1 Corinthians 16:12Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

This man, as is evident, was educated and older than Timothy. Therefore, lest they say, “Why did he not send this man to us, but sent a young man instead?” see how the Apostle calms them concerning him.

He calls him brother and tells them that he urged him greatly to go to them. Again, lest they think that he preferred Timothy to him and therefore did not send him, and lest he stir up greater envy in them, he says, “I urged him greatly to go to you with the brethren.”

What then? Did he not agree and not obey, but resist and refuse? Paul does not say this.

But so as not to accuse him and to justify himself, he remarks, “but he was not at all willing to come now, and he will come when he has opportunity.”

Apollos was older than Timothy and an eloquent man. Lest they say, “Why did he not send him instead of the younger man?” Paul says, “I greatly urged him.” He does not say, “He resisted me.” Rather, freeing him from blame, he says, “but he was by no means willing,” that is, it was not pleasing to God. Lest they say that this is an excuse and pretext, he continues. “But he will come when he has opportunity.” At the same time he defends Apollos and consoles those who wished to see him with the hope of his arrival.

By these words Paul showed consideration for the desire and request of the Corinthians, since he mentioned his own request. He also excused Apollos, in the sense that he did not altogether refuse to go, but only postponed the time of his visit.

This may also be understood as touching them with these words. It implies that Apollos did not wish to go to them because they were occupied with disputes, so that, hearing this, the Corinthians might nevertheless hasten toward peace.

For this reason he said to them about Timothy, “See that he may be safe among you,” because certain envoys had not received a good welcome. For Apollos will come when concord is established in the Church among the Corinthians.

“Concerning Apollos the brother, I greatly urged him to come to you with the brethren, but it was by no means his will to come now.” Apollos was respected and close to the Corinthians. Therefore the Apostle calms them by informing them that he had advised Apollos to go to them. He did not add that Apollos himself refused, but laid everything upon God’s providence. “He will come when he has opportunity.” He comforted them with this hope.

He commends Timothy to the Corinthians, and concerning Apollos he informs them that he could not persuade him to go to Corinth (1 Cor 16:10-12).

Long before his own coming, the Apostle Paul sent to Corinth his disciple Timothy, one of the Seventy Apostles, who later became bishop in Ephesus. He sent him to guide the Corinthians by word and deed onto the true path of salvation (1 Cor 4:17).

But having learned how many apostolic difficulties awaited Timothy in Corinth, the Apostle Paul advises them to treat him with the fullest love and obedience.

They are to protect him, as a man exceedingly precious to the preaching of the gospel, from every danger and misfortune, both from unbelievers and from those in error.

Then he commands them to send him on his way to meet Paul, so that Timothy might tell the Apostle everything he needed to know for his personal influence on the Corinthians.

The Corinthians had evidently written in the epistle about Apollos, wishing to see him. The Apostle writes in reply: as for Apollos the brother, I urged him greatly to go to you with the brethren.

With which brethren? Probably with those who had been sent from Corinth and now had to return there. This is not the main point, but that he urged him much and implored him.

“But it was not his will to come now.” Whose will? Certainly Apollos’s. Either circumstances hindered him, or his occupations prevented him, for it does not appear that preaching was the chief work of Apollos.

Therefore he added, “but he will come when he has opportunity.” When he has finished his affairs, he will come.

Since Apollos was bishop of Corinth, he withdrew from the Corinthians because of the quarrels among them and remained with Paul. Even now, despite Paul’s request, he did not go to them with the letter. Paul gives the reason why he did not go: because he was unwilling. Then, encouraging them, he writes: “but he will come when he has opportunity.” That is, when you provide him a suitable occasion to come to you, when there are no longer quarrels among you.