1 Corinthians 16:2Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Therefore, on this day, “each of you,” not merely one or another, but “each,” whether poor or rich, woman or man, slave or free, “let him lay aside by himself, storing up.”

He did not say, “Let him bring it to the church,” lest they be ashamed to bring a small amount. Rather, let him store it up little by little, increase the offering, and then show it when I come.

Until that time, he says, set it aside at home. Make your house a church, an ark, and a treasury. Be the guardian of sacred property, and a self-appointed steward of the poor. Love for mankind gives you this sacred right.

A sign of this remains even now in the vessel-keeper. The sign remains, but the deed does not.

I know that many of those present will again reproach us. Hearing our words, they will say: Please, do not be hard and burdensome to the hearers. Leave this to their free choice. Put it into the hands of the hearers. You shame us so and make us blush.

But I will not stop speaking of this. Paul also was not ashamed to repeat this continually and insist, like those who ask for alms.

If I were saying, “Give to me and bring it to my house,” perhaps my words would be shameful. Yet even then they would not be shameful, for the Apostle says, “Those who serve the altar share with the altar” (1 Cor 9:13).

But perhaps someone will reproach me because I speak about myself. No. I now present a request for the needy, or rather, not for the needy, but for you who give. Therefore I speak boldly.

What shame is there in saying, “Give to the Lord who hungers. Clothe Him when He walks naked. Receive Him as a stranger”? Your Master is not ashamed to say before the whole universe, “For I was hungry, and you gave Me no food” (Mt 25:42).

He lacks nothing and has no need at all. Shall I be ashamed and hesitate? No. Such shame comes from the snares of the devil.

Therefore I am not ashamed, but say boldly: give to the needy. I will say it more loudly than the needy themselves. If anyone could prove and convict us of drawing you to ourselves by saying this, and of seeking our own profit under the pretext of the poor, then this would deserve not only shame, but a thousand thunderbolts.

Those who do such things ought not to live. But if, by God’s mercy, we care nothing for ourselves, and offer you the Gospel without payment, laboring, though not as Paul did, yet being content with our own, then I speak with all boldness.

Give to the needy. I will not stop saying this, and I will strictly condemn those who do not give.

If I were a general and had soldiers under me, I certainly would not be ashamed to beg food for my soldiers. In the same way, I am greatly concerned for your salvation.

But that my words may be more effective and stronger, I will place myself under Paul’s guidance and speak to you with him: “Let each of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper.”

See again how this is not difficult. He did not say, “So much,” or “so much,” but “as he may prosper,” whether much or little. Nor did he say, “as anyone earns,” but “as he may prosper,” showing that gain is from God.

He makes his counsel easy to fulfill not only in this way, but also by not commanding them to contribute everything at once. When one gathers little by little, the ministry and the expense become scarcely felt.

Therefore he commands them not to bring it immediately, but appoints a long interval and gives the reason: “so that there be no collections when I come.” That means, so collections will not be made when the time for contribution arrives.

He does not give them this exhortation without purpose. The expectation of Paul was meant to awaken greater zeal in them.

“So that there be no collections when I come.” That is, so you will not be collecting then, when it is necessary to distribute. By the words “when I come,” he makes them more zealous in the collection, since the offerings will be before his eyes.

They are to do this through the mutual manifestation of love, a virtue accessible to all and obligatory for all according to their ability. For this reason Jesus Christ Himself teaches that men will first be called to account for it at the dread judgment (Mt 25:26).

The Apostle does not mention his instruction of the Galatians in this virtue without purpose. He also proclaimed it to the Romans (Rom 15:25), rousing all through this to emulation and to the conviction that it is easy.

But so that this virtue might truly be easy for all, he advises the Corinthians to set aside willing offerings according to their zeal every Sunday, having special treasuries for this purpose.

At that time there was not yet the church order that was established later. It is noteworthy that the Apostle advises that the collection be made before he comes.

He says that this collection may be sent to Jerusalem with men chosen by them. He will give them letters, and will go with them himself only if this is necessary or fitting.

He clearly keeps himself in every way far from touching what has been collected, so as to give no stumbling block to anyone (cf. 10:32). All the Apostles acted in the same way, saying, “It is not good that we should leave the word of God and serve tables” (Acts 6:2).

For this reason he used the word “storing,” thesaurizon, treasuring up, gathering into a treasury. “As he may prosper” means according to the profit each one has from his own dealings and labors.

At the same time, it hints at a good disposition. He does not wish to compel, for God loves a cheerful giver.

“The Apostle leaves the amount of the gift to each one’s disposition, teaching that God helps souls that choose what is better. For he expressed this by the words, ‘whatever he may prosper in’” (Theodoret).

Why does he say, “so that there be no collections when I come”? Either, again, so as not to burden them, or so that when he comes their minds may be free from every external concern.

Then they would attend only to what he had to set before them. Saint Chrysostom says, “See how he persuades them by the very time. For this day by itself sufficiently disposes one to almsgiving.

Remember, he says, what you were counted worthy of on this day. Ineffable blessings, the root and source of our life, had their beginning on this day.

This time disposes one to love for mankind not only for that reason, but also because it gives rest and freedom from labors. Souls relieved from the burden of labors are more easily inclined and more ready for mercy.

Moreover, communion on this day of the dread and immortal Mysteries produces great readiness for giving. Therefore, on this day, ‘let each of you,’ not this one or that one, but each one, poor or rich, woman or man, slave or free, lay something aside at home and store it up.

He did not say, ‘Let him bring it to church,’ so that they would not be ashamed to bring a small amount. Rather he says, ‘Let him, saving little by little, increase the offering and then show it when I come.’

Until then, he says, set it aside at home. Make your house a church, an ark, and a treasury. Be the guardian of sacred property, a self-appointed steward of the poor.

Love for mankind gives you this sacred right. A sign of this remains to this day in the vessel-repository. But the sign remains, while the work does not.

See again how this is not difficult. He did not say, ‘so much’ or ‘so much,’ but ‘whatever he may prosper in,’ whether much or little.

Nor did he say, ‘as much as anyone acquires,’ but ‘whatever he may prosper in,’ expressing that acquisition comes from God. He makes his counsel easy to fulfill not only in this way.

He also does so by not commanding them to bring everything at one time. For if one gathers little by little, the service and expense become imperceptible.

Therefore he commands them not to bring it immediately, but appoints an extended time and gives the reason: ‘so that there be no collections when I come.’ That is, so collections are not made when the time for contribution has arrived.

He does not set this observation before them without purpose. The expectation of Paul was bound to stir in them greater zeal.”