1 Corinthians 16:2

Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(2) Upon the first day of the week.—The Greek phrase (as given in the best MSS.) is literally, on one of the Sabbaths—that being, after a Hebrew idiom, equivalent to “the day next after the Sabbath.” Already the day of the week on which Christ had risen had become noted as a suitable day for distinctively Christian work and Christian worship. It does not yet seem to have been designated by the phrase by which it became subsequently universally known in Christendom—“the Lord’s Day;” that name occurs first in Revelation 1:10. This would be a convenient as well as a suitable day for each one to set aside, as he had proposed, something, storing it up until the Apostle’s arrival; for this was already the usual day for Christians assembling themselves together (Acts 20:7). I cannot think with Stanley and others that the Apostle means that each was to lay by “in his own house,” and not in some general treasury. The object of this direction is expressly stated to be that the money should all be ready in bulk-sum when the Apostle came, so that his time and that of the Christian community during his visit might not be occupied with this, but with more profitable matters, which result would not have been accomplished if the offering had then to be gathered from each Christian home.

As God hath prospered him.—Better, whatsoever he may be prospered in. These words do not imply that only in cases of exceptional prosperity was a man to contribute, but every man was to give out of whatever fruits he had from his labour.

Benson Commentary

1 Corinthians 16:2-4. Upon the first day of the week — So κατα μιαν σαββατων

here signifies, the Hebrews using the numeral for the ordinal numbers, as Genesis 1:5, The evening and the morning were one day; that is, the first day; and also using the word sabbath to denote the week, as Luke 18:12. I fast twice, του σαββατου, in the week. So Mark 16:2, πρωι της μιας σαββατων, early the first day of the week. Let every one of you lay by him in store, &c. — Not the rich only: let him also that hath little gladly give of that little, as God hath prospered him — Increasing his alms as God increases his substance. According to this lowest rule of Christian prudence, if a man, when he has or gains one pound, give a tenth to God, when he has or gains ten pounds, he will give a tenth to God; when he has or gains a hundred, he will give the tenth of this also. “And yet,” says Mr. Wesley, “I show unto you a more excellent way. He that hath ears to hear let him hear: Stint yourself to no proportion at all; but lend to God all you can.” That there be no gatherings — No necessity of making any particular collections; when I come — From these last words it is inferred that θησαυριζων, here rendered laying by him in store, signifies to put his charity into a common box; because, if they had kept it at home, there would have been need of gathering it when the apostle came. But the words εκαστος παρ’ εαυτω τιθετω, let every one place it with himself, admit not of this sense; nor, when each of them had done this, could there be any necessity of making collections; or, as that expression imports, soliciting the charities of others, but only of receiving the contributions thus laid by for the use of the saints. We may observe here, that from the beginning, the Christians were wont to assemble on the first day of the week, called by them the Lord’s day, to perform their religious worship. “This day being the Lord’s day,” saith Dionysius, bishop of Corinth, “we keep it holy.” “On Sunday,” saith Justin, “all Christians in the city or country meet together, because that is the day of our Lord’s resurrection; and then we read the writings of the prophets and apostles. This being done, the president makes an oration to the assembly, to exhort them to imitate and do the things they heard: then we all join in prayer, and after that we celebrate the Lord’s supper.” — See Whitby. And when 1 come — When I am arrived at Corinth; whomsoever ye shall approve by letters — Signed by the members of your church, or their representatives; them will I send to bring your liberality — Greek, την χαριν υμων; literally, your grace; that is, the fruit of your grace, or, your free gift, to Jerusalem, to be there distributed among the poor Christians. And if it be meet — If it be thought proper; that I also should go — Thither on this occasion; they shall go with me — That they may witness for me that no part of the money received has been withheld, but that the whole of it has been delivered with the greatest fidelity, to be employed solely for the purposes for which it was contributed.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

16:1-9 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 this world, should be rich in good works, 1Ti 6:17,18. The diligent hand 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 fruits 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 inspire 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.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Upon the first day of the week - Greek, "On one of the Sabbaths." The Jews, however, used the word Sabbath to denote the week; the period of seven days; Matthew 28:1; Mark 16:9; Luke 18:12; Luke 24:1; John 20:1, John 20:19; compare Leviticus 23:15; Deuteronomy 16:9. It is universally agreed that this here denotes the first day of the week, or the Lord's Day.

Let every one of you - Let the collection be universal. Let each one esteem it his duty and his privilege to give to this object. It was not to be confined to the rich only, but was the common duty of all. The poor, as well as the rich, were expected to contribute according to their ability.

