We’ve arrived at the final chapter of 1 Corinthians. Paul’s closing of this letter to the congregation
in Corinth touches briefly on a variety of topics.
First,
Paul instructs the Corinthians to take a collection for the poor saints who
lived in Jerusalem. The poverty of these
saints as a result of famine and persecution is noted also in Acts 11 and
Galatians 2. Paul commands that this
collection be taken on the first day of the week, which was now the day on
which God’s people met for worship, in commemoration of Christ’s resurrection. Paul instructs that each person set aside
for this collection “as God has prospered him,” and he makes arrangements for
the transporting of that gift to those for whom it is intended. While he lived on this earth, our Lord noted
that the poor would always be with us. Your
church likely also takes a collection for the poor each Sunday. In a day and a nation in which we are
constantly tempted to bow down to the gods of wealth and material things, you and I have the responsibility to ensure
that we are giving as the Lord has prospered us. “So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not
grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians
9:7).
Paul
then notes his intentions to visit Corinth at a later time. First, however, he had work to do in the city
of Ephesus, “for a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are
many adversaries.” Striking, isn’t it,
that Paul considered the opportunity to share the gospel in Ephesus a great and
open door, in spite of many adversaries?
In weakness we often avoid doing the Lord’s work when we experience
adversity.
Paul
then commends to them Timothy and instructs them to respect and encourage that
young minister in his work. He also
notes Apollos’ intentions to come to Corinth at a later time, and then, in
versus 15-18 Paul mentions the house of Stephanas, who had “addicted themselves
to the ministry of saints.” God used
Paul mightily for the sake of the gospel in the early church, yet Paul knew
very well that the health of the churches he had establish was not dependant on
him or his work. Rather, he recognized
that God used the work of other ministers and the generosity of fellow saints
for the benefit of the entire body. He
instructs God’s people to submit themselves to those who labored among them for
their spiritual benefit.
Four
staccato commands compose verse 13: “Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit
you like men, be strong.” The life of
the Christian is a militant life. In
Ephesians 5 Paul writes similarly: “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power
of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you
may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle
against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against
the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the
heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God,
that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to
stand.” Then Paul inserts a
reminder of his earlier instruction regarding the importance of love among
fellow church members, which he import he also emphasizes in Colossians 3:12-14: “Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and
beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another,
and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as
Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.”
At
the very end of the letter Paul pronounces a solemn curse upon those who do not
love the Lord Jesus Christ, a curse that stands as a final warning to the
Corinthians that they not be lead away from the simplicity of the gospel by those who were wise with the
wisdom of the world.
His concluding prayer is my prayer for you
this week: “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. My love be with you all in Christ Jesus.”
