Treats, 1. Of the collection to be made for the saints in Jerusalem, vs. 1-9. 2. Of Timothy and ApoUos, whom the apostle commends to the confidence of the Corinthians, vs. 10-14. 3, The third paragraph contains exhorta- tions and greetings, vs. 15-20. 4. The last paragraph is the salutation written with Paul's own hand, vs. 21-24.
Concerning the Collection for the Saints at Jerusalem.
For some reason not now to be certainly ascertained, poverty prevailed in Jerusalem among the believers more than in any other part of the church. Almost aU the special exhortations to provide for the poor, in Paul's epistles, have primary refer- ence to the poor in Jerusalem. He had exhorted the churches of Galatia to make a collection for their relief; and then those of Macedonia, and he now addresses the Corinthians on the subject. It is a very common opinion that the poverty of the Christians in Jerusalem arose from the community of goods introduced among them at the beginning; an error which arose from an excess of love over knowledge. In thirty years that mistake may have produced its legitimate effects. Per- fection in one thing requires perfection in all. Perfect equality in goods requires perfect freedom from selfishness and indo- lence. The collection made by the Syrian churches, as record- ed in Acts 11, 29, was in consequence of the dearth the Chris- tian prophet Agabus warned his brethren was to come on all the world. Whatever may have been the cause, the fact is certain that the saints in Jerusalem stood in special need of the assistance of their richer brethren. Paul, therefore, un- dervalued and suspected as he was by the Jewish Christians, laboured assiduously in their behalf. He exhorts the Corintlii- ans to adopt the same arrangements in reference to this matter, which he had established in the churches of Galatia. A con- tribution was to be made on the Lord's day every week, pro- portioned to their resources, so that the collection might be ready when he came, vs. 1. 2. He would either send it by persons whom they might approve to Jerusalem, or if the sum were of sufficient magnitude to make it worth while, he would himself accompany their messengers, vs. 3. 4. He announces his purpose to visit the Corinthians after having passed over Macedonia, and perhaps to pass the winter with them. His
16