prospects of usefulness in Ephesus would detain him in that city until Pentecost, vs. 5-9.
As to Timothy and Apollos he exhorts them to treat the former in such a manner that he might be free from fear among them, for he was worthy of their confidence, vs. 10. 11. Of the latter he says he had urged him to go to Corinth with the other brethren, but that he was unwilling to do so then, but would go when a suitable occasion offered, vs. 12-14. He exhorts them to submission to the household of Stephanas, and to every one who was labouring in the good cause, vs. 15. 16. He expresses his gratification in seeing the brethren from Corinth, and sends salutations from those around him to the Christians in Achaia, vs. 17-20. The conclusion of the epistle was wi'itten with his own hand as an authentification of the whole, vs. 21-24.
1. Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye.
Sut concerning the collection which is for the saints. What saints were intended was already known to the Corin- thians. Instead of /w the saints^ in Rom. 15, 26 we have the more definite expression, " for the poor of the saints who are in Jerusalem," in whose behalf, he teUs the Romans, Mace- donia and Achaia had made a contribution. The Greek word Xoyta, in the sense of (TvXXorfq^ collection^ is only found in this passage. As I have given orders^ i. e. as I arranged or or- dered. This is the language of authority. For although these contributions were voluntary, and were required to be made cheerfully, 2 Cor. 9, 7, yet they were a duty, and there- fore both the collection itself, and the mode m which it should be accomplished, were proper subjects for apostolic direction. In the epistle to the Galatians there is no mention of this col- lection. It was probably ordered when Paul visited those churches. So do ye, i. e. adopt the same plan as to the mode of making the collection. What that was, is stated in the following verse.
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.