Sunday, July 28, 2013 pm
STUDIES IN 1 CORINTHIANS (58)
Concerning the Collection
1 Corinthians 16:1-4
It is typical of Paul to conclude his letter with final
encouragements and greetings as well as future plans and instructions.
Our next few lessons will examine some of these things.
Tonight we examine a passage that is frequently quoted in dealing
with the collection. That is
a proper application of this text, but there are also other factors to
consider. In this lesson we
want to discuss the specific collection Paul is mentioning and make
application to our giving today.
a.
There are at least 2
different occasions in scripture where saints in an area were needy and
we have instructions on how it was addressed.
From these examples we learn about the work of the church and
what restrictions exist in the area of benevolence.
i.
The occasion that Paul
was writing about was a need in Jerusalem.
There were saints there in poverty (the reasons are not given,
but some believe it was because early on they had sold their lands and
possessions to help their brethren at the beginning of the gospel
[Ac.4:32-37], an earlier famine [Acts 11:27-30], and general
persecutions, including economic consequences, as they stood for the
truth).
ii.
Therefore, Paul
determined to encourage brethren throughout the empire to send relief.
In numerous passages, we find Paul commending the churches of
Macedonia (2 Cor. 8:1-7, which included churches in Philippi,
Thessalonica and Berea), the churches of Macedonia and Acacia (Rom.
15:25-28, which included Corinth and Athens), as well as the churches of
Galatia (which included Antioch of Pisidia, lystra, Iconium and Derbe)
which are mentioned in our text (vs. 1).
Some believe this was a part of his mission on his third
preaching tour (or perhaps, while already on his journey, when he heard
of the need, it became a part of that venture).
When he arrived in Jerusalem, Acts 24:17 says, “Now after many
years I came to bring alms and offerings to my nation.”
This is probably the
occasion that Paul has in mind in our text.
b.
Now concerning the
collection for the saints
– how Paul found out about the desires of the brethren in Corinth to
help we don’t know. We do
know that he had several occasions of correspondence both before and
after this letter (it is believed this letter was written around 55-56
AD from Ephesus – cf. 1 Cor. 16:8,
where he stayed for 3 years while on his third preaching journey,
cf. Acts 20:31). Perhaps it
was one of the questions they had asked of him, desiring to help.
NOTE: In his response to this letter, Paul will write in 2
Corinthians 8 & 9 about their need to fulfill their commitment before he
goes to Corinth.
i.
The collection
– this passage gives us authority for a treasury!
The word for collection is only
used here in vs. 1 & 2. IT
is a word that means to take up a voluntary collection.
It was used commonly to describe the collections for religious
purposes such as temples and gods.
So what Paul is calling for here is a formal collection WHEN they
assembled together.
Vs. 3 of our text says, “And when
I come” indicates that they were to save it up (store it) so that
there would be not need to take up the collection WHEN he arrived.
Also verse 2 says that they were to lay by in store, “that there be no collections when I come.”
ii.
WE also find in this
text that the collection was intended to help with a specific work.
In this particular passage, Paul is dealing with helping needy
saints, but the principles of this collection would apply to other works
of the church as well - 1
Tim. 5:9 – to help needy saints locally; Phil. 4:14-16 -
to support the preaching of the gospel, 2 Cor. 11:8 – also
dealing with supporting one who preached the gospel.
These passages all imply a common treasury for the congregation.
iii.
However, we must
understand that what that treasury can be used for is limited!
It is limited to specified works and the execution of those
things. Because we are
commanded to assemble, we can receive funds to maintain a place to
assemble (the type of place is NOT specified).
Because there is a need to spread the gospel, we can use funds to
support the preaching of the gospel (both locally and abroad).
When there are needy saints, the church has authority to help
them with that need.
c.
For the saints
– HERE we find a limitation on the collection for benevolence.
i.
There are many churches
today that see it as their primary mission to relieve the needy of
society. Some churches exist
only because of this (i.e. Salvation Army, etc.).
ii.
But if you study your Bible, you
will see that the benevolence a church can engage in is limited.
In this text, the collection to be taken was FOR BRETHREN!
It was not GENERAL benevolence (benevolence for the community,
disasters, etc.). If you
study the texts we mentioned above, you will find the same pattern where
churches engaged in benevolence.
iii.
1 Tim. 5:16 makes it
pretty clear that it is NOT the primary purpose of the church to engage
in the work of general benevolence.
It says, “If any believing man or woman has widows, let them
relieve them, and do not let the church be burdened, that it may relieve
those who are really widows.” Paul said there that they are to help
only as a last resort. And
when you combine that with his instructions for the church helping
widows earlier in the text (1 Tim. 5:9-10) the point is again
emphasized.
iv.