Lay by him in store - (παρ ̓ ἑαυτῷ τιθέτω θησαυρίζων par' heautō tithetō thēsaurizōn). Let him lay up at home, treasuring up as he has been prospered. The Greek phrase, "by himself," means, probably, the same as at home. Let him set it apart; let him designate a certain portion; let him do this by himself, when he is at home, when he can calmly look at the evidence of his prosperity. Let him do it not under the influence of pathetic appeals, or for the sake of display when he is with others; but let him do it as a matter of principle, and when he is by himself. The phrase in Greek, "treasuring up," may mean that each one was to put the part which he had designated into the common treasury. This interpretation seems to be demanded by the latter part of the verse. They were to lay it by, and to put it into the common treasury, that there might be no trouble of collecting when he should come. Or it may, perhaps, mean that they were individually to treasure it up, having designated in their own mind the sum which they could give, and have it in readiness when he should come. This was evidently to be done not on one Sunday only, but was to be done on each Lord's Day until he should come.

As God hath prospered him - The word "God" is not in the original, but it is evidently understood, and necessary to the sense. The word rendered "hath prospered" (εὐοδῶται euodōtai) means, properly, to set forward on one's way; to prosper one's journey; and then to prosper, or be prospered. This is the rule which Paul lays down here to guide the Christians at Corinth in giving alms, a rule that is as applicable now, and as valuable now, as it was then.

That there be no gatherings when I come - No collections λογίαι logiai, 1 Corinthians 16:1). The apostle means that there should be no trouble in collecting the small sums; that it should all be prepared; that each one might have laid by what he could give; and that all might be ready to be handed over to him, or to whomsoever they might choose to send with it to Jerusalem; 1 Corinthians 16:3 - In view of this important verse, we may remark:

(1) That there is here clear proof that the first day of the week was observed by the church at Corinth as holy time. If it was not, there can have been no propriety in selecting that day in preference to any other in which to make the collection. It was the day which was set apart to the duties of religion, and therefore an appropriate day for the exercise of charity and the bestowment of alms. There can have been no reason why this day should have been designated except that it was a day set apart to religion, and therefore deemed a proper day for the exercise of benevolence toward others.

(2) this order extended also to the churches in Galatia, proving also that the first day of the week was observed by them, and was regarded as a day proper for the exercise of charity toward the poor and the afflicted. And if the first day of the week was observed, by apostolic authority, in those churches, it is morally certain that it was observed by others. This consideration, therefore, demonstrates that it was the custom to observe this day, and that it was observed by the authority of the early founders of Christianity.

(3) Paul intended that they should be systematic in their giving, and that they should give from principle, and not merely under the impulse of feeling.

(4) Paul designed that the habit of doing good with their money should be constant. He, therefore, directed that it should be on the return of each Lord's Day, and that the subject should be constantly before their minds.

(5) it was evident that Paul in this way would obtain more for his object than he would if he waited that they should give all at once. He therefore directed them honestly to lay by each week what they could then give, and to regard it as a sacred treasure. How much would the amount of charities in the Christian churches be swelled if this were the practice now, and if all Christians would lay by in store each week what they could then devote to sacred purposes.

(6) the true rule of giving is, "as the Lord hath prospered us." If he has prospered us, we owe it to him as a debt of gratitude. And according to our prosperity and success, we should honestly devote our property to God.

(7) it is right and proper to lay by of our wealth for the purposes of benevolence on Sunday. It is right to do good then Matthew 12:12; and one of the appropriate exercises of religion is to look at the evidence of our prosperity with a view to know what we may be permitted to give to advance the kingdom of the Lord Jesus.

(8) if every Christian would honestly do this every week, it would do much to keep down the spirit of worldliness that now prevails everywhere in the Christian church; and if every Christian would conscientiously follow the direction of Paul here, there would be no lack of funds for any well-directed plan for the conversion of the world.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

