Chapter 16 – One God Translation

1 Corinthians

   16 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I commanded the churches in Galatia, you do also: 2 On the first day of every week let each one of you set aside and place in the church treasury some money, as you have been blessed. I do not want there to be any collections when I come. [1102] 3 When I arrive I will send with letters of introduction whomever you approve to carry your gift to Jerusalem. 4 If it is appropriate for me to go too, they will go with me.
    5 Since I am intending to go through Macedonia, I will come to you after that. 6 I may stay with you for a while, maybe through the winter, so that you can send me on my way to wherever I go. 7 For I do not want to see you now just in passing, but I hope to stay with you for some time, if the lord permits. 8 I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost, 9 because a productive door has opened wide for me, but there are many enemies.
    10 Now if Timothy comes, see to it that you make him feel welcome among you, because he is doing the work of the lord as I am. 11 So do not let anyone look down on him. Send him on his journey in peace so he may come to me, because I expect him to come with the brothers.
    12 Concerning our brother Apollos, I strongly urged him to come to you with the other brothers, but he did not want to do so now. He will come when he has an opportunity.
    13 Be alert. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong. 14 Let all that you do be done in love.
    15 You know the household of Stephanas were among the first converts in Achaia, and they have dedicated themselves to serve the saints. I urge you, brothers and sisters, 16 to be in subjection to them, and to everyone who helps the work with such dedication. 17 I rejoice in the coming of Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus, because they have made up for your absence. 18 They have refreshed my spirit and yours, so recognize such people.
    19 The churches in the province of Asia send their greetings. Aquila and Prisca send their hearty greetings in the lord, together with the church that meets in their house. 20 All the brothers and sisters send greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss.
   21 This greeting comes from me, Paul, in my own handwriting. 22 If anyone does not love the lord, let him be cursed. Maranatha — may our lord[1103] come!
    23 The grace of the lord Jesus be with you. 24 My love be with all of you in Messiah Jesus. Amen.

1 Corinthians

[1102]

The fact that Paul did not want collections to be made when he arrived tells us that the money was collected weekly, every first day of the week, in church. “It may be added that since Paul urges this course (collection for the poor) ‘so that no collections be made when I come’ and as the whole work is described in v. 1 as a collection (logia) it is most natural to infer that there was not only a setting apart of gifts, but also a paying into a local fund week by week. This strengthens the view that v. 2 incidentally gives evidence of early movements towards the setting up of the Lord’s day as an institution, especially when taken along with Acts 20:7. For when could the contributions of the people be better collected in readiness for the Apostle than at their meetings on the special day of worship?” (Dictionary of Apostolic Church, Vol. 1, p. 707). “Some have interpreted the words par eauto (by himself) to mean at home. But then why mention doing it on Sunday [actually every Sunday], when they could just as well do it regularly at home at other times? The meaning must rather be that the Christians were to bring their offerings to church on Sunday, since that was the day they assembled for worship (Acts 20:7; Justin Martyr mentions this practice in his Apology 1, 67. 6)” (New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology, Vol. 2, p. 329). “‘Every first day of the week.’ This is the first piece of evidence to show that the Christians habitually observed that day (a custom from the start, Jn. 20:19, 26; Acts 20:7). Paul expressly deprecates the collecting of the money when he arrives (which would be necessary if they all had it laid by at home). It is better perhaps to think of it as being stored in the church treasury. Paul indicates no definite amount, no exact proportion of one’s income” (Leon Morris, Tyndale Commentary, p. 238).

[1103]

The title “our lord” is proof positive that Jesus is not YHVH! The name YHVH is the personal name of the One God, and “my YHVH” and “our YHVH” are impossible phrases found nowhere. Jesus however is the “my lord, our lord” (adoni) of Ps. 110:1. This is the Messianic title par excellence, and Ps. 110:1 is an umbrella text pervading the whole NT. The second lord of Ps. 110:1 is adoni in the Hebrew, and in all 195 occurrences of this word it never refers to Deity. It is a shattering violation of Scripture to speak of two who are YHVH! It assaults the first commandment and the centrally important “shema” (“Hear, O Israel”) of Deut. 6:4, repeated as the foundation of all true religion by Jesus in Mark 12:29.