1 Cor 16:2 "on One of the Sabbaths"

[BobRyan]

Since DHK recently brought this topic up again - and since at one point in history he brought it up "using Barnes" as a reference point -- might as well address the text in something other than a one-text snippet approach!

First of all many thanks to DHK for pointing us to Albert Barnes in the first place.

Summary of key points from 1Cor 16:2-4

1Cor 16 is significant in that it is the only place in all of the NT where ANYTHING is commanded regarding week-day-one.

1Cor 16 is significant in that it is "the golden opportunity" for a NT author to introduce the new importance, or the transition, or the new name of week-day-one 1 to a brand new Jewish-Christian church.

For example "Day number 7" is given "a NAME" in scripture to show its significance rather than simply assigning it "a number". No other week day has that "name assigned" in either the NT or the OT - unless you consider the "preparation day" terminology that was sometimes used for Friday.

1Cor 16 is significant in its focus of the act being commanded to be "BY ones Self" - alone - not in community.

1Cor 16 is significant in that the "giving" of the offering - received by an official church member is placed at Paul's OWN reception of the gift.

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1 Corinthians 16
Instructions and Greetings
1Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I directed the churches of Galatia, so do you also.

First we note that Paul is not introducing a new day of worship or the idea of a « sanctified set-apart day for worship. Rather he is explicitly addressing the issue of “collection” of funds and how those funds are to be saved each week or set aside each week.

1Cor 16
2On the first day of every week each one of you is to put aside and save, as he may prosper, so that no collections be made when I come.
3When I arrive, whomever you may approve, I will send them with letters to carry your gift to Jerusalem;
4and if it is fitting for me to go also, they will go with me.

Here the focus of Paul is on the “individual” who sets funds aside – in store – in savings as the individual may prosper. The focus is on the act of saving and setting aside that is done by yourself – alone without being prodded into doing it a some later church service or gathering..

There is in fact no mention of a gathering of the people or of the act of corporate worship in 1Cor 16

Now let's observe how the author that DHK once selected for us to read on this subject -- deals with the devastating details of the text of 1Cor 16.

Barnes –
Verse 2. 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; 24:1 John 20:1,19. Comp. 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.

http://www.studylight.org/com/bnn/view.cgi?book=1co&chapter=016

Here we find that instead of “day 1” we see the Sabbath term STILL being used “on ONE of the Sabbaths”. Far from using the NEW term “Lord’s day” and far from even the more modest term “day one” or “First day” – we have the literal term for Sabbath AGAIN brought up since all is relative to the high and holy reference point in Christ the Creator’s weekly cycle – the “Sabbath”.

Albert Barnes
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 on]y, 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. par eautw tiqetw qhsaurizwn. 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.
http://www.studylight.org/com/bnn/view.cgi?book=1co&chapter=016

You could not ask for a more devastating point against "a command to GATHER on week-day-one". The entire focus is on the SINGULAR - and even "private" act - at HOME rather than "IN COMMUNITY".

Thanks to DHK for being willing to post that!

Albert Barnes

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 is not an interpretation of a greek term AS IF the Greek was shoing "Treasuring up" to mean "IN community". Indead there are a number of places in scripture where the term "treasuring up" is purely and distinctively a PRIVATE and Individual act. The author merely speculates - in a hopeful wishful fashion at this point hoping to avoid the devasting implication of the Greek when it comes to the literal and explicit "BY ONE SELF".

Not the "or perhaps maybe" style of the author in casting about him for relief from "by ONEs Self"

Albert Barnes
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.

Now notice here - that the Author "needs" day one to be given the title "the Lord's Day" - as would be so natural IF it were true. The author STICKS IT IN for his own interpretation having failed to extract that much-needed-title from this all-important singular text dealing with an actual command for week-day-one. Literally - “on one of the Sabbaths”

Albert Barnes
This was evidently to be done not on one Sabbath only, but was to be done on each Lord's-day until he should come.

It is significant that the term is so urgently "needed" by those who "need" to make that association - and yet it is conspicuously missing from the text. Far worse “Lord’s Day” is MISSING but “Sabbath is PRESENT”!! Why should every day of the week be in reference to the Sabbath? Obviously we have the literal term for Sabbath AGAIN brought up since for the saints of the NT ALL time during the week is still relative to the high and holy reference point established by Christ our Creator - His weekly cycle is still governed by – the “Sabbath” reference point!

Very instructive.

That there be no gatherings when I come. No collections, (logiai,) 1Co 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, 1Co 16:3.

Clearly this shows the collection is made by Paul - and NOT at a weekly - "week-day-one" church meeting.

Thoughts?

In Christ,

Bob

 

[BobRyan]

But equally as devastating to the "first-day established-in-scripture" group --

The Sabbath is the ONLY day in the NT where we see "week-after-week" gathering of Gentiles along with Jews for the explicit purpose of hearing the Gospel, studying God's Word and Worship.

See Acts 13, Acts 15 and Acts 17!

By "contrast" we see that on week-day-one (on ONE of the SAbbaths) EACH one was to lay by himself in store as HE may prosper some savings anticipating the day when Paul would arrive for the collection.

It is the ONE thing WE ARE told to do on "week-day-one" by the NT authors!!

In Christ,

Bob