1Cor 16:1, 2Cor 8:1, 9:2 | PNT | STEP | Concluding Words SUMMARY OF I CORINTHIANS 16: The Collections for the Saints. The First Day of the Week. His Work at Ephesus. Timothy Commended to Them. Various Friendly Admonitions. Closing Salutations. Now concerning the collection for the saints . The collection for the poor saints at Jerusalem is referred to more than once in Acts. It was first called for when "a great dearth" came upon the land ( ). The church at Jerusalem had been impoverished by the great liberality in its first years, and by the persecutions which followed. See also . References to this collection are found in . To the churches of Galatia . The directions to the churches of Galatia on this subject have not been preserved. Such hints as this and the reference to a lost letter to the church of Corinth ( ), show that all that Paul wrote has not come down to us.

1 Corinthians 16:1

Concluding Words SUMMARY OF I CORINTHIANS 16: The Collections for the Saints. The First Day of the Week. His Work at Ephesus. Timothy Commended to Them. Various Friendly Admonitions. Closing Salutations.

Now concerning the collection for the saints. The collection for the poor saints at Jerusalem is referred to more than once in Acts. It was first called for when "a great dearth" came upon the land (Ac 11:28-30). The church at Jerusalem had been impoverished by the great liberality in its first years, and by the persecutions which followed. See also Ac 24:17. References to this collection are found in Ro 15:26 2Co 8:1,2 9:1,2.

To the churches of Galatia. The directions to the churches of Galatia on this subject have not been preserved. Such hints as this and the reference to a lost letter to the church of Corinth (1Co 5:9), show that all that Paul wrote has not come down to us.

2 Corinthians 8:1

The Grace of Giving SUMMARY OF II CORINTHIANS 8: The Liberality of the Macedonian Brethren. Exhortation to the Corinthians to Abound in the Same Grace. The Example of Christ. The Spiritual Blessing of Liberal Giving. Titus and Another Brother Sent to Corinth to Aid and Encourage. Them.

We do you to wit of the grace of God. "We make known to you the grace of God" (Revised Version). Paul now introduces the great collection of which he spoke in 1Co 16:1 Ro 15:26. See also Ac 11:29 24:17. It had always been the custom of the Jews in foreign lands to send up to Jerusalem contributions for the temple treasury, but Paul urges the contributions for God's spiritual temple, the poor saints. The mother church was in need and the abundance of the saints elsewhere was to be her supply. The cause of the destitution of the Jerusalem Christians is easily found in the times. Famine had stricken the land, this had been followed by the troubles and unsettled state of affairs which were leading to the Jewish war. The uneasiness of the public mind, as well as the tumults, disturbed business and labor. The result would necessarily be close times and destitution. The lessons of this great collection is that distance does not diminish the claims of suffering brethren for help.

Churches of Macedonia. The Roman province of Macedonia embraced all Grecian countries north of the province of Achaia. The churches of Philippi, Thessalonians, and Berea, founded by Paul, and probably many others, were in this province.

2 Corinthians 9:2

I know the forwardness of your mind. "I know your readiness" (Revised Version). This is why it seemed superfluous to write.

Achaia was ready a year ago. The churches of the province of Achaia, of which Corinth was the capital. The province embraced all southern Greece, including Athens and Cenchrea. They had begun the collection "a year ago" (2Co 8:10).