16:1 With regard to the collection for the saints, please follow the directions that I gave to the churches of Galatia: 1 16:2 On the first day of the week, each of you should set aside some income 2 and save 3 it to the extent that God has blessed you, 4 so that a collection will not have to be made 5 when I come. 16:3 Then, when I arrive, I will send those whom you approve with letters of explanation to carry your gift to Jerusalem. 6 16:4 And if it seems advisable that I should go also, they will go with me.
16:5 But I will come to you after I have gone through Macedonia – for I will be going through Macedonia – 16:6 and perhaps I will stay with you, or even spend the winter, so that you can send me on my journey, wherever I go. 16:7 For I do not want to see you now in passing, since I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord allows. 16:8 But I will stay in Ephesus 7 until Pentecost, 16:9 because a door of great opportunity stands wide open for me, 8 but there are many opponents.
16:10 Now if Timothy comes, see that he has nothing to fear among you, for he is doing the Lord’s work, as I am too. 16:11 So then, let no one treat him with contempt. But send him on his way in peace so that he may come to me. For I am expecting him with the brothers. 9
16:12 With regard to our brother Apollos: I strongly encouraged him to visit you with the other brothers, 10 but it was simply not his intention to come now. 11 He will come when he has the opportunity.
16:13 Stay alert, stand firm in the faith, show courage, be strong.
1 tn Grk “as I directed the churches of Galatia, so also you yourselves do.”
2 tn Grk “set aside, storing whatever he has been blessed with.”
3 tn Grk “set aside, storing.” The participle θησαυρίζων (qhsaurizwn) indicates the purpose or result of setting aside the extra income.
4 tn “To the extent that God has blessed you” translates an awkward expression, “whatever has been prospered [to you].” This verb has been translated as an active with “God” as subject, taking it as a divine passive.
5 tn Grk “so that collections will not be taking place.”
6 map For location see Map5-B1; Map6-F3; Map7-E2; Map8-F2; Map10-B3; JP1-F4; JP2-F4; JP3-F4; JP4-F4.
7 map For location see JP1-D2; JP2-D2; JP3-D2; JP4-D2.
8 tn Grk “for a door has opened wide to me, great and effective.”
9 tn Since Paul appears to expect specific delegates here and they were most likely men, the Greek word ἀδελφοί (adelfoi) here has not been not translated as “brothers and sisters.”
10 tn Grk “with the brothers.”
11 tn Grk “it was simply not the will that he come now.”