Charles Ellicott Commentary 1 Corinthians 16:2

"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." — 1 Corinthians 16:2 (ASV)

Upon the first day of the week.—The Greek phrase (as given in the best manuscripts) is literally, on one of the Sabbaths—this being, according to a Hebrew idiom, equivalent to “the day next after the Sabbath.” Already, the day of the week on which Christ had risen had become noted as a suitable day for distinctively Christian work and Christian worship.

It does not yet seem to have been designated by the phrase by which it later became universally known in Christendom—“the Lord’s Day”; that name first occurs in Revelation 1:10. This would be a convenient and suitable day for each person to set aside something, as they had purposed, storing it up until the Apostle’s arrival, for this was already the usual day for Christians to assemble (Acts 20:7).

I cannot agree with Stanley and others that the Apostle means that each person was to lay by “in his own house,” and not in some general treasury. The purpose of this directive is expressly stated: the money should all be ready as a lump sum when the Apostle arrived. This was to ensure that his time and that of the Christian community during his visit would not be taken up with this, but with more profitable matters. Such an outcome would not have been possible if the offering then had to be collected from each Christian home.

As God hath prospered him.—Better, whatsoever he may be prospered in. These words do not imply that only in cases of exceptional prosperity was a person to contribute, but everyone was to give from whatever fruits he had from his labour.