THAT we as individuals
are to remember the poor and be benevolent is emphasized CONTINUALLY
throughout scripture (cf. Matt. 25:31-46, Gal. 2:10, 6:10, James 1:27,
etc.).
But there IS a significant difference between what the individual and
the church can do.
d.
As I have given orders
to the churches of Galatia, so you must also do –
Paul taught and did the SAME THING in every church (1 Cor. 4:17).
It is because of statements such as this that we MUST respect the
pattern and teachings of the New Testament.
We cannot make up our own rules!
In dealing with our very text one author noted that what Paul proposed
to the Romans, he appealed to the example of the Macedonians and the
Corinthians (in Achaia).
Here in Corinth he appealed to the things he had taught in the region of
Galatia. So you can see
several congregations ALL BEING taught the same thing!
a.
In this text Paul gives
instructions as to HOW the funds are to be received.
b.
On the first day of the
week. It
is evident that saints assembled weekly, “on
the first day of the week.”
In addition to this text, we also have Acts 20:7 where the
disciples came together in Troas to partake of the Lord’s Supper.
Paul’s point is that this collection is to be made WHEN the saints
assemble. Thus it is a
part of our worship to God.
In 2 Corinthians 9 Paul will emphasize the proper attitude in our
giving.
NOTE also that this was NOT the only church where Paul gave these
instructions – recall how in verse one he had given the same
instructions to the churches of Galatia.
There is also strong evidence that this assembly was on a weekly basis
(cf. the word “every” is this same word on several occasions, Acts
13:27, read “every” Sabbath, Heb. 10:3, a reminder of sins “every”
year”, Luke 8:1, a reminder of sins “every” year, etc.).
While the use of “every” is only minimal it is indicative of the
word.
c.
Furthermore,
this is the ONLY passage that
describes WHEN the collection is taken.
That is why we ONLY take up a collection on Sundays.
By specific example we know this is when it was done.
Any other time is without authority.
d.
How is a church to receive funding for its work?
This text describes the free will offering of its on members.
While there are other passages that describe raising funds,
unanimously they appeal to this method.
That is why we do not engage in fund raising activities or
businesses. That is not the
place or purpose of the Lord’s church.
It would be this collection that would become the treasury we
discussed above.
e.
Let each one of you lay
something aside as he may prosper. This discusses how it is to
be a free-will offering of the members.
NOTICE how a specific amount is NOT mentioned.
Under the Old Law, the tithe was in effect (10%), but we do not
find a specific amount anywhere.
BUT we do find
instructions:
i.
IT is to be “as
he may prosper” – the word prosper is one that indicates success
(see 3 John 2). Paul is
indicating that our giving needs to be generous and in proportion to our
gratitude for what we have.
ii.
In 2 Corinthians, Paul
would further discuss our attitude in giving as he elaborates on their
need to fulfill the commitment he is discussing in our current text.
IN 2 Cor. 9:6-7, we read, “But this I say: He who sows
sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will
also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart,
not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.”
Here Paul again speaks of
generosity, but he also notes it is to be cheerfully and with purpose
(e.g. planned, thus not our left overs).
f.
That there be no collections when I come
– we have already discussed this as it relates to the treasury as an
expedient way to take care of the needs and work of the church.
a.
In these verses, Paul
gives to Corinth their own responsibility in ministering the gift.
It was up to them to receive the funds and to distribute them.
Paul notes that it is THEIR choice.
I suspect that Paul really doesn’t want anything to do with the
funds of this church and its share for the needy saints. Paul has
already expressed concerns about their attitudes.
In 2 Corinthians he will be forced to defend both his ministry
and apostleship. And he will note WHY he did not take support from them.
He will deal with charges that
his motives were self-serving (i.e. desiring to gain from them).
b.
In vs. 4, he notes that
they can accompany him “if it is fitting.”
Again you have the idea of being above reproach in dealing with
these matters.
c.
Lesson:
Churches maintain their autonomy and independence.
When you study the organization of the local church you will find
that each congregation maintains its autonomy.
Each congregation governs itself as if it answers directly to the
Lord. There is a reason we
do not have a headquarters on earth.
Each local church studies God’s word and determines what to do
and how to do it. It doesn’t
need permission from a synod, a council or something larger than the
Local church.
In the example of our text - we have several congregations helping needy
saints in Jerusalem. Yet
each of them has complete discretion with their own funds.
We must respect this attribute as we organize as a local church.