C. Timothy and Apollos (16:10–12)
C. Timothy and Apollos (16:10–12)
10. Paul spoke earlier of sending Timothy to Corinth (4:17). It seems that Timothy was accompanied by Erastus, and that they went to Macedonia first (Acts 19:22). It is possible that Paul doubted whether Timothy would reach Corinth, but his if need not imply uncertainty (it may be like ‘If winter comes, can spring be far behind?’); Moffatt and RSV both translate ‘when’. Paul’s instruction, that they see that he has nothing to fear among them, points to Timothy’s rather timid disposition and to his youth (he was still young years later, 1 Tim. 4:12). From this very letter we may fairly infer that there were some among the Corinthian believers who were confident and self-willed. Paul evidently feared that Timothy might not be adequate for a confrontation with such people, a fear that subsequent events were to show was well founded. But Paul puts in a word for his young assistant. He calls on the Corinthians to do nothing to frighten him, and he reminds them that he and Timothy are engaged on the same work, the work of the Lord.
11. The work Timothy does is a reason that he should not be despised (cf. 1 Thess. 5:13). Refuse to accept (exoutheneō; see on 1:28) is a strong term, meaning ‘make absolutely nothing of’. It shows what Paul feared for Timothy. Send him on his way employs the same verb as that used in v. 6 of helping Paul on his journey. He asks that they do for Timothy what they do for him. The fact that he looks for Timothy to return shows that Paul had sent him on specific tasks, not with a roving commission. The reference to the brothers is not clear. Acts 19:22 mentions only Erastus as being with him, though, of course, there may have been others. Paul may mean that he expects Timothy to come back with some brothers from Corinth. It is also possible that the brothers are with Paul, and that together they await Timothy’s return (cf. JB, ‘the brothers and I are waiting for him’).
12. This is the last occurrence of the formula peri de, which introduces topics from the Corinthians’ letter (see on 7:1). Clearly Apollos was held in high esteem at Corinth, and in their letter the Corinthians had evidently expressed the desire that he should pay them another visit. Paul now tells them that he himself had strongly urged him to go to Corinth with the brothers. This last phrase was used in v. 11 in connection with Timothy and it may mean that Timothy had travelled with some other Christians and that Paul had wanted Apollos to join the party. Or perhaps Paul means that when Timothy returned some of the brothers would be going to Corinth and that he had tried to persuade Apollos to be of their number. Whichever way we understand it, Paul had urged Apollos to go to Corinth, but had been unsuccessful. It was not altogether ‘the will’ that Apollos go now, which raises the question, ‘Whose will?’ Many scholars point out that an unqualified ‘will’ may well mean God’s will (cf. TDNT, iii, p. 59 n. 24,; see Rom. 2:18, and perhaps Matt. 18:14). Others think that Apollos himself was not willing (so NIV). Whichever way we understand it, Paul had done his best. The past tense of the verb was and the absence of any greeting from Apollos seem to indicate that he was not with Paul at the time the letter was written. Paul’s warmth (our brother Apollos) shows that there was no unfriendliness between him and the Alexandrian, whatever the state of the parties in Corinth. Paul had not tried to keep Apollos away, nor had Apollos jumped at any chance of getting to Corinth. That did not mean that Apollos was unwilling. He will come, Paul says, when he has the opportunity. This may mean that he was currently too busy and would come when he had more leisure, or that he did not think the time was yet ripe for him to pay the visit in question.