Charles Ellicott Commentary 1 Corinthians 16:1

"Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I gave order to the churches of Galatia, so also do ye." — 1 Corinthians 16:1 (ASV)

XVI.

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 regarding 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 that a collection was necessary for the poor Christians at Jerusalem, it is clear that the community of goods which had been established at the beginning 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 have flourished for long with so few contributors and so many sharers.

Moreover, the many who had been imprisoned had perhaps been released by this time in abject poverty. They would naturally be a subject of anxious concern to one who was identical with “persecuting Saul,” who “had given his voice against them,” and against others now dead .

It should be noted that the Apostle does not speak of them as “the poor,” but as “saints.” That was the true basis of their claim on 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.”