1Cor 16:12 | KingComments | STEP | . I think that the Corinthian believers were rather difficult people; they were certainly not ‘tame lambs’ of the good Shepherd. Paul had already said that he was with them in weakness and in fear and in much trembling ( ). He had every reason to do so, for he had to bring them a message they would not accept with cheers. On the contrary, his word would evoke a lot of resistance. Now he admonishes the Corinthians to make sure that this will not happen to Timothy also. In chapter 4 he has already informed them about the coming of Timothy and about the purpose of his mission ( ). That makes it clear that Timothy was thoroughly aware of that too, like Paul. He would teach them the same doctrines that they had received from Paul, teachings that judge their arrogance. There was a reasonable chance for resistance again. Therefore he points out to them how they should receive him. Timothy was doing the work of the Lord, just like Paul. It is possible that here “the Lord’s work” doesn’t have the general meaning of the last verse from the previous chapter ( ). There we are told that we all ought to be occupied in the work of the Lord, while here it may be about a more specific work of the Lord. Timothy had, like Paul, a ministry among the believers, which took up all his attention. He was an exceptional young man, with whom Paul had a unique relationship. In some of his letters he calls Timothy the co-sender or he writes something about him. He even has written two separate letters to him. You find them in the Bible also. Everything shows how much Paul appreciated him. If you have a friend with whom you share everything and who senses things like you do, you may have an idea about the relationship of these two servants. In addition to that, Paul was the older person and Timothy the young man. It is a beneficial effect to see how two generations go together here, without generation gap. It is also a beneficial effect when there are young people in a local church who are developing positively in spiritual matters. Where youngsters are interested in the Bible there is also a good relationship with older believers who also live a life that is guided by the Lord. Timothy had come that far in his spiritual development that Paul could entrust him with an independent order. He could send him to a difficult church like Corinth. That is a proof of Paul’s confidence in Timothy. Here we find a lesson for the older believers to give the young believers the confidence they are worthy of. He knew that Timothy would not teach otherwise than he had taught. His work would not be demolished by this young man, but rather underlined by him. . In fact Timothy was definitely not a spiritual powerhouse, someone who went to the Corinthians with a great deal of boldness to serve them. You rather get the impression that he is a somewhat shy young man who needs some encouragement and exhortation ( ). That could be a reason for the Corinthians to treat him with contempt. They were more impressed by fascinating lecturers. The content is not that important, if only the performance is impressive. In our days people are still focused on the way a person performs. What he has to say is a side issue. Do not be deceived by that. It is important to judge everything you hear on the basis of God’s Word and not on the basis of how it is said. That is enormously misleading. This is certainly not how Timothy worked. The Corinthians were not to concentrate on his performance, but they were to listen to and obey the message he was passing on. They could express their acceptance of Timothy by receiving him, by obeying his teachings and subsequently by sending him on his way in peace when he would return to the apostle. Paul was looking forward to see him back and he was very curious about everything he had experienced. By the way, Timothy would not come alone, but he would be accompanied by some brothers. It would be a wonderful occasion to exchange experiences and to praise the Lord for everything He had worked. That is the beautiful thing about meeting other brothers and sisters. Especially during holidays, the meetings with believers whom you would not have met otherwise, can be of great blessing. You hear from them how they live with the Lord and what the Lord has done in their life and you can tell them Who the Lord is to you and what He has done in your life. . Another servant Paul mentions here is Apollos. Paul had also seen in Apollos wonderful characteristics with which he could serve others. You see here though, that Apollos was related differently toward Paul than Timothy was toward Paul. Timothy was someone to whom Paul could give orders which were then executed by Timothy. Some more of such men you find in Paul’s letter to Titus 3 ( ). When they visited a place, they did that in the name of Paul and they could therefore act with his authority. In the case of Apollos it is different, as it becomes apparent by what you read here. Paul wanted very much that Apollos too would go to Corinth to serve the believers there. He really urged him to. Many times he used all his persuasive power to convince Apollos to go, but he did not succeed. Was that just a human reaction of Paul by acting like that? I do not think so. His love for the Corinthians sought every opportunity to serve them, even through the means of others. Nevertheless, Apollos was of the opinion not to respond positively to Paul’s request. Not that he disregarded Paul’s request. He considered before the Lord whether he should go and came to the conclusion that he would go another time when he had opportunity. Anyhow, he did not go immediately. An important reason for him not to go directly could have been, on the contrary, his love for Paul, not to be played off against him. You may recall from chapter 9 that there were some people at Corinth, who doubted the apostleship of Paul. If Apollos decided to go, maybe the mistrusting people would conclude from that, that Paul himself did not dare to come. In Apollos you see a servant who receives a request from another servant to do something, who subsequently submitted the request before the Lord and then takes an independent decision. That is also an important development in your spiritual growth. At the beginning other brothers will take you along in their work for the Lord. At least, I hope that there are such brothers in your environment through whom you get involved in a work of the Lord, so that you can gain experience. The more you grow spiritually, the more you will notice in your own relationship with the Lord that He is going to use you independently. You, in your turn and in due time, can offer to other persons the opportunity to gain spiritual experience in the work of the Lord. . Timothy was on his way to the Corinthians. Apollos and Paul also planned to visit them once. Meanwhile they had to be on the alert, which means that they had to keep their eyes wide open to see where people were running the risk of wrong teachings. They had to cope with enemies who were attacking their faith, by standing firmly on the foundation of the faith as they had received from Paul and through the letter they now had received. They ought to be like men who did not fear the fight, but who were courageous. Weakness and slowness are not appropriate when we should hold on to what we have received from God in the Bible. . To end up in being strong together they ought to love one another and there should be no envy. Love is the interdependence that gives the most power to repel any attack from the enemy. Now read 1 Corinthians 16:10-14 again. Reflection: Write down the differences between Paul, Timothy and Apollos. In what way could you compare yourself with each of them?

