On the first day of every week, let each one of you save, as he may prosper, that no collections are made when I come.
Parallel Translations
-
On the first day of every week, let each one of you save, as he may prosper, that no collections are made when I come.
-
Vpon some sondaye let every one of you put a syde at home and laye vp what soever he thinketh mete that ther be no gaderinges when I come.
-
Euery first day of the weeke, let euery one of you put aside by himselfe, and lay vp as God hath prospered him, that then there be no gatherings when I come.
Cross-references (20)
Passages linked to 1 Corinthians 16:2 in the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, ordered by reader-vote popularity; verse text shown in World English Bible.
- Malachi 3:9-10 You are cursed with the curse; for you rob me, even this whole nation. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house, and test me now in this,” says Yahweh of Armies, “if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there will not be room enough for.
- Luke 16:10 He who is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much. He who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.
- Acts 20:7 On the first day of the week, when the disciples were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day, and continued his speech until midnight.
- Deuteronomy 8:18 But you shall remember Yahweh your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he swore to your fathers, as it is today.
- Deuteronomy 15:11-14 For the poor will never cease out of the land. Therefore I command you to surely open your hand to your brother, to your needy, and to your poor, in your land. If your brother, a Hebrew man, or a Hebrew woman, is sold to you and serves you six years, then in the seventh year you shall let him go free from you. When you let him go free from you, you shall not let him go empty. You shall furnish him liberally out of your flock, out of your threshing floor, and out of your wine press. As Yahweh your God has blessed you, you shall give to him.
- 2 Corinthians 9:3-5 But I have sent the brothers that our boasting on your behalf may not be in vain in this respect, that, just as I said, you may be prepared, lest by any means, if anyone from Macedonia comes there with me and finds you unprepared, we (to say nothing of you) would be disappointed in this confident boasting. I thought it necessary therefore to entreat the brothers that they would go before to you and arrange ahead of time the generous gift that you promised before, that the same might be ready as a matter of generosity, and not of greediness.
- 2 Corinthians 8:1-3 Moreover, brothers, we make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the assemblies of Macedonia, how in much proof of affliction, the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded to the riches of their generosity. For according to their power, I testify, yes and beyond their power, they gave of their own accord,
- 2 Corinthians 8:11-15 But now complete the doing also, that as there was the readiness to be willing, so there may be the completion also out of your ability. For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what you have, not according to what you don’t have. For this is not that others may be eased and you distressed, but for equality. Your abundance at this present time supplies their lack, that their abundance also may become a supply for your lack; that there may be equality. As it is written, “He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack.”
- Revelation 1:10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, like a trumpet
- Mark 12:41-44 Jesus sat down opposite the treasury, and saw how the multitude cast money into the treasury. Many who were rich cast in much. A poor widow came, and she cast in two small brass coins, which equal a quadrans coin. He called his disciples to himself, and said to them, “Most certainly I tell you, this poor widow gave more than all those who are giving into the treasury, for they all gave out of their abundance, but she, out of her poverty, gave all that she had to live on.”
- Luke 24:1 But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they and some others came to the tomb, bringing the spices which they had prepared.
- John 20:19 When therefore it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were locked where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the middle, and said to them, “Peace be to you.”
- Genesis 26:12 Isaac sowed in that land, and reaped in the same year one hundred times what he planted. Yahweh blessed him.
- 2 Chronicles 31:10 Azariah the chief priest, of the house of Zadok, answered him and said, “Since people began to bring the offerings into Yahweh’s house, we have eaten and had enough, and have plenty left over, for Yahweh has blessed his people; and that which is left is this great store.”
- Haggai 2:16-19 Through all that time, when one came to a heap of twenty measures, there were only ten. When one came to the wine vat to draw out fifty, there were only twenty. I struck you with blight, mildew, and hail in all the work of your hands; yet you didn’t turn to me,’ says Yahweh. ‘Consider, please, from this day and backward, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, since the day that the foundation of Yahweh’s temple was laid, consider it. Is the seed yet in the barn? Yes, the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree haven’t produced. From today I will bless you.’ ”
- Genesis 30:30 For it was little which you had before I came, and it has increased to a multitude. Yahweh has blessed you wherever I turned. Now when will I provide for my own house also?”
- Genesis 32:10 I am not worthy of the least of all the loving kindnesses, and of all the truth, which you have shown to your servant; for with just my staff I crossed over this Jordan; and now I have become two companies.
