1 Corinthians 16--Final Instructions

The Corinthian believers had agreed to take up a collection to help the impoverished believers in Jerusalem. The Apostle Paul instructs them to donate each week to this fund so that when he came to get it, no special collection would be necessary.

Paul also instructs them to receive Timothy as a Christian minister the same as Paul. (Timothy was younger, but he was a teacher and preacher and was like Paul's own son.) Similarly, Paul tells them that Stephanas and his household were in ministry the same as Paul's and that the Corinthians should follow their teaching.

In his farewell, Paul sends them greetings from Aquila and Priscilla and the church that met in their house in Ephesus.

And finally, Paul tells them for anyone who does not love the Lord Jesus--"let them be accursed."

What can be learned from this final chapter of First Corinthians?

1. Paul is taking up a collection for Jerusalem. He is not telling believers in general to take up a collection every week if they did not have a specific purpose for the collection.

2. Paul commends certain men in ministry as being sound in the faith so that their teaching should be followed. This commendation would help the Corinthians understand that not everyone teaches sound doctrine but these men are trustworthy because their teaching is the same as Paul's. Every doctrine expounded among the assembly of believers or from house to house ought to be examined to see if it agrees with Scripture.

3. Paul curses those that do not love the Lord Jesus. The implication is that there are both teachers and other church members who profess to trust Christ, but who do not really know the Lord or follow Him. This idea of being cursed shows the seriousness of professing Christ insincerely and the urgent need to examine those who profess to be Christians, especially if they are teachers, for the reality of their faith.