‏ 1 Corinthians 16:12

Timothy and Apollos

1Cor 16:10. I think that the Corinthian believers were rather difficult people; they were certainly not ‘tame lambs’ of the good Shepherd. Paul had already said that he was with them in weakness and in fear and in much trembling (1Cor 2:3). He had every reason to do so, for he had to bring them a message they would not accept with cheers. On the contrary, his word would evoke a lot of resistance. Now he admonishes the Corinthians to make sure that this will not happen to Timothy also.

In chapter 4 he has already informed them about the coming of Timothy and about the purpose of his mission (1Cor 4:17). That makes it clear that Timothy was thoroughly aware of that too, like Paul. He would teach them the same doctrines that they had received from Paul, teachings that judge their arrogance. There was a reasonable chance for resistance again. Therefore he points out to them how they should receive him.

Timothy was doing the work of the Lord, just like Paul. It is possible that here “the Lord’s work” doesn’t have the general meaning of the last verse from the previous chapter (1Cor 15:58). There we are told that we all ought to be occupied in the work of the Lord, while here it may be about a more specific work of the Lord. Timothy had, like Paul, a ministry among the believers, which took up all his attention. He was an exceptional young man, with whom Paul had a unique relationship. In some of his letters he calls Timothy the co-sender or he writes something about him. He even has written two separate letters to him. You find them in the Bible also.

Everything shows how much Paul appreciated him. If you have a friend with whom you share everything and who senses things like you do, you may have an idea about the relationship of these two servants.

In addition to that, Paul was the older person and Timothy the young man. It is a beneficial effect to see how two generations go together here, without generation gap. It is also a beneficial effect when there are young people in a local church who are developing positively in spiritual matters. Where youngsters are interested in the Bible there is also a good relationship with older believers who also live a life that is guided by the Lord.

Timothy had come that far in his spiritual development that Paul could entrust him with an independent order. He could send him to a difficult church like Corinth. That is a proof of Paul’s confidence in Timothy. Here we find a lesson for the older believers to give the young believers the confidence they are worthy of. He knew that Timothy would not teach otherwise than he had taught. His work would not be demolished by this young man, but rather underlined by him.

