SEV Biblia, Chapter 16:2
Cada primer sbado, cada uno de vosotros aparte en su casa, guardando lo que por la bondad de Dios pudiere; para que cuando yo llegare, no se hagan entonces colectas.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 16:2
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. 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. 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 hqdx l yqnra 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.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 2. Upon the first day of the week , etc.] In an ancient copy of Bezas, and in some others, it is added, the Lords 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 apostles 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 John 20:19,26 Acts 20:7) 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 f359 , and of Tertullian f360 , 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 apostles countrymen, the Jews, from whence he might take this, who used to collect for, and distribute to the poor on their sabbath f361 . The alms dish was every day, but the alms chest from evening of the sabbath to the evening of the sabbath, It was collected and distributed then, as their commentators say f362 . 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 htybb , 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 f363 , 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.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-9 - The good examples of other Christians and churches should rouse us. It is good to lay up in store for good uses. Those who are rich in thi world, should be rich in good works, 1Ti 6:17, 18. The diligent han will not make rich, without the Divine blessing, Pr 10:4, 22. And what more proper to stir us up to charity to the people and children of God than to look at all we have as his gift? Works of mercy are real fruit of true love to God, and are therefore proper services on his own day Ministers are doing their proper business, when putting forward, or helping works of charity. The heart of a Christian minister must be towards the people among whom he has laboured long, and with success All our purposes must be made with submission to the Divine providence Jas 4:15. Adversaries and opposition do not break the spirits of faithful and successful ministers, but warm their zeal, and inspir them with fresh courage. A faithful minister is more discouraged by the hardness of his hearers' hearts, and the backslidings of professors than by the enemies' attempts.
Greek Textus Receptus
κατα 2596 PREP μιαν 1520 A-ASF σαββατων 4521 N-GPN εκαστος 1538 A-NSM υμων 5216 P-2GP παρ 3844 PREP εαυτω 1438 F-3DSM τιθετω 5087 5720 V-PAM-3S θησαυριζων 2343 5723 V-PAP-NSM ο 3739 R-ASN τι 5100 X-ASN αν 302 PRT ευοδωται 2137 5747 V-PPS-3S ινα 2443 CONJ μη 3361 PRT-N οταν 3752 CONJ ελθω 2064 5632 V-2AAS-1S τοτε 5119 ADV λογιαι 3048 N-NPF γινωνται 1096 5741 V-PNS-3P
Vincent's NT Word Studies
2. Upon the first day of the week (kata mian sabbatou). Kata has a distributive force, every first day. For week, lit., Sabbath, see on Acts xx. 7.Lay by him in store (par eautw tiqetw qhsaurizwn). Lit., put by himself treasuring. Put by at home. 137 As God hath prospered (o ti an euodwtai). Lit., whatsoever he may prosper in. See on Rom. i. 10; 3 John 2; and on Acts xi. 29 for the verb eujporew in the similar sense of making a prosperous journey.
No gatherings, etc. Rev., collections. The amount would be greater through systematic weekly saving than through collections made once for all on his arrival.
When I am come (otan elqw tote). Lit., then whenever I may have come. The indefinite whenever and the emphatic then indicate his unwillingness to rely upon a special contribution called forth by his arrival at any uncertain time. Christian beneficence is to be the outcome of a settled principle, not of an occasional impulse.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
16:2 {Upon the first day of the week} (kata mian sabbatou). For the singular sabbatou (sabbath) for week see #Lu 18:12; Mr 16:9. For the use of the cardinal mian in sense of ordinal prwten after Hebrew fashion in LXX (Robertson, _Grammar_, p. 672) as in #Mr 16:2; Lu 24:1; Ac 20:7. Distributive use of kata also. {Lay by him in store} (par' heautwi tiqetw qesaurizwn). By himself, in his home. Treasuring it (cf. #Mt 6:19f. for qesaurizw). Have the habit of doing it, tiqetw (present imperative). {As he may prosper} (hoti ean euodwtai). Old verb from eu, well, and hodos, way or journey, to have a good journey, to prosper in general, common in LXX. In N.T. only here and #Ro 1:10; 3Jo 1:2. It is uncertain what form euodwtai is, present passive subjunctive, perfect passive indicative, or even perfect passive subjunctive (Moulton, _Prolegomena_, p. 54). The old MSS. had no accents. Some MSS. even have euodwqei (first aorist passive subjunctive). But the sense is not altered. hoti is accusative of general reference and ean can occur either with the subjunctive or indicative. this rule for giving occurs also in #2Co 8:12. Paul wishes the collections to be made before he comes.
