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 16:12KJV
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1 Corinthians 16:12 (KJV)

What 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.

Where else these words appear

“time” Greek G2119 · used in 3 verses

  • Mark 6:31 And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat.
  • Acts 17:21 (For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.)

“all” Greek G3843 · used in 9 verses

  • Luke 4:23 And he said unto them, Ye will surely say unto me this proverb, Physician, heal thyself: whatsoever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in thy country.
  • Acts 21:22 What is it therefore? the multitude must needs come together: for they will hear that thou art come.
  • 1 Corinthians 5:10 Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world.

“Apollos” Greek G625 · used in 10 verses

  • Acts 18:24 And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus.
  • 1 Corinthians 3:4 For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?
  • 1 Corinthians 3:22 Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours;

“will” Greek G2307 · used in 60 verses

  • Matthew 6:10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
  • Acts 13:22 And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.
  • Colossians 1:9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;