1 Corinthians 16:2

Upon the first [day] of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as [God] hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.

Upon {G2596} the first {G3391} day of the week {G4521} let {G5087} every one {G1538} of you {G5216} lay {G5087} by {G3844} him {G1438} in store {G2343}, as {G3748}{G302} God hath prospered him {G2137}, that {G3363} there be {G1096} no {G3363} gatherings {G3048}{G5119} when {G3752} I come {G2064}.

Every week, on Motza’ei-Shabbat, each of you should set some money aside, according to his resources, and save it up; so that when I come I won’t have to do fundraising.

On the first day of every week, each of you should set aside a portion of his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will be needed.

Upon the first day of the week let each one of you lay by him in store, as he may prosper, that no collections be made when I come.

Commentary

Commentary on 1 Corinthians 16:2

The Apostle Paul, in 1 Corinthians 16:2, provides clear instructions to the church in Corinth regarding a collection for the impoverished believers in Jerusalem. This verse is a foundational text for understanding early Christian practices concerning financial stewardship and communal support.

Context

This chapter marks a shift in Paul's letter from theological and behavioral issues to more practical matters. Specifically, Paul is organizing a major collection, sometimes referred to as the "Jerusalem Collection," to aid the poor saints in Judea. This effort was significant for Paul, serving not only as a charitable act but also as a tangible expression of unity between the Gentile churches and the Jewish believers, reinforcing the concept of one body in Christ. Paul mentions similar collections being organized in the churches of Galatia (1 Corinthians 16:1) and Macedonia (2 Corinthians 8:1), highlighting a widespread effort to support fellow believers.

Key Themes

  • Systematic and Regular Giving: Paul instructs believers to "lay by him in store" regularly, rather than waiting for a large, spontaneous collection. This emphasizes planned, consistent giving as a part of Christian life.
  • Proportionate Giving: The phrase "as God hath prospered him" introduces the principle of giving in proportion to one's income or blessings. It's not a fixed tithe (though tithing is a related concept found in the Old Testament, such as Proverbs 3:9); rather, it encourages generosity that reflects God's generosity towards the individual.
  • The "First Day of the Week": This instruction strongly suggests that early Christians gathered for worship and communal activities on Sunday, the day of Christ's resurrection. This practice is also alluded to in Acts 20:7, where believers met to break bread on the first day of the week. This timing facilitated an orderly and corporate approach to giving.
  • Order and Preparedness: The goal, "that there be no gatherings when I come," shows Paul's desire for efficiency and organization. He wanted the funds to be ready so that his arrival would not be delayed by the need to collect the money. This reflects a commitment to wise stewardship and effective ministry.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "lay by him in store" comes from the Greek word thēsauzizōn (θησαυρίζων), which means "to treasure up" or "to accumulate." This implies a continuous, personal setting aside of funds, much like saving. It suggests a deliberate, individual act of putting aside money rather than a communal collection plate being passed around during a service.

"As God hath prospered him" translates the Greek kathōs an euodotai (καθὼς ἂν εὐοδῶται), which means "as he may be prospered" or "as he has made good progress." This emphasizes that giving should be a reflection of God's blessing in one's life, implying a flexible and grateful response to divine provision. It highlights that giving is an act of worship and thanksgiving for God's blessings.

Practical Application

This verse remains highly relevant for Christian financial stewardship today. It encourages believers to:

  1. Give Systematically: Instead of sporadic giving, plan and set aside contributions regularly, perhaps weekly or monthly, as part of a personal budget.
  2. Give Proportionately: Reflect on the blessings received from God and give in a way that honors His provision, recognizing that all resources ultimately belong to Him. This principle supports a generous and cheerful heart in giving, as described in 2 Corinthians 9:7.
  3. Support the Needy: The underlying purpose of this collection was to care for fellow believers in need, exemplifying Christian love and solidarity (Galatians 6:10).
  4. Promote Order in Giving: By preparing offerings beforehand, churches and individuals can ensure that financial support for ministry and outreach is handled efficiently and without unnecessary disruption.
Note: Commentary was generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please remember that only the commentary section is AI-generated. The main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are sourced from trusted and verified materials.
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Cross-References

  • Malachi 3:9

    Ye [are] cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, [even] this whole nation.

  • Malachi 3:10

    Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that [there shall] not [be room] enough [to receive it].

  • Acts 20:7

    ¶ And upon the first [day] of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.

  • 2 Corinthians 9:3

    Yet have I sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this behalf; that, as I said, ye may be ready:

  • 2 Corinthians 9:5

    Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your bounty, whereof ye had notice before, that the same might be ready, as [a matter of] bounty, and not as [of] covetousness.

  • Luke 16:10

    He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.

  • Deuteronomy 15:11

    For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land.
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