1Cor 16:11. In fact Timothy was definitely not a spiritual powerhouse, someone who went to the Corinthians with a great deal of boldness to serve them. You rather get the impression that he is a somewhat shy young man who needs some encouragement and exhortation (2Tim 1:6-8). That could be a reason for the Corinthians to treat him with contempt. They were more impressed by fascinating lecturers. The content is not that important, if only the performance is impressive.

In our days people are still focused on the way a person performs. What he has to say is a side issue. Do not be deceived by that. It is important to judge everything you hear on the basis of God’s Word and not on the basis of how it is said. That is enormously misleading.

This is certainly not how Timothy worked. The Corinthians were not to concentrate on his performance, but they were to listen to and obey the message he was passing on. They could express their acceptance of Timothy by receiving him, by obeying his teachings and subsequently by sending him on his way in peace when he would return to the apostle.

Paul was looking forward to see him back and he was very curious about everything he had experienced. By the way, Timothy would not come alone, but he would be accompanied by some brothers. It would be a wonderful occasion to exchange experiences and to praise the Lord for everything He had worked.

That is the beautiful thing about meeting other brothers and sisters. Especially during holidays, the meetings with believers whom you would not have met otherwise, can be of great blessing. You hear from them how they live with the Lord and what the Lord has done in their life and you can tell them Who the Lord is to you and what He has done in your life.

1Cor 16:12. Another servant Paul mentions here is Apollos. Paul had also seen in Apollos wonderful characteristics with which he could serve others. You see here though, that Apollos was related differently toward Paul than Timothy was toward Paul. Timothy was someone to whom Paul could give orders which were then executed by Timothy. Some more of such men you find in Paul’s letter to Titus 3 (Tit 3:12). When they visited a place, they did that in the name of Paul and they could therefore act with his authority.

In the case of Apollos it is different, as it becomes apparent by what you read here. Paul wanted very much that Apollos too would go to Corinth to serve the believers there. He really urged him to. Many times he used all his persuasive power to convince Apollos to go, but he did not succeed. Was that just a human reaction of Paul by acting like that? I do not think so. His love for the Corinthians sought every opportunity to serve them, even through the means of others.

Nevertheless, Apollos was of the opinion not to respond positively to Paul’s request. Not that he disregarded Paul’s request. He considered before the Lord whether he should go and came to the conclusion that he would go another time when he had opportunity. Anyhow, he did not go immediately.

An important reason for him not to go directly could have been, on the contrary, his love for Paul, not to be played off against him. You may recall from chapter 9 that there were some people at Corinth, who doubted the apostleship of Paul. If Apollos decided to go, maybe the mistrusting people would conclude from that, that Paul himself did not dare to come. In Apollos you see a servant who receives a request from another servant to do something, who subsequently submitted the request before the Lord and then takes an independent decision.

That is also an important development in your spiritual growth. At the beginning other brothers will take you along in their work for the Lord. At least, I hope that there are such brothers in your environment through whom you get involved in a work of the Lord, so that you can gain experience. The more you grow spiritually, the more you will notice in your own relationship with the Lord that He is going to use you independently. You, in your turn and in due time, can offer to other persons the opportunity to gain spiritual experience in the work of the Lord.

1Cor 16:13. Timothy was on his way to the Corinthians. Apollos and Paul also planned to visit them once. Meanwhile they had to be on the alert, which means that they had to keep their eyes wide open to see where people were running the risk of wrong teachings. They had to cope with enemies who were attacking their faith, by standing firmly on the foundation of the faith as they had received from Paul and through the letter they now had received. They ought to be like men who did not fear the fight, but who were courageous. Weakness and slowness are not appropriate when we should hold on to what we have received from God in the Bible.

1Cor 16:14. To end up in being strong together they ought to love one another and there should be no envy. Love is the interdependence that gives the most power to repel any attack from the enemy.

Now read 1 Corinthians 16:10-14 again.

Reflection: Write down the differences between Paul, Timothy and Apollos. In what way could you compare yourself with each of them?