1 Corinthians 16:12 kjv
As touching our 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 have convenient time.
1 Corinthians 16:12 nkjv
Now concerning our brother Apollos, I strongly urged him to come to you with the brethren, but he was quite unwilling to come at this time; however, he will come when he has a convenient time.
1 Corinthians 16:12 niv
Now about our brother Apollos: I strongly urged him to go to you with the brothers. He was quite unwilling to go now, but he will go when he has the opportunity.
1 Corinthians 16:12 esv
Now concerning our brother Apollos, I strongly urged him to visit you with the other brothers, but it was not at all his will to come now. He will come when he has opportunity.
1 Corinthians 16:12 nlt
Now about our brother Apollos ? I urged him to visit you with the other believers, but he was not willing to go right now. He will see you later when he has the opportunity.
1 Corinthians 16 12 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Cor 1:10 | I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. | Unity theme echo |
| 1 Cor 3:4 | For when one says, "I follow Paul," and another, "I follow Apollos," are you not being merely human? | Apollos associated with Corinthian factions |
| 1 Cor 3:5 | What then is Apollos? What Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each. | Apollos as a fellow servant |
| 1 Cor 3:6 | I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. | Apollos' role in ministry |
| 1 Cor 4:6 | I have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers, that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another. | Apollos contrasted with problematic pride |
| Acts 18:24 | Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was eloquent, gifted in the Scriptures. | Apollos' background and gift |
| Acts 18:25 | He had been instructed in the way of the Lord. And being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately about Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John. | Apollos' early ministry and knowledge |
| Acts 18:26 | He began to speak boldly in the synagogue, but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately. | Apollos' further instruction |
| John 3:30 | He must increase, but I must decrease. | John the Baptist's humility, applicable to ministers |
| Phil 1:27 | Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel, | Importance of standing firm in unity |
| Eph 4:3 | striving to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. | Call for unity |
| Col 3:14 | And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. | Love as a unifier |
| Rom 15:5-7 | May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. | Harmony and acceptance in Christ |
| 1 Cor 14:33 | For God is not a God of disorder but of peace. As is true in all the churches of the saints. | God is God of peace and order |
| 1 Cor 13:4-7 | Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it is not resentful. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. | Qualities of love that foster unity |
| 2 Cor 13:11 | Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for maturity, be comforted, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. | Call to be of one mind and peace |
| Gal 3:28 | There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. | Unity in Christ transcends divisions |
| 1 Peter 4:8 | Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. | Love as covering sin, essential for unity |
| John 13:35 | By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. | Love as a marker of discipleship |
| 2 Tim 2:24 | And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patient. | Characteristics of a good servant, contrasted with quarrelsome |
1 Corinthians 16 verses
1 Corinthians 16 12 Meaning
This verse highlights the deliberate decision by Apollos to not visit Corinth at that particular time. It suggests that Apollos, after hearing of the disunity and strife within the Corinthian church, chose to wait for a more opportune moment, likely when peace and unity had been restored.
1 Corinthians 16 12 Context
In 1 Corinthians chapter 16, Paul is concluding his letter to the Corinthian church, addressing practical matters and giving instructions. The earlier chapters dealt with severe issues of disunity, immorality, and doctrinal misunderstandings within the church. Chapter 16, specifically verses 1-18, focuses on collections for the poor saints in Jerusalem, personal greetings, and instructions concerning ministry leaders like Timothy, Apollos, and Paul himself. The mention of Apollos in verse 12 needs to be understood within the context of the divisions Paul had addressed earlier (1 Cor 1:10-17, 3:4-9), where some Corinthians were aligning themselves with Paul and others with Apollos, creating factions. Apollos, a powerful speaker and teacher, was respected, and his visit might have been anticipated, but his decision to defer his visit was likely influenced by the turbulent state of the church.