- Genesis 33:11 Please take the gift that I brought to you, because God has dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough.” He urged him, and he took it.
- Mark 14:8 She has done what she could. She has anointed my body beforehand for the burying.
- John 20:26 After eight days again his disciples were inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, the doors being locked, and stood in the middle, and said, “Peace be to you.”
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this verse (19 sources)
Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.
Private notes
Saved on this device only — never synced or sent anywhere.
Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain Which in times past was called Sunday, but now…
Which in times past was called Sunday, but now is called the Lord’s day.
That every man bestow, according to the ability that God hath blessed him with.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain 2 Upon the first day of the week let…
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.
Ver. 2. Upon the first day] The Christian sabbath, the Lord’s day, as the Greek scholiast well renders it; which to sanctify was in the primitive times a badge of Christianity. When the question was propounded, Servasti Dominicum? Hast thou kept the Lord’s day? The answer was returned, Christianus sum; intermittere non possum, I am a Christian, I can do no less than keep the Lord’s day. But the world is now grown perfectly profane (saith Dr King, on Jonah, Lect. 7), and can play on the Lord’s day without book; the sabbath of the Lord, the sanctified day of his rest, is shamelessly troubled and disquieted.
Read full note →
Lay by him in store] Gr. as a treasure, 1Ti 6:18. Manus pauperum gazophylacium Christi, The poor man’s box is Christ’s treasury.
As God hath prospered him] Gr. ευοδωται, Given him a good arrival at the end of his voyage, and enabled him; for we may not stretch beyond the staple, and so spoil all.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain From hence both divers of the ancients, and very…
From hence both divers of the ancients, and very many late divines, argue for the change of the sabbath from the seventh day of the week to the first. It is plain from hence, that the gospel churches were wont to assemble upon that day; nor do we read in Scripture of any assembly of Christians for religious worship on any other day. On this day the apostle orders collections for the poor saints to be made, accordingly as God had prospered any in their employments; he directeth that they should every one lay by him something, not doing what he did with any ostentation, but having it ready when it should be called for: this he calls a treasuring (so it is in the Greek); monies laid by for charitable uses are treasures, both with respect to those for whom they are laid up, and also for ourselves; for he that giveth to the poor, layeth up for himself treasures in heaven. He would have no gatherings when he came, either to avoid the scandal of his being chargeable to them, or that he would have no delay, but when he came it might be in a readiness to be presently sent away.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain Upon the first day of the week,.... In an…
Upon the first day of the week,.... In an ancient copy of Beza's, and in some others, it is added, "the Lord's day". Upon some one first day of the week, or more, if there was a necessity for it, until the collection was finished; though the Syriac and Arabic versions render it, "every first day": but this is not the apostle's intention, that a collection should be made every first day, but only on some one day, or as long as it was necessary: for at the close of the verse he gives this reason for it, "that there be no gatherings when I come": whereas, if this collection was to have been every first day, and to have been always continued, it must have been when he was present, as well as when absent; but this was only designed for a certain time, and on a certain account: the reason of his fixing upon the first day of the week was, because on this day the disciples of Christ, and the primitive churches, met together for divine worship, to hear the word, and observe the ordinances of Christ; see Joh 20:19 and was a very fit reason for such a work, when their hearts were warmed with the presence of God and Christ, with the grace of the Spirit, and the doctrines of the Gospel, and their affections were knit to one another, and to all the saints: and so we find from the accounts of Justin Martyr (w), and of Tertullian (x), that it was usual for the primitive churches in the age following that of the apostles, after the worship of God was over, to collect money for widows and orphans, and for saints in distress, such as were banished into distant parts, or condemned to the mines; and this practice was very agreeable to the customs of the apostle's countrymen, the Jews, from whence he might take this, who used to collect for, and distribute to the poor on their sabbath (y).
"The alms dish was every day, but the alms chest from evening of the sabbath to the evening of the sabbath,''
Read full note →
It was collected and distributed then, as their commentators say (z).
