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 16:12KJVWhat does 1 Corinthians 16:12 mean?
1 Corinthians 16:12 means that Paul wanted Apollos to visit the Corinthian church with other believers, but Apollos did not feel it was the right time to go; he planned to visit when it was more suitable. This shows that Apollos made his own decision about when to travel, even though Paul encouraged him.
Paul is writing to the Christians in Corinth, wrapping up his letter with practical matters. He mentions Apollos, a respected Christian teacher, to explain why Apollos was not coming right away. The verse shows that Paul respected Apollos’s judgment and did not force his own wishes, highlighting the independence and cooperation among early church leaders.
The Greek behind 1 Corinthians 16:12
- Ἀπολλώς (Apollōs): This is the Greek spelling of "Apollos," a well-known teacher in the early church. Mentioning him by name shows his importance to the Corinthians.
- θέλημα (thelēma): Translated as "will," this word means Apollos’s personal desire or decision. The verse emphasizes that Apollos was not pressured by Paul but acted according to his own sense of timing.
- καιρός (kairos): Rendered as "convenient time," this word often means the right or suitable moment, not just any time. It suggests Apollos was waiting for an appropriate opportunity, not simply delaying without reason.
Why 1 Corinthians 16:12 matters
- This verse clears up any idea that Paul controlled all the leaders; it shows mutual respect and freedom among early Christian workers.
- It helps explain why Apollos was not visiting Corinth immediately, which might have been a concern or disappointment for some in the church.
- The verse connects to the wider passage by showing how Paul handled practical church matters with honesty and transparency, modeling healthy leadership.