16 You asked me about the money that you want to give to God's people at Jerusalem. You should do it in the same way that I told the churches in Galatia. [ a ] 2 On the first day of every week, each of you should put some of your money in a safe place. Think about how much God has given you. Then decide how much you can give each week. If you do that, the gift will be ready when I come to you. We will not need to start doing it after I come. 3 When I arrive there, you should choose people from your group who will take your gift to Jerusalem. I will write some letters that they will take with them. The letters will explain about your gift. 4 I may also go myself, if that seems the right thing for me to do. Then they can travel with me.
5 But I must travel through Macedonia first. [ b ] After I have been to Macedonia, then I will come to you. 6 I will probably remain with you for some time. I may even stay for the whole winter. Then you can help me to continue my journey to the next place. I am not sure yet where that may be. 7 If I come now, I would only have a short time with you. But I want to stay with you for a longer time, if the Lord will let me do that. 8 So I will remain here at Ephesus city until the Pentecost festival. [ c ] 9 God has given me the chance to do a great work here. But many people are against what I am doing.
10 If Timothy comes to you, please take care of him. Make sure that you welcome him. He is doing the Lord's work, as I am also doing. 11 So you should all respect him properly. When he is ready to leave, help him with the things that he needs. Then he can continue his journey and come to me here. I am waiting for him to come with the other believers.
12 As for our Christian friend Apollos, I wanted him to visit you. I have often told him to come to you together with the other believers. But he does not think that this is the right time. He will come to you when he has the chance.
13 Watch carefully for danger. Never stop trusting God. Continue to be brave and strong. 14 Whatever you do, do it with love.
15 My Christian friends, you know about Stephanas and his family. They were the first people in Achaia to become Christians. [ d ] They have worked hard as God's servants to help his people. So I say this to you. 16 You must respect people like them. Do what they say. And also respect everyone who works hard to serve God together with them.
17 I was very happy when Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus arrived here. You could not be here yourselves, but they have taken your place. 18 They have helped me to feel stronger, as they also did for you. You should recognize the authority of people like them.
19 The churches here in Asia region say ‘hello’ to you. Aquila and Priscilla, and the group of believers that meets in their house, also say ‘hello’ to you. They love you because you belong to the Lord, as they do. 20 All the Christians here say ‘hello’ to you.
When you meet, kiss each other as Christian brothers and sisters.
21 I, Paul, am writing these words at the end of this letter with my own hand. I say ‘hello’ to you.
22 If anyone among you does not really love the Lord, I pray that God will curse that person.
Our Lord, come now! We are waiting for you!
23 I pray that the Lord Jesus will continue to be kind to all of you.
24 I love all of you who belong to Christ Jesus, as I do.
16 Now, about the collection of money for God’s people: Do the same as I told the Galatian churches to do. 2 On the first day of every week, each of you should take some of your money and put it in a special place. Save up as much as you can from what you are blessed with. Then you will not have to gather it all after I come. 3 When I arrive, I will send some men to take your gift to Jerusalem. These will be the ones you all agree should go. I will send them with letters of introduction. 4 If it seems good for me to go too, we can all travel together.
5 I plan to go through Macedonia, so I will come to you after that. 6 Maybe I will stay with you for a time. I might even stay all winter. Then you can help me on my trip, wherever I go. 7 I don’t want to come see you now, because I would have to leave to go to other places. I hope to stay a longer time with you, if the Lord allows it. 8 But I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost. 9 I will stay here, because a good opportunity for a great and growing work has been given to me now. And there are many people working against it.
10 Timothy might come to you. Try to make him feel comfortable with you. He is working for the Lord the same as I am. 11 So none of you should refuse to accept Timothy. Help him continue on his trip in peace so that he can come back to me. I am expecting him to come back with the other brothers.
12 Now about our brother Apollos: I strongly encouraged him to visit you with the other brothers. He prefers not to come now, but he will come when he has the opportunity.
13 Be careful. Hold firmly to your faith. Have courage and be strong. 14 Do everything in love.
15 You know that Stephanas and his family were the first believers in Achaia. They have given themselves to the service of God’s people. I ask you, brothers and sisters, 16 to follow the leading of people like these and others who work hard and serve together with them.
17 I am happy that Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus have come. You are not here, but they have filled your place. 18 They have been a great encouragement to me and to you as well. You should recognize the value of such people.
19 The churches in Asia send you their greetings. Aquila and Priscilla greet you in the Lord. Also the church that meets in their house sends greetings. 20 All the brothers and sisters here send their greetings. Give each other the special greeting of God’s people. [ a ]
21 Here’s my greeting in my own handwriting— Paul .
22 If anyone does not love the Lord, let that person be separated from God—lost forever!
Come, O Lord! [ b ]
23 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you.
24 My love be with all of you in Christ Jesus.
16 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye.
2 Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.
3 And when I come, whomsoever ye shall approve by your letters, them will I send to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem.
4 And if it be meet that I go also, they shall go with me.
5 Now I will come unto you, when I shall pass through Macedonia: for I do pass through Macedonia.
6 And it may be that I will abide, yea, and winter with you, that ye may bring me on my journey whithersoever I go.
7 For I will not see you now by the way; but I trust to tarry a while with you, if the Lord permit.
8 But I will tarry at Ephesus until Pentecost.
9 For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries.
10 Now if Timotheus come, see that he may be with you without fear: for he worketh the work of the Lord, as I also do.
11 Let no man therefore despise him: but conduct him forth in peace, that he may come unto me: for I look for him with the brethren.
12 As touching our brother Apollos, I greatly desired him to come unto you with the brethren: but his will was not at all to come at this time; but he will come when he shall have convenient time.