Let everyone of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him. The persons who are to contribute are everyone, of every sex, age, state, and condition, male and female, young and old, servants and masters, the meaner as well as the richer sort; the poor widow threw in her mite into the treasury as well as the rich men: the act of communication or distribution is signified by laying by him in store; for this is not to be understood of separating a part of his substance from the rest, and laying it up "in his own house", as the Syriac version renders it, or the putting it in his pocket in order to give it; though both these acts may be necessary, as preparatory to the work: but it intends the very act itself: for communicating to the poor is laying up in store a good foundation for the time to come; it is a laying up treasure in heaven, and riches there, which will never corrupt: the manner in which this is to be done, and the measure of it, "as God hath prospered him"; according to the success he has in his worldly business, and the increase of his worldly substance, and which is the way to have it enlarged. The Jews have a saying (a),
"if a man observes his provisions to be straitened, let him do alms of them, how much more if they are large.''
The Vulgate Latin version renders, it, "laying up what pleases him well"; and the Arabic version, "what through liberality he pleases, and shall be convenient for him"; for this ought to be a freewill offering, as a matter of bounty and generosity, and not of covetousness, or of force and necessity, but as a man, of himself has purposed in his own heart, and which he does with cheerfulness and freedom.
That there be no gatherings when I come; who had other work, and greater service to do among them; besides, he was desirous of having this collection over and ready when he came, that he might directly send it away to Jerusalem, knowing the pressing necessities of the saints there.
(w) Apolog. 2. p. 98, 99. (x) Apolog. c. 39. (y) T. Bab. Bava Bathra, fol. 8. 2. Maimon, Hilch. Mattanot Anayim, c. 9. sect. 6. (z) Maimon. R. Samson & Bartenora in Misn. Peah, c. 8. sect. 7. (a) T. Bab. Gittim, fol. 7. 1.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain Let every one - Not the rich only: let…
Let every one - Not the rich only: let him also that hath little, gladly give of that little. According as he hath been prospered - Increasing his alms as God increases his substance. According to this lowest rule of Christian prudence, if a man when he has or gains one pound give a tenth to God, when he has or gains an hundred he will give the tenth of this also. And yet I show unto you a more excellent way. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. Stint yourself to no proportion at all. But lend to God all you can.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain Verse 2. Upon the first day of the week]…
Verse 2. Upon the first day of the week] The apostle prescribes the most convenient and proper method of making this contribution.
1. Every man was to feel it his duty to succour his brethren in distress.
Read full note →
2. He was to do this according to the ability which God gave him.
3. He was to do this at the conclusion of the week, when he had cast up his weekly earnings, and had seen how much God had prospered his labour.
4. He was then to bring it on the first day of the week, as is most likely, to the church or assembly, that it might be put in the common treasury.
5. We learn from this that the weekly contribution could not be always the same, as each man was to lay by as God had prospered him: now, some weeks he would gain more; others, less.
6. It appears from the whole that the first day of the week, which is the Christian Sabbath, was the day on which their principal religious meetings were held in Corinth and the Churches of Galatia; and, consequently, in all other places where Christianity had prevailed. This is a strong argument for the keeping of the Christian Sabbath.
7. We may observe that the apostle follows here the rule of the synagogue; it was a regular custom among the Jews to make their collections for the poor on the Sabbath day, that they might not be without the necessaries of life, and might not be prevented from coming to the synagogue.
8. For the purpose of making this provision, they had a purse, which was called ארנקי של צדקה Arneki shel tsedakah, "The purse of the alms," or what we would term, the poor's box. This is what the apostle seems to mean when he says, Let him lay by him in store-let him put it in the alms' purse, or in the poor's box.
9. It was a maxim also with them that, if they found any money, they were not to put it in their private purse, but in that which belonged to the poor.
