But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints.
But now going to Jerusalem to minister to the saints means traveling there to serve the believers by bringing material aid for the poor Christians in Judea and Jerusalem. That ministering was his duty, and it stands as duty for believers. The aid was a contribution gathered by believers in Macedonia and Achaia, that is, gifts and contributions from Gentile churches and converts collected by other churches.
The offerings relieved poor Jewish Christians. They expressed the Gentile disciples' love, fellowship, and sympathy for the Jewish church and their desire for harmony with Jewish believers. By his visit and the aid, Paul hoped to meet the Jerusalem church, ease his countrymen's prejudice toward the gospel, ease divisions, and strengthen the bond and unity between Jewish and Gentile believers.
This service helped open the way for him to preach in Jerusalem to those who did not believe that Jesus had risen and was the Son of God. Paul took care to administer the funds transparently, bringing delegates chosen by the churches as joint trustees. The gift fulfilled his earlier commitment to remember the poor, had required much time and labor to gather, and was given freely even by churches whose members were deeply poor.
Paul's going teaches duty for believers: guarding the door of the lips, refusing to speak unadvisedly or to listen to faultfinding and criticism, speaking kindly and tenderly, confessing sins and seeking forgiveness from God, and striving together in prayer for God's workers rather than tearing down. Serving God's people requires sanctified brain-power and sanctified talent of speech, and only when both are made holy is a person fitted for such service.
But now going to Jerusalem to minister to the saints means traveling there to serve the believers by bringing material aid for the poor Christians in Judea and Jerusalem. That ministering was his duty, and it stands as duty for believers. The aid was a contribution gathered by believers in Macedonia and Achaia, that is, gifts and contributions from Gentile churches and converts collected by other churches.
The offerings relieved poor Jewish Christians. They expressed the Gentile disciples' love, fellowship, and sympathy for the Jewish church and their desire for harmony with Jewish believers. By his visit and the aid, Paul hoped to meet the Jerusalem church, ease his countrymen's prejudice toward the gospel, ease divisions, and strengthen the bond and unity between Jewish and Gentile believers.
This service helped open the way for him to preach in Jerusalem to those who did not believe that Jesus had risen and was the Son of God. Paul took care to administer the funds transparently, bringing delegates chosen by the churches as joint trustees. The gift fulfilled his earlier commitment to remember the poor, had required much time and labor to gather, and was given freely even by churches whose members were deeply poor.
Paul's going teaches duty for believers: guarding the door of the lips, refusing to speak unadvisedly or to listen to faultfinding and criticism, speaking kindly and tenderly, confessing sins and seeking forgiveness from God, and striving together in prayer for God's workers rather than tearing down. Serving God's people requires sanctified brain-power and sanctified talent of speech, and only when both are made holy is a person fitted for such service.