2. first day of … week—already kept sacred by Christians as the day of the Lord's resurrection, the beginning day both of the physical and of the new spiritual creations: it gradually superseded the Jewish sabbath on the seventh day (Ps 118:22-24; Joh 20:19, 26; Ac 20:7; Re 1:10). So the beginning of the year was changed from autumn to spring when Israel was brought out of Egypt. Three annual feasts, all typical of Christian truths, were directed to be kept on the first day of the week: the feast of the wave offering of the first sheaf, answering to the Lord's resurrection; Pentecost, or the feast of weeks, typical of the fruits of the resurrection in the Christian Church (Le 23:11, 15, 16, 36); the feast of tabernacles at harvest, typical of the ingathering of the full number of the elect from one end of heaven to the other. Easter was directed to be kept as a holy sabbath (Ex 12:16). The Christian Sabbath commemorates the respective works of the Three Persons of the Triune God—creation, redemption (the resurrection), and sanctification (on Pentecost the Holy Ghost being poured out). Jesus came to fulfil the Spirit of the Law, not to cancel it, or to lower its standard. The primary object of the sabbath is holiness, not merely rest: "Remember that thou keep holy the sabbath day." Compare Ge 2:3, "God blessed and sanctified it, because … in it He had rested," &c. The word "Remember" implies that it was in existence before the giving of the law from Sinai, and refers to its institution in Paradise (compare Ex 16:22, 23, 26, 30). "Six days shalt thou labor": the spirit of the command is fulfilled whether the six days' labor be on the last six days or on the first. A perpetual sabbath would doubtless be the highest Christian ideal; but living in a world of business where the Christian ideal is not yet realized, if a law of definite times was necessary in Paradise, it is still more so now.

every one of yon—even those in limited circumstances.

lay by him—though there be not a weekly public collection, each is privately to set apart a definite proportion of his weekly income for the Lord's cause and charity.

in store—abundantly: the earnest of a better store laid up for the giver (1Ti 6:19).

as God hath prospered him—literally, "whatsoever he may be prospered in," or "may by prosperity have acquired" [Alford], (Mt 25:15-29; 2Co 8:12).

that there be no gatherings when I come—that they may not then have to be made, when your and my time ought to be employed m more directly spiritual things. When men give once for all, not so much is given. But when each lays by something every Lord's day, more is collected than one would have given at once [Bengel].

Matthew Poole's Commentary

From hence both divers of the ancients, and very many late divines, argue for the change of the sabbath from the seventh day of the week to the first. It is plain from hence, that the gospel churches were wont to assemble upon that day; nor do we read in Scripture of any assembly of Christians for religious worship on any other day. On this day the apostle orders collections for the poor saints to be made, accordingly as God had prospered any in their employments; he directeth that they should every one lay by him something, not doing what he did with any ostentation, but having it ready when it should be called for: this he calls a treasuring (so it is in the Greek); monies laid by for charitable uses are treasures, both with respect to those for whom they are laid up, and also for ourselves; for he that giveth to the poor, layeth up for himself treasures in heaven. He would have no gatherings when he came, either to avoid the scandal of his being chargeable to them, or that he would have no delay, but when he came it might be in a readiness to be presently sent away.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Upon the first day of the week,.... In an ancient copy of Beza's, and in some others, it is added, "the Lord's 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 apostle's 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 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 (w), and of Tertullian (x), 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 apostle's countrymen, the Jews, from whence he might take this, who used to collect for, and distribute to the poor on their sabbath (y).

"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 (z).

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 "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 (a),

"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.

(w) Apolog. 2. p. 98, 99. (x) Apolog. c. 39. (y) T. Bab. Bava Bathra, fol. 8. 2. Maimon, Hilch. Mattanot Anayim, c. 9. sect. 6. (z) Maimon. R. Samson & Bartenora in Misn. Peah, c. 8. sect. 7. (a) T. Bab. Gittim, fol. 7. 1.

Geneva Study Bible

Upon the {a} first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath {b} prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.

(a) Which in times past was called Sunday, but now is called the Lord's day.

(b) That every man bestow according to the ability that God has blessed him with.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Meyer's NT Commentary

1 Corinthians 16:2. Κατὰ μίαν σαββάτου] on each first day of the week. A Hebraism very common in the New Testament, in accordance with the Jewish custom of designating the days of the week by אחר בשבת, שּׁני בשבת, etc. Lightfoot, Hor. ad Matthew 28:1. The singular of σαββ. also means week, as in Mark 16:9; Luke 18:12.

It does not, indeed, follow from this passage in itself that the Sunday was already observed at that time by assemblies for the worship of God, although this is to be assumed from other indications (see regarding this on Acts 20:7); for παρʼ ἑαυτῷ τιθέτω cannot refer to the laying down of money in the assembly (Estius, Bengel, Mosheim, al.); but no doubt it does show that to the Christian consciousness it was a holy day in whose consecration the appropriateness of such works of love was felt, τὰ γὰρ ἀπόῤῥητα ἀγαθὰ καὶ ἡ ῥίζα καὶ ἡ ἀρχὴ τῆς ζωῆς ἡμετέρας ἐν ταύτη γέγονεν, Chrysosto.