10. The pious Jews believed that as salt seasoned food, so did alms, riches; and that he who did not give alms of what he had, his riches should be dispersed. The moth would corrupt the bags, and the canker corrode the money, unless the mass was sanctified by giving a part to the poor.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain 1Co 16:2-4. Upon the first day of the week…
1Co 16:2-4. Upon the first day of the week — So κατα μιαν σαββατων
here signifies, the Hebrews using the numeral for the ordinal numbers, as Gen 1:5, The evening and the morning were one day; that is, the first day; and also using the word sabbath to denote the week, as Luk 18:12. I fast twice, του σαββατου, in the week. So Mar 16:2, πρωι της μιας σαββατων, early the first day of the week. Let every one of you lay by him in store, &c. — Not the rich only: let him also that hath little gladly give of that little, as God hath prospered him — Increasing his alms as God increases his substance. According to this lowest rule of Christian prudence, if a man, when he has or gains one pound, give a tenth to God, when he has or gains ten pounds, he will give a tenth to God; when he has or gains a hundred, he will give the tenth of this also. “And yet,” says Mr. Wesley, “I show unto you a more excellent way. He that hath ears to hear let him hear: Stint yourself to no proportion at all; but lend to God all you can.” That there be no gatherings — No necessity of making any particular collections; when I come — From these last words it is inferred that θησαυριζων, here rendered laying by him in store, signifies to put his charity into a common box; because, if they had kept it at home, there would have been need of gathering it when the apostle came. But the words εκαστος παρ’ εαυτω τιθετω, let every one place it with himself, admit not of this sense; nor, when each of them had done this, could there be any necessity of making collections; or, as that expression imports, soliciting the charities of others, but only of receiving the contributions thus laid by for the use of the saints. We may observe here, that from the beginning, the Christians were wont to assemble on the first day of the week, called by them the Lord’s day, to perform their religious worship. “This day being the Lord’s day,” saith Dionysius, bishop of Corinth, “we keep it holy.” “On Sunday,” saith Justin, “all Christians in the city or country meet together, because that is the day of our Lord’s resurrection; and then we read the writings of the prophets and apostles. This being done, the president makes an oration to the assembly, to exhort them to imitate and do the things they heard: then we all join in prayer, and after that we celebrate the Lord’s supper.” — See Whitby. And when 1 come — When I am arrived at Corinth; whomsoever ye shall approve by letters — Signed by the members of your church, or their representatives; them will I send to bring your liberality — Greek, την χαριν υμων; literally, your grace; that is, the fruit of your grace, or, your free gift, to Jerusalem, to be there distributed among the poor Christians. And if it be meet — If it be thought proper; that I also should go — Thither on this occasion; they shall go with me — That they may witness for me that no part of the money received has been withheld, but that the whole of it has been delivered with the greatest fidelity, to be employed solely for the purposes for which it was contributed.
Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain Upon the first day of the week - Greek,…
Upon the first day of the week - Greek, “On one of the Sabbaths.” The Jews, however, used the word Sabbath to denote the week; the period of seven days; Mat 28:1; Mar 16:9; Luk 18:12; Luk 24:1; Joh 20:1, Joh 20:19; compare Lev 23:15; Deu 16:9. It is universally agreed that this here denotes the first day of the week, or the Lord’s Day.
Let every one of you - Let the collection be universal. Let each one esteem it his duty and his privilege to give to this object. It was not to be confined to the rich only, but was the common duty of all. The poor, as well as the rich, were expected to contribute according to their ability.
Read full note →
Lay by him in store - (παρ ̓ ἑαυτῷ τιθέτω θησαυρίζων par' heautō tithetō thēsaurizōn). Let him lay up at home, treasuring up as he has been prospered. The Greek phrase, “by himself,” means, probably, the same as at home. Let him set it apart; let him designate a certain portion; let him do this by himself, when he is at home, when he can calmly look at the evidence of his prosperity. Let him do it not under the influence of pathetic appeals, or for the sake of display when he is with others; but let him do it as a matter of principle, and when he is by himself. The phrase in Greek, “treasuring up,” may mean that each one was to put the part which he had designated into the common treasury. This interpretation seems to be demanded by the latter part of the verse. They were to lay it by, and to put it into the common treasury, that there might be no trouble of collecting when he should come. Or it may, perhaps, mean that they were individually to treasure it up, having designated in their own mind the sum which they could give, and have it in readiness when he should come. This was evidently to be done not on one Sunday only, but was to be done on each Lord’s Day until he should come.
As God hath prospered him - The word “God” is not in the original, but it is evidently understood, and necessary to the sense. The word rendered “hath prospered” (εὐοδῶται euodōtai) means, properly, to set forward on one’s way; to prosper one’s journey; and then to prosper, or be prospered. This is the rule which Paul lays down here to guide the Christians at Corinth in giving alms, a rule that is as applicable now, and as valuable now, as it was then.
That there be no gatherings when I come - No collections λογίαι logiai, 1Co 16:1). The apostle means that there should be no trouble in collecting the small sums; that it should all be prepared; that each one might have laid by what he could give; and that all might be ready to be handed over to him, or to whomsoever they might choose to send with it to Jerusalem; 1Co 16:3 - In view of this important verse, we may remark:
(1) That there is here clear proof that the first day of the week was observed by the church at Corinth as holy time. If it was not, there can have been no propriety in selecting that day in preference to any other in which to make the collection. It was the day which was set apart to the duties of religion, and therefore an appropriate day for the exercise of charity and the bestowment of alms. There can have been no reason why this day should have been designated except that it was a day set apart to religion, and therefore deemed a proper day for the exercise of benevolence toward others.
