Christian Basics Bible - Flipbook - Page 31
page 1321 • 1 Corinthians 16
our mortal bodies must be transformed into
immortal bodies.
54
Then, when our dying bodies have been
transformed into bodies that will never
die,* this Scripture will be fulfilled:
55
“Death is swallowed up in victory.*
O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?*”
For sin is the sting that results in death,
and the law gives sin its power. 57 But thank
God! He gives us victory over sin and death
through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58
So, my dear brothers and sisters, be
strong and immovable. Always work en
thusiastically for the Lord, for you know
that nothing you do for the Lord is ever
useless.
56
The Collection for Jerusalem
Now regarding your question about
the money being collected for God’s
people in Jerusalem. You should follow
the same procedure I gave to the churches
in Galatia. 2 On the first day of each week,
you should each put aside a portion of the
money you have earned. Don’t wait until I
get there and then try to collect it all at once.
3
When I come, I will write letters of recom
mendation for the messengers you choose
to deliver your gift to Jerusalem. 4 And if it
seems appropriate for me to go along, they
can travel with me.
16
Paul’s Final Instructions
5
I am coming to visit you after I have been
to Macedonia,* for I am planning to travel
through Macedonia. 6 Perhaps I will stay
awhile with you, possibly all winter, and
then you can send me on my way to my next
destination. 7 This time I don’t want to make
just a short visit and then go right on. I want
to come and stay awhile, if the Lord will let
me. 8 In the meantime, I will be staying here
at Ephesus until the Festival of Pentecost.
9
There is a wide-open door for a great work
here, although many oppose me.
10
When Timothy comes, don’t intimidate
him. He is doing the Lord’s work, just as I
am. 11 Don’t let anyone treat him with con
tempt. Send him on his way with your bless
ing when he returns to me. I expect him to
come with the other believers.*
12
Now about our brother Apollos—I urged
him to visit you with the other believers, but
he was not willing to go right now. He will
see you later when he has the opportunity.
13
Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be
courageous.* Be strong. 14 And do every
thing with love.
15
You know that Steph
a
nas and his
household were the first of the harvest of
believers in Greece,* and they are spend
ing their lives in service to God’s people.
I urge you, dear brothers and sisters,* 16 to
submit to them and others like them who
serve with such devotion. 17 I am very glad
that Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus
have come here. They have been providing
15:32b Isa 22:13. 15:45 Gen 2:7. 15:49 Some manuscripts read
let us be like.
15:54a Some manuscripts add and our mortal
bodies have been transformed into immortal bodies.
15:54b Isa
25:8.
15:55 Hos 13:14 (Greek version). 16:5 Macedonia was in the
northern region of Greece. 16:11 Greek with the brothers; also in
16:12.
16:13 Greek Be men.
16:15a Greek in Achaia, the southern
region of the Greek peninsula. 16:15b Greek brothers; also in 16:20.
Aquila and Priscilla
In his concluding comments, Paul sends greetings from Aquila and Priscilla,
a married couple who helped him found the church in Corinth (Acts 18:1-3).
They were tentmakers like Paul and had ended up in Corinth when the Emperor
Claudius had expelled all Jews (including Jewish Christians) from Rome. Since
the three of them were newly arrived in a strange city, they linked up and formed
a partnership, in both tentmaking and sharing the gospel. After eighteen
months in Corinth, they accompanied Paul to Ephesus (Acts 18:18-19), where
they became key workers in the church there (Acts 18:24-26). In Ephesus they
opened up their home for church meetings (1 Corinthians 16:19). Aquila and
Priscilla show that it isn’t necessary to be in “full-time” ministry to play an
extremely effective part in the church’s life.
See also Serving God in our work, page 956.
