XVI.
(1) Now concerning the collection for the saints. — This chapter deals briefly with the following subjects: —
1 Corinthians 16:1-4. The collection for the poor at Jerusalem.
1 Corinthians 16:5-9. The Apostle’s prospective arrangement, as to his journey.
1 Corinthians 16:10-18. Commendation of various individuals.
1 Corinthians 16:19-20. The salutation of the Church.
1 Corinthians 16:21-24. The salutation of Paul himself.
From the fact of a necessity existing for a collection for the poor Christians at Jerusalem, it is clear that the community of goods (see Acts 2:44) which had at the beginning been established in that Church had not proved successful. Christianity was largely recruited from the lower classes, especially in Jerusalem (James 2:6), and a common fund would not long have flourished with so few contributors and such a multitude of sharers. Moreover, the many who were shut up in prison had perhaps by this time been released in abject poverty, and would naturally be the subject of anxious solicitation to one who was identical with “persecuting Saul,” who “had given his voice against them,” and against others now dead. (See Acts 26:10.) It is to be noticed that the Apostle does not speak of them as “the poor,” but as “saints.” That was the true ground of their claim upon their brethren.
As I have given order to the churches of Galatia. — Better, As I gave order to the churches of Galatia. The order was definitely given by the Apostle in person when visiting these churches (Acts 18:23). It does not occur in his Epistle to that Church. On this passage Bengel’s Note is worth quoting — “He proposes the Galatians as an example to the Corinthians, the Corinthians to the Macedonians, and the Corinthians and Macedonians to the Romans (2 Corinthians 9:2; Romans 15:26). Great is the power of examples.”