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“As for the Money Being Collected to Help the Lord’ Holy People”
1 Now as for the money being collected to help the Lord’s holy people+: Just as I instructed the assemblies in Galatia, so you, too, yourselves are to do.
2 On the first day of every week, each of you is to set some money aside at home, saving up whatever is possible depending on how one has been blessed, so that when I come, at that time there will be no need for any collections.
3 And when I arrive, those whom you approve, these are the ones I will send, with letters of explanation, to carry your gift to Jerusalem.
4 And if it seems appropriate for me, too, to go along myself, then it is with me that they will travel.
“I Do Not Want to See You Now Just in Passing”
5 Now, I will visit you after I pass through Macedonia—for I am through Macedonia planning to travel—
6 and will with you probably stay for a time, or even spend the winter, so that you can help me get to the next place, wherever I go.
7 For I do not want to see you now just in passing; I’m hoping to remain with you for a good while, if the Lord allows.
8 In the meantime, I will remain in Ephesus until the festival of Pentecost,
9 because there has opened to me a door for very fruitful and effective work, although there are many who oppose me.
10 Now if Timothy comes, make sure that he has from you nothing to fear, because it is the Lord’s work that he is doing, just like me.
11 No one, then, is to look down on him. Provide him with what he needs for his journey and help him on his trip in peace, so that he may come to me, for I am waiting for him along with the brothers.
12 As for our brother Apollos, I urged him many, many times to visit you with the other brothers, but he was fully determined not to make a visit at this time. He will come, though, when he gets the chance.
“The Grace of the Lord Jesus Be with You”
13 Stay watchful and alert, stand firm in the faith, have courage, be strong.
14 Everything you do must be done in love.
15 You know that Stephanas and his household were a firstfruits to the faith in the province of Achaia, and that it is the service of the Lord’s holy people to which they have devoted themselves. I encourage you, too, brothers and sisters,
16 to submit yourselves to people like these, and to every fellow worker and laborer.
17 I’m so happy that Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus have come here, because although you couldn’t be here yourselves, I have at least gotten to see your faces in theirs.
18 Indeed, they set my mind at rest, and yours, too. Make sure that you show, therefore, how much you respect and appreciate people like these.
19 The assemblies in the province of Asia send you greetings. Aquila and Priscilla themselves send you warm greetings in union with the Lord, as does the assembly that meets at their home.
20 Greetings to you from the brothers and sisters, all of them. Greet one another with a holy kiss.
21 I, PAUL, AM INCLUDING THIS PERSONAL GREETING WRITTEN WITH MY OWN HAND.
22 If someone is not loyal to the Lord, let him be cursed and set apart for utter destruction. Marana tha—our Lord, come!
23 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you.
24 My love be with all of you in union with Messiah Jesus.