1. Now I will write about the collection of money for God’s people. Do the same thing that I told the Galatian churches to do:
2. On the first day of every week, each one of you should put aside as much money as you can from what you are blessed with. You should save it up, so that you will not have to collect money after I come.
3. When I arrive, I will send some men to take your gift to Jerusalem. These will be men who you all agree should go. I will send them with letters of introduction.
4. If it seems good for me to go also, these men will go along with me.
5. I plan to go through Macedonia. So I will come to you after I go through there.
6. Maybe I will stay with you for a time. I might even stay all winter. Then you can help me on my trip, wherever I go.
7. I do not want to come to see you now, because I would have to leave to go other places. I hope to stay a longer time with you if the Lord allows it.
8. But I will stay at Ephesus until Pentecost.
9. I will stay, because a good opportunity for a great and growing work has been given to me now. And there are many people working against me.
10. Timothy might come to you. Try to make him feel comfortable with you. He is working for the Lord just as I am.
11. So none of you should refuse to accept Timothy. Help him on his trip in peace, so that he can come back to me. I am expecting him to come back with the brothers.
12. Now about our brother Apollos: I strongly encouraged him to visit you with the other brothers. But he was sure that he did not want to go now. But when he has the opportunity, he will go to you.
13. Be careful. Continue strong in the faith. Have courage, and be strong.
14. Do everything in love.