(2) This order extended also to the churches in Galatia, proving also that the first day of the week was observed by them, and was regarded as a day proper for the exercise of charity toward the poor and the afflicted. And if the first day of the week was observed, by apostolic authority, in those churches, it is morally certain that it was observed by others. This consideration, therefore, demonstrates that it was the custom to observe this day, and that it was observed by the authority of the early founders of Christianity.
(3) Paul intended that they should be systematic in their giving, and that they should give from principle, and not merely under the impulse of feeling.
(4) Paul designed that the habit of doing good with their money should be constant. He, therefore, directed that it should be on the return of each Lord’s Day, and that the subject should be constantly before their minds.
(5) It was evident that Paul in this way would obtain more for his object than he would if he waited that they should give all at once. He therefore directed them honestly to lay by each week what they could then give, and to regard it as a sacred treasure. How much would the amount of charities in the Christian churches be swelled if this were the practice now, and if all Christians would lay by in store each week what they could then devote to sacred purposes.
(6) The true rule of giving is, “as the Lord hath prospered us.” If he has prospered us, we owe it to him as a debt of gratitude. And according to our prosperity and success, we should honestly devote our property to God.
(7) It is right and proper to lay by of our wealth for the purposes of benevolence on Sunday. It is right to do good then Mat 12:12; and one of the appropriate exercises of religion is to look at the evidence of our prosperity with a view to know what we may be permitted to give to advance the kingdom of the Lord Jesus.
(8) If every Christian would honestly do this every week, it would do much to keep down the spirit of worldliness that now prevails everywhere in the Christian church; and if every Christian would conscientiously follow the direction of Paul here, there would be no lack of funds for any well-directed plan for the conversion of the world.
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On the [1] first day of the week, which…
On the [1] first day of the week, which is Sunday, and our sabbath, not the Jewish sabbath, as St. John Chrysostom observes, so that before this time, the apostles had appointed the first day of the week for the worship of God. (Witham)
===============================
Read full note →
[BIBLIOGRAPHY]
Per unam, that is primam Sabbati, Greek: eis mian sabbaton. St. John Chrysostom, Greek: om. m., toutesti kuriaken, p. 530.
George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain first day of . . . week--already kept sacred…
first day of . . . week--already kept sacred by Christians as the day of the Lord's resurrection, the beginning day both of the physical and of the new spiritual creations: it gradually superseded the Jewish sabbath on the seventh day (Psa 118:22-24; Joh 20:19, Joh 20:26; Act 20:7; Rev 1:10). So the beginning of the year was changed from autumn to spring when Israel was brought out of Egypt. Three annual feasts, all typical of Christian truths, were directed to be kept on the first day of the week: the feast of the wave offering of the first sheaf, answering to the Lord's resurrection; Pentecost, or the feast of weeks, typical of the fruits of the resurrection in the Christian Church (Lev 23:11, Lev 23:15-16, Lev 23:36); the feast of tabernacles at harvest, typical of the ingathering of the full number of the elect from one end of heaven to the other. Easter was directed to be kept as a holy sabbath (Exo 12:16). The Christian Sabbath commemorates the respective works of the Three Persons of the Triune God--creation, redemption (the resurrection), and sanctification (on Pentecost the Holy Ghost being poured out). Jesus came to fulfil the Spirit of the Law, not to cancel it, or to lower its standard. The primary object of the sabbath is holiness, not merely rest: "Remember that thou keep holy the sabbath day." Compare Gen 2:3, "God blessed and sanctified it, because . . . in it He had rested," &c. The word "Remember" implies that it was in existence before the giving of the law from Sinai, and refers to its institution in Paradise (compare Exo 16:22-23, Exo 16:26, Exo 16:30). "Six days shalt thou labor": the spirit of the command is fulfilled whether the six days' labor be on the last six days or on the first. A perpetual sabbath would doubtless be the highest Christian ideal; but living in a world of business where the Christian ideal is not yet realized, if a law of definite times was necessary in Paradise, it is still more so now.
every one of yon--even those in limited circumstances.
