1 Corinthians 16 - Easy To Read Version

¹ Now \{I will write\} about the collection \{of money\} for God’s people. Do the same thing that I told the Galatian churches to do:

² On the first day of every week each one of you should save as much money as you can from what you are blessed with. You should put this money in a special place and keep it there. Then you will not have to gather your money after I come.

³ When I come, I will send some men to take your gift to Jerusalem. These men will be the men that you all agree should go. I will send them with letters of introduction.

⁴ If it seems good for me to go also, then those men will go with me.

⁵ I plan to go through Macedonia. So I will come to you after I go through Macedonia.

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 at Ephesus until Pentecost. {\cf2\super [120]}

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 on his trip in peace, so that he can come back to me. I am expecting him to come back with the brothers.

¹² Now about our brother Apollos: I strongly encouraged him to visit you with the other brothers. But he was sure that he did not want to go now. But when he has the opportunity, he will go to you.

¹³ Be careful. Continue strong in the 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 any other person that works and serves 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 given rest to my spirit and to yours. You should recognize the value of men like these.

¹⁹ The churches in Asia {\cf2\super [121]} say hello to you. Aquila and Priscilla say hello to you in the Lord. Also the church that meets in their house says hello to you.

²⁰ All the brothers and sisters here say hello to you. Give each other a holy kiss when you meet.

²¹ I am Paul, and I am writing this greeting with my own hand.

²² If any person does not love the Lord, then let that person be separated from God—lost forever!

²³ The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you.

²⁴ My love be with all of you in Christ Jesus.