1 Corinthians 16:10

Now if Timotheus come See note on 1 Corinthians 4:17. The question whether Timothy arrived at Corinth before the Apostle, or whether he was detained in Macedonia until St Paul came thither, is one which admits of no certain decision. Dean Alford thinks Timothy arrived there first, and supports his view by the considerations, (1) that his mission is announced in terms too precise to be lightly given up, and (2) that its abandonment would have exposed the Apostle to an additional charge of inconsistency of which we never hear. But, on the other hand, it is remarkable that while we hear a good deal in the second Epistle of Titus" mission and the report he brought back (ch. 2Co 2:13, 2 Corinthians 7:6; 2 Corinthians 7:13 2 Corinthians 8:6; 2 Corinthians 8:16-18; 2 Corinthians 12:18), there is not a word said about Timothy's arrival at Corinth, or of his return to St Paul, although (ch. 1 Corinthians 1:1) he was with St Paul when that Epistle was written.

see that he may be with you without fear Paley and the late Professor Blunt have remarked on the remarkable agreement of this passage with what we elsewhere learn of the character of Timothy. For (1) he was young (1 Timothy 4:12), and (2) he seems to have been deficient in courage (1 Timothy 5:21-23Ti 1:6-8; 2 Timothy 2:1; 2Ti 2:3; 2 Timothy 2:15; 2 Timothy 4:1-2). If this be the case, there would be special need for this injunction, in the condition in which the Corinthian Church then was. And Timothy must then have been very young indeed. After ten years had passed away, the Apostle could still say, -Let no man despise thy youth.