Read full note →
lay by him--though there be not a weekly public collection, each is privately to set apart a definite proportion of his weekly income for the Lord's cause and charity.
in store--abundantly: the earnest of a better store laid up for the giver (Ti1 6:19).
as God hath prospered him--literally, "whatsoever he may be prospered in," or "may by prosperity have acquired" [ALFORD], (Mat 25:15-29; Co2 8:12).
that there be no gatherings when I come--that they may not then have to be made, when your and my time ought to be employed m more directly spiritual things. When men give once for all, not so much is given. But when each lays by something every Lord's day, more is collected than one would have given at once [BENGEL].
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain 2. The first day of the week—Greek, μιαν σαββατων,…
2. The first day of the week—Greek, μιαν σαββατων, where the numerical one is for an ordinal first, agreeing with ημερα, day, understood. The other word, in either singular or plural, had come to signify week. This direction, which would for the same reason be extended to all the Pauline Churches, indicates the early adoption by Gentile Christians of a seven-day division of time, peculiar heretofore to the Jews. It was the earliest establishment of the Christian week, with “the Lord’s day” at its head. St. Paul’s objection in his Epistle to the Galatians, that they “observe days,” stands not in the way of his enjoining upon these very Galatians to “observe” this day. St. John (Rev_1:10) inspiredly recognises this day as a Christian institution, and the question, Dominicum servasti?—Hast thou kept the Lord’s day?—was a test of Christian profession and a qualification for martyrdom. Justin Martyr, whose life covers the forty years of the formation of the New Testament canon, says, “Upon the so-called sun’s day there are meetings of all dwelling in both cities and country.” See note on Act_20:7. The decalogue requires the keeping one day in seven publicly, organically, religiously; but it does not prescribe which day shall be the observed “seventh.” The Jewish Church held that to be its seventh and sabbath which its sacred tradition was in possession of; the Christian Church, by clear apostolic sanction, first elevated the Lord’s resurrection day to the head of its week, and then gradually disused the Jewish sabbath. If, as may be clearly proved, the decalogue is of perpetual obligation, then Sunday is the Christian decalogue sabbath.
Every one—Do not expect the rich or the liberal alone to contribute. A mite from each is a mass from the whole. It is wonderful how much may be done by a Church where every one gives his something.
Read full note →
Lay by him—So keeping a little savings bank at home, and bringing the whole to the church when the apostle arrives.
Prospered him—The poor giving a little, the richer more in proportion.
No gatherings—If the whole are made at once they will be scanty, and the apostle’s time will be occupied with moneys which he would rather expend on souls.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain 2. Upon the first day of the week] Some…
2. Upon the first day of the week] Some Greek copies read the word translated ‘week’ in the plural. Hence Tyndale renders, in some saboth daye, and Calvin, more literally, on one of the sabbaths. Wiclif connects these words with the preceding verse. So also do ghe on oo dai of the woke. This verse, Act_20:7, and Rev_1:10, are the only passages in Scripture which notice the practice instituted from the very first among Christians of observing the day of the Lord’s Resurrection with especial reverence. But though it is clear enough, from the universal consent of Christians, that they were accustomed to meet together for worship on the Lord’s Day, we cannot infer it from this passage. See next note.
lay by him] i.e. at home (Tyndale, apud se, Vulg.), not in the assembly, as is generally supposed. “He does not say ‘bring it at once,’ lest the giver should be ashamed of the smallness of his contribution; but first lay it up by thyself, and when it is worthy of collecting, then bring it.”—Chrysostom. He speaks of a custom in his time of placing a small box by the bed-side into which an offering was to be put whenever prayer was made.
Read full note →
in store] Literally, treasuring up. The words that follow are governed by this participle, treasuring up whatsoever he hath been prospered with. So Vulg. Keeping that that plesith to him. Wiclif.
as God hath prospered him] The word God is not in the original. Literally, whatsoever he may be prospered in. The word originally signifies to have a good journey, and is so translated in Rom_1:10 (where, however, it has the same meaning as here). See also 3Jn_1:2. This common feeling between men of different nationalities, and widely separated by distance, was altogether the creation of the gospel, and is being increasingly recognized in our own age. See Robertson.
