λογία

From the study of 1 Corinthians 16:2

Range of meaning

A collection or levy of money, especially an irregular collection for a religious purpose. It comes from λογεύω, "to collect". The word is rare in literary Greek but well attested in papyri and ostraca.

Against the English

BSB/WEB "collections" and KJV "gatherings" are both literal. KJV "gatherings" now sounds to most readers like meetings, which is not what it meant.

How it drifted

"Gathering" in 1611 English still clearly meant gathering money. Modern readers hear "gathering of people". "Collection" today also suggests the weekly church offering plate.

Used elsewhere in the period

Adolf Deissmann (Light from the Ancient East) cited papyri and ostraca from Egypt that use λογεία for collections for a god, a temple or a sacred levy. The word therefore had a religious ring. In the NT it appears only here and in 16:1 ("the collection for the saints"). Elsewhere Paul calls the same fund χάρις ("gift, grace", 16:3; 2 Cor 8), κοινωνία ("sharing", Rom 15:26; 2 Cor 8:4), διακονία ("service", 2 Cor 9:1) and εὐλογία ("blessing, bounty", 2 Cor 9:5).

From the study of 1 Corinthians 16:1

Range of meaning

A collection or levy of money. In ordinary Greek of the period it was used for gathering contributions or dues, often irregular ones raised for a particular purpose, and in a number of documents for money collected for a god or a temple. It is not a high literary word. It is the language of receipts and accounts.

Against the English

English 'collection' is accurate. Today, though, many churchgoers hear it as the weekly offering plate or the general church budget. Paul's word names one particular fund raised for a stated purpose and delivered to another community.

How it drifted

Because 16:2 mentions 'the first day of every week', 16:1–2 became the classic proof-text for regular Sunday offerings. Over time 'the collection' turned into a name for the routine offering in a service, and that meaning is read back into Paul.

Used elsewhere in the period

Hardly found in literary Greek. Adolf Deissmann (Light from the Ancient East) and Moulton–Milligan drew attention to papyri and ostraca (inscribed pottery shards) from Egypt in the Ptolemaic and Roman periods that use logeia for collections and levies, some of them religious, for a god or a sanctuary. It does not appear in the Septuagint. In the New Testament it occurs only here and in 16:2. Elsewhere Paul calls the same project 'service' (diakonia, 2 Cor 8:4; 9:1), 'grace/gift' (charis, 1 Cor 16:3; 2 Cor 8:6–7), 'fellowship/partnership' (koinōnia, Rom 15:26; 2 Cor 8:4), 'blessing' (eulogia, 2 Cor 9:5) and 'sacred service' (leitourgia, 2 Cor 9:12).