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BIBLE
STUDY LESSON
For
the week beginning Sunday February 4, 2018
THE
COLLECTION FOR JERUSALEM
1
Corinthians 16:1-4
First Corinthians 16, verses 1-4 is
one of the key passages in Scripture regarding “organized regular weekly giving”
in the Christian Church. Here the Apostle Paul speaks of his efforts to raise
money for the Mother Church at Jerusalem who were struggling through a famine
during the time of his third missionary journey, and of having an ongoing
collection of funds, which would be collected on each Sabbath by the churches,
and earmarked for GOD’s people in case of emergencies that were sure to crop up
during the course of life and ministry.
Every Christian church, Paul felt, should
have an organized “relief fund” that would be established by a pooling of money
from individual Christians who would set aside a proportioned amount of their
income, above their regular tithes, that would be donated to be used by their
respective church branches to help other churches along the Christian Network
to survive in times of great financial stress (v.2).
It is still a good idea that Christians
follow this concept and principal today in their own homes, as well as in their
churches, so that they might be able to help individuals, relatives, and friends,
who may be in need of temporary assistance from time to time, as we all do.
Those monies should also be given to those who may not necessarily be able to
pay you back. However, those who can repay should do so as promised, and remember,
Christians should not charge other Christians and family interest, as it is
written, according to the Word of GOD (Leviticus 25:36-37).
PAUL’S
FINAL INSTRUCTIONS AND GREETINGS
1
Corinthians 16:5-24
In verses 5-12 Paul tells the Church at
Corinth of his travel plans and how he desired to visit them after spending
some time traveling, to and through, Macedonia. He wished then to spend some
valuable time with them in Corinth, perhaps all winter, before traveling on to
his next destination.
In the meantime Paul says that he would be
staying in Ephesus, the place from where he is writing this letter to them. He
would remain there until after the Pentecost, as the door was now wide open, in
Ephesus, for a great work to done there. Paul wanted to siege upon a golden
opportunity to cut into the stronghold of the worship of the idol god Artemis
(Diana) in Ephesus. He had been receiving a very positive response from many in
the city, and many had already converted over to Christianity, including many
who came to the city from around the world to visit and worship Artemis at her
magnificent shine, which was considered to be one of the great wonders of the
world at that time.
In verses 10-18 Paul puts in a good word
for his fellow workers in CHRIST, including his protégé, Timothy, whom Paul
said would be coming to visit the Christians at Corinth very soon, and Apollos,
the gifted orator who had been converted over to Christianity by Priscilla and
Aquilla while they were living in Corinth, would visit them at a later date. He
urged them to “stay alert” and to “stand true” to what they believe in (CHRIST
JESUS) and let everything they do be done in love.
Paul also speaks of Stephanas and his
household, who were the first Christian converts in Greece, and who were now
spending their lives in Christian service to others abroad. Paul urged the
church at Corinth to treat them all with the utmost respect.
In closing, Paul says that Stephanas,
Fortunatus, and Achaicus were also helping him do the work needed there in
Ephesus as well (Vs.15-17). They had been a wonderful encouragement and support
to him, just as they had been uplifting to the people of Corinth, and they
should all be respected for their great work in the army of CHRIST.
A Sunday school lesson
by,
Larry D. Alexander
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