Matoleo Kwa Ajili Ya Waamini

16 Na sasa kuhusu matoleo kwa ajili ya kuwasaidia watu wa Mungu. Kama nilivyoagiza makanisa ya Galatia, fanyeni vivyo hivyo. Siku ya kwanza ya juma kila mmoja wenu atenge kiasi cha fedha, kulingana na mapato yake, na fedha hiyo aiweke ili nitaka pokuja pasiwepo na haja ya kufanya mchango. Nikishafika nita wapa wale mtakaowachagua barua za kuwatambulisha, ili waweze kupeleka zawadi yenu Yerusalemu. Kama ikionekana ni vyema na mimi niende, basi hao watu watafuatana nami.

Mipango Ya Paulo

Baada ya kupitia Makedonia, nitakuja kwenu; maana natazamia kupitia Makedonia. Pengine nitakaa nanyi kwa muda, au hata nitakaa nanyi kipindi chote cha baridi, ili muweze kunisaidia katika safari zangu, po pote niendapo. Kwa maana sipendi niwaone sasa nikiwa napita; natarajia kuwa na muda wa kutosha wa kukaa nanyi, kama Bwana akiruhusu. Lakini nitakaa Efeso mpaka wakati wa Pentekoste. Kwa maana mlango umefunguliwa kwangu kufanya kazi yenye matunda, na huko kuna wapinzani wengi . 10 Ikiwa Timotheo atakuja kwenu mkaribisheni asiwe na woga wo wote akiwa nanyi kwa sababu anaendeleza kazi ya Bwana, kama mimi nifanyavyo. 11 Basi asiwepo mtu atakayemdharau. Msafirisheni kwa amani ili aweze kunirudia. Namtegemea yeye pamoja na hao ndugu.

12 Na sasa, kuhusu ndugu yetu Apolo. Nilimsihi sana awa tembelee pamoja na wale ndugu wengine, lakini haikuwa mapenzi yake kuja huko wakati huu. Atakuja apatapo nafasi.

Maneno Ya Mwisho

13 Kesheni; simameni imara katika imani, muwe shujaa na hodari. 14 Fanyeni kila kitu katika upendo. 15 Sasa ndugu zangu, mnafahamu kwamba watu wa nyumbani kwa Stefana walikuwa waamini wa kwanza katika Akaya, nao wamejitoa kuwasaidia watu wa Mungu. 16 Nawasihi mnyenyekee na kufuata uongozi wa watu kama hawa, na wa kila mtendakazi mwenzenu na kila anayejibidisha katika kazi. 17 Nilifurahi wakati Stefana, Fortunato na Akaiko walipofika, kwa maana hawa wamenisaidia yale niliyopungukiwa kutoka kwenu. 18 Wao wameburudisha roho yangu na yenu pia. Watu kama hawa, wanastahili kutambuliwa. 19 Makanisa ya Asia wanawas alimu. Akila na Priska, pamoja na kanisa lililoko nyumbani kwao wanawasalimu katika Bwana. 20 Pia ndugu wote wanawasalimu. Sali mianeni kwa busu takatifu. 21 Mimi Paulo, kwa mkono wangu mwe nyewe, naandika salamu hii. 22 Kama mtu ye yote hampendi Bwana, na alaaniwe. ‘Maranatha.’ Bwana wetu, njoo! 23 Neema ya Bwana Yesu iwe nanyi.

The Collection for the Lord’s People

16 Now about the collection(A) for the Lord’s people:(B) Do what I told the Galatian(C) churches to do. On the first day of every week,(D) each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.(E) Then, when I arrive, I will give letters of introduction to the men you approve(F) and send them with your gift to Jerusalem. If it seems advisable for me to go also, they will accompany me.

Personal Requests

After I go through Macedonia, I will come to you(G)—for I will be going through Macedonia.(H) Perhaps I will stay with you for a while, or even spend the winter, so that you can help me on my journey,(I) wherever I go. For I do not want to see you now and make only a passing visit; I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits.(J) But I will stay on at Ephesus(K) until Pentecost,(L) because a great door for effective work has opened to me,(M) and there are many who oppose me.

10 When Timothy(N) comes, see to it that he has nothing to fear while he is with you, for he is carrying on the work of the Lord,(O) just as I am. 11 No one, then, should treat him with contempt.(P) Send him on his way(Q) in peace(R) so that he may return to me. I am expecting him along with the brothers.

12 Now about our brother Apollos:(S) I strongly urged him to go to you with the brothers. He was quite unwilling to go now, but he will go when he has the opportunity.

13 Be on your guard; stand firm(T) in the faith; be courageous; be strong.(U) 14 Do everything in love.(V)

15 You know that the household of Stephanas(W) were the first converts(X) in Achaia,(Y) and they have devoted themselves to the service(Z) of the Lord’s people.(AA) I urge you, brothers and sisters, 16 to submit(AB) to such people and to everyone who joins in the work and labors at it. 17 I was glad when Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus arrived, because they have supplied what was lacking from you.(AC) 18 For they refreshed(AD) my spirit and yours also. Such men deserve recognition.(AE)

Final Greetings

19 The churches in the province of Asia(AF) send you greetings. Aquila and Priscilla[a](AG) greet you warmly in the Lord, and so does the church that meets at their house.(AH) 20 All the brothers and sisters here send you greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss.(AI)

21 I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand.(AJ)

22 If anyone does not love the Lord,(AK) let that person be cursed!(AL) Come, Lord[b]!(AM)

23 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you.(AN)

24 My love to all of you in Christ Jesus. Amen.[c]

Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 16:19 Greek Prisca, a variant of Priscilla
  2. 1 Corinthians 16:22 The Greek for Come, Lord reproduces an Aramaic expression (Marana tha) used by early Christians.
  3. 1 Corinthians 16:24 Some manuscripts do not have Amen.