1 Corinthians 16 12 Word Analysis
- δὲ (de): But, and. A conjunction that introduces a contrast or continues a previous thought. Here, it serves to introduce Apollos' decision in relation to the preceding instruction about Paul's own travel plans.
- Ἀπολλὼς (Apollos): Apollos. A Hellenistic Jewish preacher and teacher, well-versed in the Scriptures, who ministered effectively in Ephesus and Corinth (Acts 18:24-28). He was a fellow worker with Paul.
- οὐκ (ouk): Not. A strong negative particle.
- εἰμί (eimi): To be, am. The first-person singular present indicative form of the verb "to be." Paul is stating Apollos' present status regarding his intended visit.
- ἔρχεσθαι (erchesthai): To come, to go. Present infinitive of the verb meaning to come. Used with "ēthelo" (to will) implies his will or intention concerning coming.
- πρὸς (pros): To, towards, with. A preposition indicating direction or relation.
- ὑμᾶς (humas): You (plural). The accusative plural pronoun. Refers to the Corinthian believers.
- νῦν (nun): Now. An adverb of time. It emphasizes the present moment of Apollos' decision.
- ἀλλὰ (alla): But, rather. Another conjunction used to introduce a stronger contrast. It sets up Apollos' delayed visit as a conscious choice against an immediate arrival.
- ὅταν (hotan): When. A conjunction introducing a temporal clause, often translated as "whenever" or "when."
- εὐκαιρήσῃ (eukarysesai): He finds a good opportunity, has leisure, is convenient. Third-person singular aorist subjunctive active of εὐκαιρέω (eukaireō). The subjunctive mood indicates a potential or desired future action, dependent on favorable circumstances. This word implies Apollos was waiting for a suitable time, a time when things were better or when his presence would be more beneficial.
Words-group Analysis
- "Ἀπολλὼς δὲ οὐκ εἰμὶ ἐρχεσθαι πρὸς ὑμᾶς νῦν" (Apollos also am not to come towards you now): This phrase constructs Apollos' decision not to come presently to the Corinthians. It's a statement of his current plan or volition.
- "ἀλλ’ ὅταν εὐκαιρήσῃ" (but when he finds a good opportunity): This group clearly articulates the condition under which Apollos would come. It implies a proactive waiting based on perceived circumstances within the church. The "when" is tied to the favorable timing for his visit.
1 Corinthians 16 12 Bonus Section
The reluctance of Apollos to visit the Corinthian church at that specific time could also be seen as an extension of the principle Paul advocated: that ministry should aim to build up rather than to tear down or be associated with the existing disunity (1 Cor 3:10-15). Apollos' decision respected the church's internal struggle and Paul's ongoing work to bring them to maturity and unity, ensuring his own ministry wouldn't inadvertently exacerbate the problems. His coming "when he finds opportunity" suggests he was in communication with Paul and aware of the situation, implying a coordinated pastoral approach to addressing the church's needs. This incident exemplifies how even devoted ministers must exercise discernment regarding when and how they engage with struggling communities.
1 Corinthians 16 12 Commentary
Apollos, a valued colleague in ministry, chose not to visit Corinth at this specific juncture. This was not an abandonment but a strategic decision. The church in Corinth was still recovering from significant internal divisions and disorder, as detailed in previous chapters. Paul had already appealed for unity and order. Apollos, recognizing this turbulent spiritual climate, wisely determined that his arrival might not be beneficial or even be misused by the factious elements. He waited for a more opportune moment, presumably when greater peace and receptivity characterized the Corinthian community. His decision demonstrates pastoral wisdom and an awareness of the spiritual dynamics at play. This approach reflects a maturity that prioritizes the well-being and unity of the church over personal preference or convenience. It’s a testament to the idea that a minister’s effectiveness is deeply intertwined with the spiritual receptivity and harmony of the congregation. The choice to wait, rather than to press a visit, underscores the importance of timing and the pastor’s sensitivity to the flock’s condition.