13 Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.
14 Let all your things be done with charity.
15 I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,)
16 That ye submit yourselves unto such, and to every one that helpeth with us, and laboureth.
17 I am glad of the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus: for that which was lacking on your part they have supplied.
18 For they have refreshed my spirit and yours: therefore acknowledge ye them that are such.
19 The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house.
20 All the brethren greet you. Greet ye one another with an holy kiss.
21 The salutation of me Paul with mine own hand.
22 If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha.
23 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
24 My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.
16 Now concerning ( A ) the collection for [ a ] ( B ) the saints, as ( C ) I directed the churches of ( D ) Galatia, so you are to do as well. 2 On ( E ) the first day of every week, each of you is to [ b ] put aside and save as he may prosper, so that ( F ) no collections need to be made when I come. 3 When I arrive, ( G ) whomever you approve, I will send them with letters to take your gift to Jerusalem; 4 and if it is appropriate for me to go also, they will go with me.
5 But I ( H ) will come to you after I go through ( I ) Macedonia; for I ( J ) am going through Macedonia, 6 and perhaps I will stay with you or even spend the winter, so that you may ( K ) send me on my way wherever I go. 7 For I do not want to see you now ( L ) just in passing; for I hope to remain with you for some time, ( M ) if the Lord permits. 8 But I will remain in ( N ) Ephesus until ( O ) Pentecost; 9 for a ( P ) wide door [ c ] for effective service has opened to me, and ( Q ) there are many adversaries.
10 Now if ( R ) Timothy comes, see that he [ d ] has no reason to be afraid while among you, for he is doing ( S ) the Lord’s work, as I also am. 11 ( T ) So do not look down on him, anyone. But ( U ) send him on his way ( V ) in peace, so that he may come to me; for I expect him with the brothers.
12 Now concerning our brother ( W ) Apollos, I strongly encouraged him to come to you with the brothers; and it was not at all his desire to come now, but he will come when he has the opportunity.
13 ( X ) Be on the alert, ( Y ) stand firm in the faith, ( Z ) act like men, ( AA ) be strong. 14 All that you do must be done ( AB ) in love.
15 Now I urge you, brothers and sisters : you know the ( AC ) household of Stephanas, that [ e ] they are the ( AD ) first fruits of ( AE ) Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves to ( AF ) ministry to ( AG ) the [ f ] saints; 16 I urge that ( AH ) you also be subject to such as these and to everyone who helps in the work and labors. 17 I rejoice over the [ g ] ( AI ) coming of Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus, because they have [ h ] supplied ( AJ ) what was lacking on your part. 18 For they ( AK ) have refreshed my spirit and yours. Therefore ( AL ) acknowledge such men.
19 The churches of [ i ] ( AM ) Asia greet you. ( AN ) Aquila and Prisca greet you heartily in the Lord, with ( AO ) the church that is in their house. 20 All the brothers and sisters greet you. ( AP ) Greet one another with a holy kiss.
21 The greeting is in ( AQ ) my own hand— that of Paul. 22 If anyone does not love the Lord, he is to be [ j ] ( AR ) accursed. [ k ] ( AS ) Maranatha! 23 ( AT ) The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. 24 My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.
16 Now about the collection ( A ) for the Lord’s people: ( B ) Do what I told the Galatian ( C ) churches to do. 2 On the first day of every week, ( D ) each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made. ( E ) 3 Then, when I arrive, I will give letters of introduction to the men you approve ( F ) and send them with your gift to Jerusalem. 4 If it seems advisable for me to go also, they will accompany me.
5 After I go through Macedonia, I will come to you ( G ) —for I will be going through Macedonia. ( H ) 6 Perhaps I will stay with you for a while, or even spend the winter, so that you can help me on my journey, ( I ) wherever I go. 7 For I do not want to see you now and make only a passing visit; I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits. ( J ) 8 But I will stay on at Ephesus ( K ) until Pentecost, ( L ) 9 because a great door for effective work has opened to me, ( M ) and there are many who oppose me.
10 When Timothy ( N ) comes, see to it that he has nothing to fear while he is with you, for he is carrying on the work of the Lord, ( O ) just as I am. 11 No one, then, should treat him with contempt. ( P ) Send him on his way ( Q ) in peace ( R ) so that he may return to me. I am expecting him along with the brothers.
12 Now about our brother Apollos: ( S ) I strongly urged him to go to you with the brothers. He was quite unwilling to go now, but he will go when he has the opportunity.
13 Be on your guard; stand firm ( T ) in the faith; be courageous; be strong. ( U ) 14 Do everything in love. ( V )
15 You know that the household of Stephanas ( W ) were the first converts ( X ) in Achaia, ( Y ) and they have devoted themselves to the service ( Z ) of the Lord’s people. ( AA ) I urge you, brothers and sisters, 16 to submit ( AB ) to such people and to everyone who joins in the work and labors at it. 17 I was glad when Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus arrived, because they have supplied what was lacking from you. ( AC ) 18 For they refreshed ( AD ) my spirit and yours also. Such men deserve recognition. ( AE )
19 The churches in the province of Asia ( AF ) send you greetings. Aquila and Priscilla [ a ] ( AG ) greet you warmly in the Lord, and so does the church that meets at their house. ( AH ) 20 All the brothers and sisters here send you greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss. ( AI )
21 I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand. ( AJ )
22 If anyone does not love the Lord, ( AK ) let that person be cursed! ( AL ) Come, Lord [ b ] ! ( AM )
23 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. ( AN )
24 My love to all of you in Christ Jesus. Amen. [ c ]
