1 Corinthians 16:1
Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I gave order to the Churches of Galatia, so also do ye.
Having completed his discourse concerning doctrines, and being about to enter upon that which belongs rather to morals, he dismisses every thing else and proceeds to the chief of good things, discoursing about alms. Nor does he discuss morals in general, but when he has treated of this matter alone, he leaves off. A thing however obviously unlike what he did every where else; for of alms and of temperance and of meekness and of long-suffering and of all the rest, he treats in the other Epistles in the conclusion. For what reason then does he handle here this part only of practical morality? Because the greater part also of what had been spoken before was of an ethical nature: I mean, where he chastised the fornicator; where he was correcting those who go to law among Gentiles; where he terrified the drunkards and the gluttons; where he condemned the seditious, the contentious, and those who loved to have the preeminence; where those who unworthily approach the Mysteries were delivered over by him unto that intolerable sentence; where he discoursed concerning love. For this cause, I say, the subject which most pressed on him, viz. the aid required for the saints, this alone he mentions.
And observe his consideration. When he had persuaded them concerning the resurrection, and made them more earnest, then and not till then he discusses this point also.
It is true indeed that on these matters he had spoken to them before, when he said, If we sowed unto you spiritual things, is it a great matter if we shall reap your carnal things? And, Who plants a vineyard, and eats not of the fruit thereof? But because he knew the greatness of this moral achievement, he refuses not to add a fresh mention at the end of his letter.
And he calls the collection λογίαν (a contribution,) immediately from the very first making out the things to be easy. For when contribution is made by all together, that becomes light which is charged upon each.
But having spoken about the collection, he did not say immediately, Let every one of you lay up in store with himself; although this of course was the natural consequence; but having first said, As I gave order to the Churches of Galatia, he added this, kindling their emulation by the account of the well-doings of others, and putting it in the form of a narration. And this also he did when writing to the Romans; for to them also while appearing to narrate the reason why he was going away to Jerusalem, he introduces thereupon his discourse about alms; But now I go unto Jerusalem, ministering unto the saints: for it has been the good pleasure of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints. Only those he stimulates by mention of Macedonians and Corinthians; these of Galatians. For he says, As I gave order to the Churches of Galatia, so also do ye: for they would surely feel ashamed ever afterwards to be found inferior to Galatians. And he says not, I advised, and, I counselled; but, I gave order, which is more authoritative. And he does not bring forward a single city, or two, or three, but an entire nation: which also he does in his doctrinal instructions, saying, Even as also in all the Churches of the saints. For if this be potent for conviction of doctrines, much more for imitation of actions.
1 Corinthians 16:2
- What then, I ask, did you give order about?
On the first day of the week, that is, the Lord’s day, let each one of you lay by him in store, as he may prosper. Mark how he exhorts them even from the time: for indeed the day was enough to lead them to almsgiving. Wherefore call to mind, says he, what ye attained to on this day: how all the unutterable blessings, and that which is the root and the beginning of our life took place on this day. But not in this regard only is the season convenient for a zealous benevolence, but also because it has rest and immunity from toils: the souls when released from labors becoming readier and apter to show pity. Moreover, the communicating also on that day in Mysteries so tremendous and immortal instils great zealousness. On it, accordingly, let each one of you, not merely this or that individual, but each one of you, whether poor or rich, woman or man, slave or free, lay by him store. He said not, Let him bring it the church, lest they might feel ashamed because of the smallness of the sum; but having by gradual additions swelled his contribution, let him then produce it, when I have come but for the present lay it up, says he, at home, and make your house a church; your little box a treasury. Become a guardian sacred wealth, a self-ordained steward of the poor. Your benevolent mind assigns to you this priesthood.
Of this our treasury even now is a sign: but the sign remains, the thing itself no where.
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Now I am aware that many of this congregation will again find fault with me when I treat of these subjects, and say, Be not, I beseech you, be not harsh and disagreeable to your audience. Make allowances for their disposition; give way to the mind of the hearers. For in this case you really do put us to shame; you make us blush. But I may not endure such words: since neither was Paul ashamed to be continually troublesome upon such points as these and to speak words such as mendicants use. I grant indeed that if I said, give it me, and lay it up in my house, there might perchance be something to be ashamed of in what I said: hardly however even in that case; for they who wait upon the altar, we read, have their portion with the altar. However, some one perhaps might find fault as if he were framing an argument for his own interest. But now it is for the poor that I make my supplication; nay, not so much for the poor, as for your sake who bestow the gift. Wherefore also I am bold to speak out. For what shame is it to say, Give unto your Lord in His hunger: Put raiment on Him going about naked; Receive Him being a stranger? Your Lord is not ashamed before the whole world to speak thus: I was an hungred, and you gave Me not to eat, He who is void of all want and requires nothing. And am I to be ashamed and hesitate? Away with this. This shame is of the snare of the devil. I will not then be ashamed, but will say, and that boldly, Give to the needy; I will say it with a louder voice than the needy themselves. True it is, if any one can show and prove that in saying these things we are drawing you over unto ourselves, and under the pretence of the poor are ourselves making gain, such a course would be worthy, I say not of shame, but even of ten thousand thunderbolts; and life itself would be more than persons so behaving would deserve. If, on the contrary, by the grace of God, we are in nothing troublesome about ourselves, but have made the Gospel without charge to you; laboring indeed in no wise like Paul, but being contented with our own — with all boldness of speech I will say, Give unto the needy: yea, and I will not leave off saying it, and of those who give not I will be a severe accuser. For so, if I were a general and had soldiers, I should not feel ashamed at demanding food for my men: for I vehemently set my heart upon your salvation.
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But that my argument may both be more forcible and more effective, I will take Paul for my comrade, and like him will discourse and say, Let each one of you lay by him in store, as he may prosper. Now observe also how he avoids being burdensome. He said not, so much, or so much, but as he may prosper, whether much or little. Neither said he, what any one may have gained, but, as he may prosper: signifying that the supply is of God. And not only so, but also by his not enjoining them to deposit all at once, he makes his counsel easy: since the gathering little by little hinders all perception of the burden and the cost. Here you see the reason too for his not enjoining them to produce it immediately, but giving them a long day; whereof adding the cause, he says, That there be no gatherings when I come: which means, that you may not when the season has come for paying in contributions just then be compelled to collect them. And this too in no ordinary degree encouraged them again: the expectation of Paul being sure to make them more earnest.