παρʼ ἑαυτῷ τιθέτω κ.τ.λ.] let him lay up in store at home whatever (quodcunque) he succeeds in, i.e. if he has success in anything, let him lay it up (i.e. what has been gained thereby), comp. expressions such as in John 12:5; Matthew 19:21, etc. Comp. Herod. vi. 73: Κλεομένεϊ εὐωδώθη τὸ πρῆγμα. Sir 11:16; Sir 38:14; Sir 41:1; Tob 4:19; 3 John 1:2. To supply θησαυρίζειν after εὐοδ. (Hofmann) is superfluous. Explanations such as quod ei placuerit (Vulgate,[103] Erasmus, Paraphr., Luther, al.), and that of Billroth and Rückert, following older interpreters: what is possible for him without burdening himself, are not in accordance with the literal sense of εὐοδόω (see on Romans 1:10). ΠΑΡʼ ἙΑΥΤῷ: at home, chez lui, see on Luke 24:12. Loesner, Obss. p. 297. θησαυρίζων: “paulatim cumulum aliquem faciens,” Grotiu.

ἽΝΑ ΜῊ Κ.Τ.Λ.] in order that gatherings be not made, when I shall have come. The collection was to be then so far already made, that every one would only have to produce what he had already gathered together week by week out of his profits in trade. By this whole injunction Paul doubtless had in view both the enlargement and the acceleration in due season of the collection.

[103] The Vulgate, perhaps, may have read εὐδοκῇ. Comp. the Gothic: “thatei vili” (what he will).

Expositor's Greek Testament

1 Corinthians 16:2 rehearses the rule previously laid down for Galatia: “On every first (day) of the week let each of you by himself (= at home) lay up, making a store (of it), whatever he may be prospered in”.—μίαν σαββάτου—’echäd shabbath or bashshabbâth—according to Hebrew idiom (see parls.) for the days of the week, the term κυριακὴ ἡμέρα (Revelation 1:10) not being yet current, while the heathen name (dies solis) is avoided. The earliest mention of this Christian day, going to show that the First Day, not the Sabbath, was already the Sacred Day of the Church (cf. Acts 20:7), appropriate therefore for deeds of charity (cf. Matthew 12:12).—παρʼ ἑαυτῷ, apud se, chez lui (see parls).—θησαυρίζων, “making a treasure,” describes each householder “paulatim cumulum aliquem faciens” (Gr[2608]), till at the end the accumulated store should be paid over.—εὐοδῶται (from εὖ and ὁδός, to send well on one’s way) is pr[2609] sbj[2610], with ἂν of contingency and ὅ, τι in acc[2611] of specification: any little superfluity that Providence might throw in a Cor[2612] Christian’s way, he could put into this sacred hoard (cf. 2 Corinthians 8:12). Many in this Church were slaves, without wages or stated income. The Vg[2613] renders, “quod si bene placuerit,” as though reading ὅ, τι ἐὰν εὐδοκῃ; and Bg[2614] wrongly, “quod commodum sit”.—ἵνα μή, ὅταν ἔλθω, τότε κ.τ.λ.: “that there may not be, when I come, collections going on then”. P. would avoid the unseemliness and the difficulty of raising the money suddenly, at the last moment; and he wishes when he comes to be free to devote himself to higher matters (cf. Acts 6:2)—“tunc alia agens” (Bg[2615]).

[2608] Greek, or Grotius’ Annotationes in N.T.

[2609] present tense.

[2610] subjunctive mood.

[2611] accusative case.

[2612] Corinth, Corinthian or Corinthians.

[2613] Latin Vulgate Translation.

[2614] Bengel’s Gnomon Novi Testamenti.

[2615] Bengel’s Gnomon Novi Testamenti.

