1 Cor 16:1-24

In 1 Corinthians 16:1-4, we see one of the New Testament passages that support weekly offerings to the Church. Many believe that the principal of the tithe or giving of a tenth of our resources (which includes our financial blessings) does not apply to Christians. Many believe that Jesus Christ came to abolish "The Law", or to provide a way for us to be forgiven of our sins without having to abide by the Mosaic Laws ourselves.

It is true that we are forgiven of our sins through our faith in Jesus Christ as our personal Savior. But that doesn't mean that the principals established by God in the Old Testament were not pleasing to him. To put it another way... It still pleases God when we attempt to follow his commandments and his will to the best of our ability.

And to prove it, God has promised blessings upon us when try.

For more on this thought, I invite you to read:

"Stewardship: Open Your Hearts".

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The second point in today's reading that I would like to comment on, is Paul's statement in verse 22:

"22 I pray that God will put a curse on everyone who doesn't love the Lord. And may the Lord come soon."

Is it right to pray that God will "put a curse" on anyone?

Some New Testament translations use the actual phrase spoken by the Jews of that time:

"16:22 If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha."

Let him be Anathema--accursed with that curse which the Jews who call Jesus "accursed" (1 Corinthians 12:3). This is the curse that the Jews wished upon Jesus.
Maranatha--Syriac for, "the Lord cometh." A motto or watchword to urge them to preparedness for the Lord's coming; as in Philippians 4:5, "The Lord is at hand."

After some study of this verse, it seems clear that Paul was not addressing those who were outside the church, for if he were, Paul himself would have fallen under this type of curse prior to his own regeneration. As a matter of fact, such are to be prayed for, and wished well unto; and oftentimes such are called by grace, and become true and sincere lovers of Christ. This was the case for Paul.

Instead, Paul was writing to the church in Corinth, and he was addressing those who profess to be Christians, but are actually false teachers, or insincere "attendees of the church"... those who make up the apostate church.

I don't believe Paul thought he had the ability to cast a curse upon anyone. Paul believed that the wrath of God was what was in store for such impostors. This was his warning to the church in Corinth. It was intended to prevent them from slipping away from what they had been taught, and it should be noted that this severe warning is surrounded by verses of love for true followers of the Lord Jesus Christ.

For more on this thought, I invite you to visit the link below from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible:

John Gill's 1 Cor 16:1-24

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