Of collection of alms. Admonitions and salutations.
16:1. Now concerning the collections that are made for the saints: as I
have given order to the churches of Galatia, so do ye also.
16:2. On the first day of the week, let every one of you put apart with
himself, laying up what it shall well please him: that when I come, the
collections be not then to be made.
16:3. And when I shall be with you, whomsoever you shall approve by
letters, them will I send to carry your grace to Jerusalem.
16:4. And if it be meet that I also go, they shall go with me.
16:5. Now I will come to you, when I shall have passed through
Macedonia. For I shall pass through Macedonia.
16:6. And with you perhaps I shall abide, or even spend the winter: that
you may bring me on my way whithersoever I shall go.
16:7. For I will not see you now by the way: for I trust that I shall
abide with you some time, if the Lord permit.
16:8. But I will tarry at Ephesus, until Pentecost.
16:9. For a great door and evident is opened unto me: and many
adversaries.
16:10. Now if Timothy come, see that he be with you without fear: for he
worketh the work of the Lord, as I also do.
16:11. Let no man therefore despise him: but conduct ye him on his way
in peace, that he may come to me. For I look for him with the brethren.
16:12. And touching our brother Apollo, I give you to understand that I
much entreated him to come unto you with the brethren: and indeed it was
not his will at all to come at this time. But he will come when he shall
have leisure.
16:13. Watch ye: stand fast in the faith: do manfully and be
strengthened.
16:14. Let all your things be done in charity.
16:15. And I beseech you, brethren, you know the house of Stephanus, and
of Fortunatus, and of Achaicus, that they are the firstfruits of Achaia,
and have dedicated themselves to the ministry of the saints:
16:16. That you also be subject to such and to every one that worketh
with us and laboureth.
16:17. And I rejoice in the presence of Stephanus and Fortunatus and
Achaicus: because that which was wanting on your part, they have
supplied.
16:18. For they have refreshed both my spirit and yours. Know them,
therefore, that are such.
16:19. The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Priscilla salute you
much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house, with whom I
also lodge.
16:20. All the brethren salute you. Salute one another with a holy kiss.
16:21. The salutation of me Paul, with my own hand.
16:22. If any man love not our Lord Jesus Christ, let him be anathema,
maranatha.
Let him be anathema, maranatha... Anathema signifies here a thing
accursed. Maran-atha, which, according to St. Jerome and St. Chrysostom,
signify, `The Lord is come' already, and therefore is to be taken as an
admonition to those who doubted of the resurrection, and to put them in
mind that Christ, the judge of the living and the dead, is come already.
Others explain Maran-atha: `May our Lord come', that is, to judge and
punish those with exemplary judgments and punishments, that do not love
the Lord Jesus Christ.
16:23. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
16:24. My charity be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.