RSV ~ 1 Corinthians 16 Notes

1 Cor 16:1-4 | ISB Notes

Paul spent considerable energy on his third missionary journey collecting donations for the poor of Jerusalem (Rom 15:25-27; 2 Cor 8-9). On the one hand, this relief offering was meant to alleviate suffering in the mother Church of Christianity. On the other, Paul was asking his Gentile Churches to make a symbolic gesture of unity and solidarity with Jewish believers in need. The gift was successfully delivered on his final journey to Judea (Acts 24:17).

1 Cor 16:1 | ISB Notes

Now concerning: Paul is responding to an inquiry from a previous Corinthian letter. See note on 1 Cor 7:1.

1 Cor 16:2 | ISB Notes

first day of every week: Sunday, the Lord’s day (Acts 20:7; Rev 1:10). Paul is probably directing his readers to collect their donations when they gather for prayer and eucharistic worship. He hopes they will give generously to this charitable campaign (2 Cor 9:6-15; CCC 1351).

1 Cor 16:5 | ISB Notes

Macedonia: A Roman province in upper Greece, just north of the province of Achaia, where the city of Corinth is located.

1 Cor 16:8 | ISB Notes

Ephesus: Paul was writing from the capital of the Roman province of Asia (modern Turkey). He eventually made it to Corinth (Acts 20:1-2) after Pentecost, which was a Jewish festival celebrated in the spring, 50 days after Passover (Lev 23:15-21).

1 Cor 16:10 | ISB Notes

Timothy: One of Paul’s delegates sent ahead to Corinth (4:17). See note on 1 Tim 1:2.

1 Cor 16:12 | ISB Notes

Apollos: A missionary who had worked in Corinth but was now in Asia (1:12; 3:5-6). The Corinthians may have requested his return.

1 Cor 16:14 | ISB Notes

Let all . . . be done in love: This verse is a concise summary of Paul’s teaching in the letter (8:1-3; 13:1-13; 14:1; 16:22).

1 Cor 16:17 | ISB Notes

Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus: Possibly the informants from Chloe who updated Paul on the struggles of the Corinthian Church (1:11). They may have also delivered to him the Church’s letter of questions (7:1).

1 Cor 16:19 | ISB Notes

Aquila and Prisca: A Christian couple who worked closely with Paul as tentmakers and missionaries, first in Corinth and then in Ephesus (Acts 18:1-3, 18-19). They opened their home for Christian gatherings (Rom 16:3-5). “Prisca” is an alternative spelling for “Priscilla”.

1 Cor 16:20 | ISB Notes

a holy kiss: A customary sign of peace and brotherly affection among the early Christians (Rom 16:16; 1 Thess 5:26).

1 Cor 16:21 | ISB Notes

I, Paul, write this: Paul’s handwritten signature was a mark of the letter’s authenticity (2 Thess 3:17). Most of the letter was probably dictated to a secretary (cf. Rom 16:22).

1 Cor 16:22 | ISB Notes

Our Lord, come!: A rendering of the Aramaic expression, marana tha (“Lord, come!”). This prayer, which is likewise echoed in Rev 22:20, was spoken at the end of one of the the earliest eucharistic liturgies on record (Didache 10, 6). Its use in the liturgy indicates what Paul himself asserts in 1 Cor 11:26, namely, that the sacramental worship of the Church is oriented to the coming of Christ in glory (CCC 671). See note on 1 Cor 11:26.