts the focus of his letter to address the issue of collection of money or other resources for the saints that are in need. Paul gives them the very same instructions that he has given to the Galatian church that he serves as an Apostle according to the will of God. Paul declares that these instruction to be as “I have given order” and this English phrase is translated by the Greek word diatasso which means to arrange thoroughly, that is, to institute or prescribe or to appoint or to ordain or to give/set in order or to command. Paul has already written to them earlier ordaining, ordinating, and ordering them by way of detailed commands the proper way they were to conduct their worship services before God the Father through God the Son (our Lord Jesus Christ) and in God the Holy Spirit’s Power and after he had come to the end of his instructions he said these two things, first, “For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints” (1 Corinthians 14:33) and lastly these words, “Let all things be done decently and in order” (1 Corinthians 14:40). And so it is even with the taking up of collection of money or other resources from the congregation.

During this time in the history of the church there were no elaborate plans to build massive buildings or cathedrals that they might come together and worship in, but the concern was always for one another’s needs and afflictions and the collective body was always being instructed or rather commanded to address those needs in a tangible or real way of bringing about relief to the brethren that were poor and unable to provide for their own basic needs. Paul has never commanded them anywhere in this first letter to take up collections for themselves or their body of believers in order that their worship location might be larger or more comfortable, but this command to lay aside their money on the first of every week was specifically and only for the contribution to the poor saints in Jerusalem where the Church of God began with the conversion of 3,000 souls (Acts 2:41). This was not a command to collect money for the poor people of the world, but for those that were of the household of faith, although Paul in his own life determined by the will of God to do good to all men, but the relief of hungry and poor brothers and sisters in Christ was of utmost concern to him (Galatians 6:10). The instructions or command was simple and not likely to be misunderstood and they were that these Corinthian believers were to lay aside or give money for the poor Christians in Jerusalem with each amount put aside on the first day of the week or Sunday when they came together for corporate worship.

The amount each person gave each week was to be “as God has prospered” taking away the shame of those who were not as fortunate in their business or work earnings during the work week. Paul (by inspiration from God the Holy Spirit) wanted in no way those who were more well off to get by with giving the same portion from their resources as those who were less well off financially. The idea behind Paul using this phrase “as God has prospered” was that no man making 100 dollars a day should give anywhere close to the amount per week as a man making only 10 dollars a day, each was to give as they were prospered, the more prosperous the more given each week. Finally, Paul declares to them that they are to choose a person among their fellowship to take this gift to the poor saints in Jerusalem along with a letter from Paul and them, unless Paul determined by revelation from God the Holy Spirit that he were to journey to Jerusalem also. Paul wanted to send this gift by another believer, knowing how much he is recognized in the city of Jerusalem and hated by the non-believing Jews there who have continually sought to kill him, therefore, Paul’s first instinct is the safe journey or passage of the critically needed gift for the poor saints, so he wanted them to send it by a trustworthy, genuine, and proven believer (not like Judas, John 12:6) that could be counted on to transport the entire bounty safely.

“It is remarkable that the Apostle can turn from one of his sublimest flights of sacred eloquence to deal with so ordinary a matter as the collection. But, after all, there is no incongruity. The thoughts to which he has given expression should surely lead to some tangible response of Christian duty and activity, or they would injure rather than help. Nothing is more injurious to the Christian conscience than trumpet-sounding which leads to no response in action. If the foregoing chapter does not stimulate Christian generosity, nothing will.” F. B. Meyer

“They were to lay by as God had blessed them, in that proportion. The more they had, through God’s blessing, gained by their business or labour, their traffic or work, the more they were to lay by. Note, God expects that our beneficence to others should hold some proportion to His bounty to us. All we have is from God; the more He gives (circumstances being considered), the more He enables us to give, and the more He expects we should give, that we should give more than others who are less able, that we should give more than ourselves when we were less able. And, on the other hand, from him to whom God gives less He expects less. He is no tyrant nor cruel taskmaster, to exact brick without straw, or expect men shall do more good than He gives ability.” Matthew Henry

“Paul’s instruction to these Corinthian believers in this letter to lay aside money for the poor saints in Jerusalem has been adapted, adjusted, and altered so today that the initial command for helping the poor, has been replaced with money given to fund very expensive physical material things, i.e. expensive buildings and furnishings, etc. that are passing or fading away and the care of the poor struggling saints has seemed to been forgotten. We see more giving to the poor people of the world rather than God’s redeemed children by many churches, denominations, and other Christian organizations. Many poor and struggling saints today are supporting the lavish lifestyles of many preachers and ministries when they should be supported by them.” Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…