📖WEB · 1 Corinthians 16:12
What does 1 Corinthians 16:12 mean?
"Now concerning Apollos, the brother, I strongly urged him to come to you with the brothers; and it was not at all his desire to come now; but he will come when he has an opportunity."
— 1 Corinthians 16:12 (World English Bible)
Surrounding context
for a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.
Now if Timothy comes, see that he is with you without fear, for he does the work of the Lord, as I also do.
Therefore let no one despise him. But set him forward on his journey in peace, that he may come to me; for I expect him with the brothers.
Now concerning Apollos, the brother, I strongly urged him to come to you with the brothers; and it was not at all his desire to come now; but he will come when he has an opportunity.
Watch! Stand firm in the faith! Be courageous! Be strong!
Let all that you do be done in love.
Now I beg you, brothers (you know the house of Stephanas, that it is the first fruits of Achaia, and that they have set themselves to serve the saints),
Explanation
This verse comes near the very end of Paul's first letter to the Corinthians, in a section where he is wrapping up practical matters, sending greetings, and giving updates about various coworkers in ministry. In plain language, Paul is telling the Corinthian church that he had encouraged Apollos, a fellow minister they knew and respected, to visit them along with some other believers, but Apollos decided not to come at that particular time. Paul reassures them that Apollos still intends to visit whenever the timing works out better.
To understand the context, it helps to know who Apollos was. He was a Jewish Christian teacher from Alexandria, described in Acts 18 as eloquent and well-versed in the Scriptures, who had been further instructed in the faith by Priscilla and Aquila. He had ministered in Corinth after Paul, and some in the Corinthian church had developed factions, with certain groups claiming loyalty to Apollos over Paul or Peter (1 Corinthians 1:12; 3:4-6). Paul addressed this factionalism earlier in the letter, emphasizing that he and Apollos were coworkers serving the same Lord, not rivals. So when Paul mentions Apollos again here at the letter's close, he is likely trying to reassure the Corinthians that there is no tension between him and Apollos — he genuinely wanted Apollos to visit them, which undercuts any notion that Paul saw Apollos as compet
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