that there be no gatherings when I come] The word here translated gatherings is translated collection in 1Co_16:1. Wiclif and Tyndale have gathering in both places. The rendering in the text is Tyndale’s. In the original the language is more emphatic, that when I come, the gatherings may not take place then. So Vulg.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain (2) Upon the first day of the week.—The Greek…
(2) Upon the first day of the week.—The Greek phrase (as given in the best MSS.) is literally, on one of the Sabbaths—that being, after a Hebrew idiom, equivalent to “the day next after the Sabbath.” Already the day of the week on which Christ had risen had become noted as a suitable day for distinctively Christian work and Christian worship. It does not yet seem to have been designated by the phrase by which it became subsequently universally known in Christendom—“the Lord’s Day;” that name occurs first in Rev_1:10. This would be a convenient as well as a suitable day for each one to set aside, as he had proposed, something, storing it up until the Apostle’s arrival; for this was already the usual day for Christians assembling themselves together (Act_20:7). I cannot think with Stanley and others that the Apostle means that each was to lay by “in his own house,” and not in some general treasury. The object of this direction is expressly stated to be that the money should all be ready in bulk-sum when the Apostle came, so that his time and that of the Christian community during his visit might not be occupied with this, but with more profitable matters, which result would not have been accomplished if the offering had then to be gathered from each Christian home.
As God hath prospered him.—Better, whatsoever he may be prospered in. These words do not imply that only in cases of exceptional prosperity was a man to contribute, but every man was to give out of whatever fruits he had from his labour.
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain Upon the first day of the week. This verse…
Upon the first day of the week. This verse can hardly be said to imply any religious observance of the Sunday, which rests rather on Act_20:7; Rev_1:10; Joh_20:19, Joh_20:26. Lay by him in store. The Greek phrase implies that the laying up was done at home, but when the money was accumulated, it was doubtless brought to the assembly and handed over to the presbyters. As God hath prospered him; rather, whatsoever he has been prospered in; i.e. all that his prosperity may permit. That there be no gatherings when I come; rather, that, when I come, there may then be no collections. When he came he did not wish his attention to be absorbed in serving tables.
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
B. W. Johnson 1891 · Public Domain 2. Upon the first day of the week. This…
2. Upon the first day of the week. This shows that the first day of the week was set apart and regarded by the church. Acts 20:7, shows that the church assembled to break bread on that day. Let every one of you lay by him in store. The usual view is that every one was directed to set aside something on the Lord's day and keep it until Paul came. This view is sanctioned by the translations and most of the commentators. Macknight renders: “On the first day of the week, let each one of you lay somewhat by itself, putting it into the treasury.” I believe Macknight is right; for (1) there were to be no collections when Paul came. That implies that the money was to be placed in the treasury. Otherwise, it would have to be collected. (2) Thesaurizoon, rendered in the Common Version “in store,” is a present participle, meaning literally, “putting into the thesaurus,” or “treasury.” (3) All church history testifies that the early church took up weekly collections on the first day of the week. See Pliny's Letter to the Emperor Trajan. (4) We know, from Acts 21:7, and from all early church history, that the church met on the first day of the week. It only remains to add that par' heauto, rendered by the translators “by him,” is rendered with equal correctness, “by itself.” Its form is that of the neuter reflexive pronoun. As God hath prospered him. Each week every one is to give according to his ability.
B. W. Johnson's The People's New Testament with Notes (1889–1891) — public domain. Electronic text from the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (CCEL) ThML edition.
William B. Godbey 1900 · Public Domain 2. “Let each one of you, treasuring up as…
THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK KEPT BY THE APOSTLES
2. “Let each one of you, treasuring up as to whatsoever he may be prospered, deposit with himself on the first day of the week, in order that when I may come there may be no collections.” The very fact of their making their weekly contributions to the poor saints on the first day of the week is a recognition of their regular weekly worship on that day. The Christian Church began all Jews, gradually absorbing the Gentile element and eliminating the Jewish till it underwent a radical revolution in about one century, ultimating a Gentile body. In the beginning, of course, they all kept the old Jewish Sabbath, as well as the Lord’s Day commemorative of His resurrection on the first day of the week. Justin Martyr, a disciple of Polycarp, who was a disciple of the Apostle John, has left, in his own writing, his personal testimony that they held their weekly meetings on Sunday. In vain do the Seventh-day Adventists claim that the Pope made the change, when we have it in the New Testament, and continuously on in the writings of the Christian Fathers and in the Roman histories of the early centuries, whereas there never was a pope till the seventh century, when Procas, the king of Italy, crowned Boniface, the third bishop of Rome, spiritual autocrat of all the churches. Suetonius, Pliny, Sallust, and other Roman historians in the early centuries, give accounts of Christianity among the current events of the times. Those were the memorable martyr ages inaugurated by the Emperor Nero, A. D. 58, when he beheaded Paul and turned loose the demons of blood indiscriminately to exterminate the Christians. When a student in college, reading the Latin course, I remember well the statements of the historians in reference to the efforts of the emperors to subjugate the Christians and make them loyal to the Roman gods. They describe the trial of a Christian preparatory to martyrdom, when the magistrate propounded the question: “Dominicum servasti?” — Have you kept the Lord’s Day? The answer followed: “Christianus sum” — I am a Christian; “intermittere non possum” — I can not omit it. This is a positive proof that they did rigidly keep the first day of the week during those primitive ages when the bloody fire of persecution tried men’s souls.
