Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love.

1 Corinthians 16:1-24

For I do not want to see you now and make only a passing visit; I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits. But I will stay on at Ephesus until Pentecost, because a great door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many who oppose me.

When Timothy comes, see to it that he has nothing to fear while he is with you, for he is carrying on the work of the Lord, just as I am. No one, then, should treat him with contempt. Send him on his way in peace so that he may return to me. I am expecting him along with the brothers.

Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love.

You know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the service of the Lord’s people. I urge you, brothers and sisters, to submit to such people and to everyone who joins in the work and labors at it.

Paul answers the last of their questions, giving directions for collecting money for the poor at Jerusalem the Gentile churches were contributing.

He looks forward to an extended visit to Corinth. And he gives news and instructions about various individuals.

The letter closes with a final appeal, and resting from the Asain churches, especially from Aquila and Priscilla, the leather workers in whose house Paul lived during his stay in Corinth.

The warm and loving final greeting he writes himself the rest having been dictated to a secretary: a common practice.

Why?

Collecting money should be regularly to help the needy if the people coming and collecting money is too hurry and embarrassing situation.

Be on your guard, stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong, and Do everything in love. This is the word of Paul to all Christians. This world has too many tricky faults and attractive materials. So we have to know who I am and do everything with love and wisdom from the Lord.

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奉獻的事情：奉獻要事先準備好，而不是臨時翻口袋。奉獻的事情要小心，送款項的人應該由教會派，不該由保羅指派。

保羅的計劃：探訪哥林多教會的事，不願意只是路過。所有計劃要神允許，一切安排順服在神的心意中。保羅當時在以弗所，當時福音很好果效，但是攔阻也很大，擋神廟的人的財路。

提摩太、司提反，福徒拿(雅該谷)都是事奉的典範：為主勞苦服事勞力做主的工！教會做的不足的地方，這三人立刻補足，而不是使問題擴大。

保羅、亞波羅、彼得其實是很好的同工，保羅還請亞波羅去哥林多教會，但是哥林多教會的人卻分黨派，這是派別內的人的問題。

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How?

Learn the heart and behavior from Paul, and be strong, and stand firm in the faith. Do everything in love.