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

2. Upon the first day of the week] Some Greek copies read the word translated ‘week’ in the plural. Hence Tyndale renders, in some saboth daye, and Calvin, more literally, on one of the sabbaths. Wiclif connects these words with the preceding verse. So also do ghe on oo dai of the woke. This verse, Acts 20:7, and Revelation 1:10, are the only passages in Scripture which notice the practice instituted from the very first among Christians of observing the day of the Lord’s Resurrection with especial reverence. But though it is clear enough, from the universal consent of Christians, that they were accustomed to meet together for worship on the Lord’s Day, we cannot infer it from this passage. See next note.

lay by him] i.e. at home (Tyndale, apud se, Vulg.), not in the assembly, as is generally supposed. “He does not say ‘bring it at once,’ lest the giver should be ashamed of the smallness of his contribution; but first lay it up by thyself, and when it is worthy of collecting, then bring it.”—Chrysostom. He speaks of a custom in his time of placing a small box by the bed-side into which an offering was to be put whenever prayer was made.

in store] Literally, treasuring up. The words that follow are governed by this participle, treasuring up whatsoever he hath been prospered with. So Vulg. Keeping that that plesith to him. Wiclif.

as God hath prospered him] The word God is not in the original. Literally, whatsoever he may be prospered in. The word originally signifies to have a good journey, and is so translated in Romans 1:10 (where, however, it has the same meaning as here). See also 3 John 1:2. This common feeling between men of different nationalities, and widely separated by distance, was altogether the creation of the gospel, and is being increasingly recognized in our own age. See Robertson.

that there be no gatherings when I come] The word here translated gatherings is translated collection in 1 Corinthians 16:1. Wiclif and Tyndale have gathering in both places. The rendering in the text is Tyndale’s. In the original the language is more emphatic, that when I come, the gatherings may not take place then. So Vulg.

Bengel's Gnomen

1 Corinthians 16:2. Κατὰ μίαν, on the first day) The Lord’s day even already at that time was peculiarly observed. On the Sabbath the Jews and Christians met together; next day the latter engaged in the duties peculiar to themselves. The Sabbath is used by Synecdoche [end.] for the week; usually the form of expression is ἡ μία σαββάτων, the one, i.e., the first day of the week; but here the article is not used, in order that κατὰ may retain its distributive meaning. The advice is easily put in practice. When men give once for all, not so much is given. If [when] a man every Lord’s day has laid by something, more has been collected, than one would have given at once.—ἕκαστος, every one) even those not very rich.—παρʼ ἑαυτῷ, by himself) apart, that it may appear, what he himself lays by; whether others lay by more sparingly or more liberally than he does. The Corinthians had not yet a common treasury in the Church.—τιθέτω, let him lay by) at the public meeting.—θησαυρίζων, in store) plentifully, a pleasant word, 1 Timothy 6:19.—εὐοδῶται, it may be convenient)[154] according as one’s mind is willing and one’s means are easy. It is a matter of Christian prudence to put in practice, according as your circumstances enable you, what is inculcated at Ecclesiastes 9:10; 1 Samuel 10:7.—ἵνα μὴ, that not) This is by way of anticipation [occupatio[155]], that they may not think it necessary to have a collection also at that time, and in like manner there is boldness of speech, as much as to say, I will certainly not pass you over.—ὅταν ἔλθω, when I come) It would neither be pleasant for Paul nor for the Corinthians to do this in his presence. Now, says he, you will act the more generously; then, we shall attend to other matters.—λογίαι, gatherings, collections) This term, a less agreeable one, advises them not to delay.

[154] So Vulg. “Quod ei placuerit.” But Engl. Ver. “As God hath prospered him.”

[155] See App.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 2. - Upon the first day of the week. This verse can hardly be said to imply any religious observance of the Sunday, which rests rather on Acts 20:7; Revelation 1:10; John 20:19, 26. Lay by him in store. The Greek phrase implies that the laying up was done at home, but when the money was accumulated, it was doubtless brought to the assembly and handed over to the presbyters. As God hath prospered him; rather, whatsoever he has been prospered in; i.e. all that his prosperity may permit. That there be no gatherings when I come; rather, that, when I come, there may then be no collections. When he came he did not wish his attention to be absorbed in serving tables. 1 Corinthians 16:2

Vincent's Word Studies

Upon the first day of the week (κατὰ μίαν σαββάτου)

Κατὰ has a distributive force, every first day. For week, lit., Sabbath, see on Acts 20:7.

Lay by him in store (παῤ ἑαυτῷ τιθέτω θησαυρίζων)

Lit., put by himself treasuring. Put by at home.

As God hath prospered (ὅ τι ἂν εὐοδῶται)

Lit., whatsoever he may prosper in. See on Romans 1:10; see on 3 John 1:2; and see on Acts 11:29 for the verb εὐπορέω 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 (ὅταν ἔλθω τότε)

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.