1 Corinthians 16:10-12

Timothy's visit to Corinth.

Apollos. 1 Corinthians 16:10-12

The thought of his approaching stay at Corinth leads him to speak of that of Timothy, which is to precede and prepare for his own, comp. 1 Corinthians 4:17; then from this fellow-labourer he passes to another, Apollos, who is at the moment with him at Ephesus.

Vv. 10, 11. “If Timothy come, see that he may be with you without fear: for he worketh the work of the Lord, as I also. 11. Let no man therefore despise him; and conduct him forth in peace, that he may return unto me; for I look for him with the brethren.”

These lines betray a certain uneasiness in regard to Timothy's stay at Corinth. This young servant of Christ was timid (2 Timothy 1:6-7), and probably not highly cultivated; and he might easily feel himself ill at ease among those Corinthians, some of whom did not respect Paul himself. We know from Acts 19:22 that Paul had sent him with Erastus from Ephesus into Macedonia, and that he was to go thence to Corinth. But as his time was limited (1 Corinthians 16:11), Paul was not sure whether he could reach the city. Hence the expression: If he come, which is not equivalent to: “When (ὅταν) he comes to you.” As to the eulogium on Timothy comp. Philippians 2:19-21, and as to the recommendation not to despise him, 1 Timothy 4:12. His youth also, compared with the gravity of his task, might bring on him disrespectful demonstrations from certain Corinthians. The regimen in peace might be connected with the verb come: “That he may come back with the pleasant feeling of a mission happily accomplished.” But the inversion is somewhat harsh, and the regimen better suits the verb προπέμψατε : “Send him forward in such a way that he shall depart in peace with you all.” The following words seem thus to become somewhat redundant. But they are explained by the sequel: I look for him, which gives them this meaning: “That he may be able to return to me without delay, after concluding his mission.” The words: with the brethren, are frequently taken as referring to Timothy's travelling companions, Erastus for example, who had started with him from Ephesus (Acts 19:22); so Meyer, Reuss, Holsten. But why this utterly insignificant detail? Edwards understands by them the brethren who carried our Epistle from Ephesus to Corinth. That would be more intelligible. But, as the regimen with the brethren bears on the verb ἐκδέχομαι, I look for, is it not more natural to refer it to the three deputies from Corinth, who were at that time with Paul at Ephesus (1 Corinthians 16:15-18), and who with him were awaiting Timothy's return before setting out for Corinth? The report which he brought might give occasion for new instructions or even for a new letter from the apostle; hence the propriety of those three brethren awaiting his arrival.

Vv. 12. “As touching the brother Apollos, I greatly desired him to come unto you with the brethren: but his will was not at all to come at this time; but he will come when he shall find the time convenient.”

The form περὶ δέ, as touching, might lead us to suppose that the matter here referred to had already been spoken of; that a request even had already been forwarded from Corinth on this subject. In consequence of the situation of parties in this Church, the apostle felt bound to make it clearly understood that it was not he who put any obstacle in the way of Apollos' return to Corinth. The πάντως, absolutely, signifies: “notwithstanding all I could say and do.” Meyer and others think that the refusal of Apollos was simply occasioned by his present evangelistic engagements, and they explain the εὐκαιρεῖν in the sense of: “when he shall have time,” or, as Oltramare translates: “as soon as he can.” But it seems to me that the expression used by the apostle is too emphatic to admit of so weakened a signification. The words: “But his will was absolutely not...,” prove that there was, not an inability, but a determined will on the subject. Evidently Apollos was disgusted at the part which he had been made to fill at Corinth, as the rival of St. Paul. Hence it is obvious how innocent he himself was of those dissensions which had formed the subject of the first four Chapter s.

The words: with the brethren, refer again to the three deputies from Corinth (1 Corinthians 16:17); Apollos would have required to join them on their return to Greece. If so, they were not, as has been thought, the bearers of our letter (see the subscription in the T. R.). For it was intended to reach Corinth before Timothy's arrival (1 Corinthians 16:10-11 and 1 Corinthians 4:17 seq.), and the deputies were not to leave Ephesus until after Timothy's return to Paul.

There follow some general and particular exhortations.