Read full note →
If they had kept the Jewish Sabbath instead of Sunday, i. e., the Lord’s Day, the question would have been asked: “Sabbaticum servasti?” — Have you kept the Sabbath Day? The very fact that this question was never asked is demonstrative proof that it was not the day they kept, as the term “Lord’s Day” never was applied to the old Jewish Sabbath, but to the first day of the week from the resurrection of our Lord. While such are matters of fact and indisputable, we have no controversy with any one who feels it to be a duty to keep the Jewish Sabbath. Let them satisfy their consciences. But while you keep the Jewish Sabbath for the sake of your own conscience, remember that God requires you to keep the Christian Sabbath for the sake of the conscience of Christendom — ch. 1Co 8:12: “When you thus sin against the brethren, wounding their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.” You can not ignore our Sunday without sinning against the conscience of millions. In so doing, you sin against God. Hence the safe side is to satisfy your own conscience, and that of Christendom, too, whether it requires you to keep one day or two.
William B. Godbey, Commentary on the New Testament (1896–1900) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
J. W. McGarvey 1914 · Public Domain Upon the first day of the week let each…
Upon the first day of the week let each one of you lay by him in store, as he may prosper, that no collections be made when I come . [The word "thesaurizoon," translated "in store," means, literally, "put into the treasury;" and the phrase "par' heauto," translated "by him," may be taken as the neuter reflexive pronoun, and may be rendered with equal correctness "by itself." Macknight thus renders these two words, and this rendering is to be preferred. If each man had laid by in his own house, all these scattered collections would have had to be gathered after Paul's arrival, which was the very thing that he forbade. Again, had the collection been of such a private nature, it would have been gathered normally at the end instead of at the beginning of the week. But the first day of the week was evidently set apart for public worship ( Joh_20:19-26 ; Act_20:7 ; Rev_1:10 ), and this offering was part of the service. It was put in the public treasury of the church, but kept by itself as a separate fund. The translation of the Revised Version is unfortunate, as it obscures the idea of the weekly service of the church. According to Paul's method of collecting, each rendered a weekly account of his stewardship, and gave more and felt it less than if he had attempted to donate it all at one time. Paul had promised to take such offerings ( Gal_2:10 ). As a Christian he tries to relieve that distress which, as a persecutor, he had aided to inflict ( Act_26:6-10 ). He wished each one, rich or poor, to contribute to the offering, and he wanted the whole matter disposed of and out of the way when he came, that he might turn attention to more important matters.]
J. W. McGarvey (with Philip Y. Pendleton), Commentaries on the New Testament (The Fourfold Gospel, 1914; Acts; and the epistles) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
C. I. Scofield 1917 · Public Domain as God
as God
1Co 16:1; 1Co 16:2 (See Scofield "2Co 8:1").
The Scofield Reference Bible (1917 edition), notes by C. I. Scofield — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 16:2 Christians met on the first day of each…
16:2 Christians met on the first day of each week (see Acts 20:7) rather than the last day of the week, as in the Old Testament (Exod 20:8; 34:21; Isa 58:13-14). The first day was the “Lord’s Day,” the day of the Lord’s resurrection (Mark 16:9; Luke 24:13-15; John 20:19; Rev 1:10). • The portion of the money you have earned is not specified; Paul later encouraged them to give as generously as they could (2 Cor 8:1-4; 9:6-13; cp. Luke 12:33-34; 21:1-4; 1 Tim 6:18-19).
Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.