Περὶ δὲ τῆς λογείας τῆς εἰς τοὺς ἁγίους, ὥσπερ διέταξα ταῖς ἐκκλησίαις τῆς Γαλατίας, οὕτω καὶ ὑμεῖς ποιήσατε. (1 Corinthians 16:1)
Topical Marker and Genitive Construction: Περὶ δὲ τῆς λογείας τῆς εἰς τοὺς ἁγίους
– Περὶ: Preposition governing the genitive—”concerning,” “regarding.”
– δὲ: Coordinating conjunction, transitioning to a new topic—”now,” or “and.”
– τῆς λογείας: Genitive singular feminine of λογεία, “collection,” especially a charitable contribution.
– τῆς εἰς τοὺς ἁγίους: Attributive phrase—”for the saints.”
– εἰς with accusative expresses purpose or direction.
– τοὺς ἁγίους: Accusative plural of ἅγιος, “holy ones,” a common term for fellow believers, particularly in Jerusalem.
– Translation: “Now concerning the collection for the saints…”
Apostolic Precedent: ὥσπερ διέταξα ταῖς ἐκκλησίαις τῆς Γαλατίας
– ὥσπερ: Comparative adverb—”just as,” introducing the pattern or standard.
– διέταξα: Aorist active indicative, 1st person singular of διατάσσω, “I instructed,” “I directed.”
– Refers to Paul’s apostolic authority exercised in previous churches.
– ταῖς ἐκκλησίαις: Dative plural of ἐκκλησία, “churches.”
– Dative of indirect object—those to whom the directive was given.
– τῆς Γαλατίας: Genitive singular of Γαλατία, “Galatia,” a Roman province in Asia Minor.
– Full phrase: “Just as I directed the churches of Galatia…”
Imperative Command for Uniform Practice: οὕτω καὶ ὑμεῖς ποιήσατε
– οὕτω: Adverb—”thus,” “in this way,” referring back to the Galatian model.
– καὶ ὑμεῖς: “you also”—emphatic second-person plural pronoun.
– ποιήσατε: Aorist active imperative, 2nd person plural of ποιέω, “do,” “make.”
– Aorist imperative commands a complete or decisive action.
– Translation: “so you also must do.”
Pauline Directive and Ecclesial Consistency
This verse introduces Paul’s instructions for the financial collection being organized for the believers in Jerusalem. The phrase Περὶ τῆς λογείας signals a shift in topic—a structural marker used often by Paul (cf. 1 Cor 7:1; 12:1). The genitive τῆς εἰς τοὺς ἁγίους identifies the purpose of the collection: a charitable gift for fellow Christians experiencing hardship.
The phrase ὥσπερ διέταξα underscores that Paul’s guidance to Corinth was not ad hoc; it follows the precedent he had already established in Galatia. This creates a sense of apostolic consistency and unified ecclesial practice across geographically diverse churches.
Finally, the imperative ποιήσατε is not advisory—it is a clear directive. The Greek structure—placing οὕτω at the beginning—emphasizes “in this same way“. The Corinthian church is to align its practice with others, not only in faith and doctrine, but in tangible expressions of love and solidarity.
The verse combines formal syntactical structure with communal ethics, revealing Paul’s vision of the church as a trans-local body characterized by mutual care, unity, and obedience to apostolic instruction.
