1 CorintiosCapítulo 16

Este capítulo aún no está disponible en español — se muestra el texto original.

+ Texto secundario Texto original ← Anterior 2. Korinterne →Contribuir

Now about the collection for the saints: do as I directed the churches of Galatia.

On the first day of every week each of you should set something aside at home, saving up in keeping with his income, so that no collections need to be made when I come.

When I arrive, I will send those you approve, with letters, to carry your gift to Jerusalem.

And if it seems worthwhile for me to go as well, they will travel with me.

I will come to you after I pass through Macedonia, for I intend to travel through Macedonia,

and perhaps I will stay with you, or even spend the winter, so that you can send me on my way wherever I go.

I do not want to see you now just in passing; I hope to remain with you for some time, if the Lord permits.

But I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost,

because a wide door for effective work has opened to me—and there are many who oppose me.

If Timothy comes, see that he has nothing to fear among you, for he is doing the Lord's work, just as I am.

So let no one look down on him. Send him on his way in peace, so that he may come to me, for I am expecting him along with the brothers.

As for our brother Apollos, I strongly urged him to come to you with the brothers, but it was not at all his will to come now. He will come when he has the opportunity.

Be alert, stand firm in the faith, be courageous, be strong.

Let everything you do be done in love.

I urge you, brothers: you know the household of Stephanas, that they are the firstfruits of Achaia and have devoted themselves to serving the saints.

Submit yourselves to people like these, and to everyone who works and labors alongside them.

I am glad that Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus have come, because they have made up for your absence;

they have refreshed my spirit, and yours as well. So give recognition to such people.

The churches of Asia send you greetings. Aquila and Prisca greet you warmly in the Lord, together with the church that meets in their house.

All the brothers send you greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss.

This greeting is in my own hand—Paul.

If anyone does not love the Lord, let him be accursed. Marana tha—Our Lord, come!

The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you.

My love be with you all in Christ Jesus.

Consulta

Resumen2

Capítulo 16

Main Theme: Paul concludes the letter with practical instructions regarding the collection, travel plans, fellow workers, and exhortations to faithfulness and love.

Content: Paul instructs the congregation about a weekly collection for the saints in Jerusalem. He shares his travel plans—he intends to remain in Ephesus until Pentecost before traveling through Macedonia to Corinth. He mentions his fellow workers Timothy and Apollos, urging the congregation to receive them well. The chapter ends with strong exhortations to stand firm in the faith and to do everything in love, followed by greetings from the churches in Asia and the Aramaic cry "Maranata" (Our Lord, come!).

Key Words/Images:

Collection (λογεία): An organized monetary collection for the poor Christians in Jerusalem, expressing Christian solidarity.
Open door (θύρα ἀνέῳγεν): A metaphor for opportunities for evangelism in Ephesus, despite opposition.
Maranata (Μαράνα θά): An Aramaic cry meaning "Our Lord, come!"—expressing expectation of Christ's return.
Stand firm (στήκετε): An exhortation to hold fast to the faith with courage and strength.
Love (ἀγάπη): Everything in congregational life should be marked by love—the fundamental Christian virtue.

Contexto histórico

Historical and Cultural Context for 1 Corinthians 16

People

The chapter mentions several important figures in the early church. Timothy was Paul’s young coworker. In chapter 16, Paul writes about a possible visit from Timothy and urges the congregation to welcome him without fear, since he "does the work of the Lord" just as Paul does. Paul’s concern that Timothy might be "despised" may reflect his youth and perhaps a reserved personality. Apollos is mentioned as someone Paul had encouraged to visit Corinth along with other brothers, but Apollos did not wish to go at that time—he would come "when it is convenient" (v. 12). His hesitation may be connected to the divisions in the church, where some said, "I belong to Apollos" (1:12).

Stephanas and his household are described as "the firstfruits of Achaia"—the first converts in the province—who have devoted themselves to serving the saints. The three names Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus likely represent the delegation that brought the Corinthians’ letter to Paul. Paul says they have "made up for your absence" (v. 17). Aquila and Priscilla (Prisca) were the Jewish couple who had fled Rome after Emperor Claudius expelled the Jews around AD 49. They ran a tentmaking workshop with Paul in Corinth and were now established in Ephesus, where they hosted a house church that sends its greetings.

Places

Ephesus, from which Paul writes, was the capital of the Roman province of Asia and an important religious and commercial center. Paul plans to stay there until Pentecost because "a wide door for effective work" has opened to him, even though there are also "many adversaries" (vv. 8–9). Macedonia is mentioned as a place Paul intends to travel through on his way to Corinth, where he hopes to spend the winter.

The churches in Galatia are noted as part of a larger network of churches participating in the collection for Jerusalem. Jerusalem was the destination of this collection—a relief offering for the poor in the mother church, which also served to demonstrate unity between Gentile and Jewish Christians. The province of Asia also sends greetings through its churches (v. 19).

Events and Customs

The collection for the saints (λογεία/logeia) in Jerusalem was a major project Paul organized among Gentile Christian churches (cf. Rom 15:25–27; 2 Cor 8–9). The practice of setting aside money "on the first day of every week" (κατὰ μίαν σαββάτου, literally "on the first [day] of the Sabbath/week") shows that Christians were already gathering on Sundays, the resurrection day, rather than on the Sabbath. This is early evidence of Christian Sunday practice.

The holy kiss (φίλημα ἅγιον) was a common greeting in the early church expressing spiritual fellowship and family belonging. The custom was known in both Jewish and Greco-Roman cultures but took on special significance as a sign of Christian unity and reconciliation.

Key Terms

The expression "Marana tha" (Μαράνα θά) in verse 22 is Aramaic and means "Our Lord, come!" This is one of the earliest preserved Christian prayers, and the fact that it remains untranslated in a Greek letter to a predominantly Gentile church shows how central it was in early liturgical practice. It reflects the strong expectation of Christ’s return in the apostolic church.

The word "anathema" (ἀνάθεμα) in the same verse refers to something handed over to God’s judgment—cursed or excluded from fellowship. The combination of this serious warning with the Aramaic prayer has led some scholars to suggest that it may have been part of the liturgy at the Lord’s Supper, where those who did not love the Lord were warned before the communal meal.

"Firstfruits" (ἀπαρχή) regarding Stephanas’ household uses imagery from Old Testament sacrificial practice, in which the first portion of the harvest was dedicated to God as a sign that the entire harvest belonged to Him.

Personas9