Teacher Missionary Jane Gray
15548 Santa Ana Avenue
Bellflower, CA 90706
This chapter is the final chapter in the book of 1 Corinthians. Paul wants to make sure the people understood the message he was giving them in the previous chapters, and he wants to give them some last instructions before he closes his letter. Paul starts this section by talking about the collection of money to be used for God’s work. This collection should not be forced, but it should be willingly given so that those in need can have help. The Corinthians are supposed to put in money whenever they
Paul’s journey is going to take him close to Corinth, so he wants to stop and spend a while with the Corinthians. He does not want to drop by for a quick hello, but he wants, Lord willing, to be able to spend a season with the Corinthians so that they would be able to encourage him when he had to leave for his next journey. However, as much as Paul wanted to see the Corinthians as soon as possible, he knew that he had other obligations first. In Ephesus, where he was when he wrote this letter to the Corinthians, a great opportunity for him to minister had just opened up. If Paul left right away, the people in opposition to him would be a great hindrance to the service Paul was doing. Although Paul was unable to go at that time, Timothy was going to be arriving at Corinth soon. Timothy was young, and Paul wanted to make sure the Corinthians encouraged him instead of looking down on him. After Timothy’s visit, he was to return to Paul along with some of the brothers in the church. Paul had been encouraging Apollos, another brother in the Lord, to visit Corinth, but he was not ready at that point.
Paul gives some final directives to the church at Corinth. The family of Stephanas was an example for the other people to
All the churches in Asia sent greetings to the church at Corinth. The house church that met at the home of Aquila and Priscilla sent greetings in the Lord to the church that is in Corinth, and Aquila and Priscilla sent their greetings along. In fact, all the brothers and sisters in the Lord sent greetings to the church in Corinth. Paul also gave instructions for how the people at Corinth were to greet each other as brothers and sisters in the Lord. As Paul closes his letter, he signs a greeting with his own hand. He then announces one last blessing on the church in Corinth, and a word of exhortation for the people to love the Lord. Paul wished the grace of the Lord Jesus to be with the Corinthians, then he closes his letter by telling the Corinthians of his love for them in Christ Jesus.
