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1 Corinthians 16 · a question people ask

"it was not at all his desire to come now" (16:12). Why not?

In the text

The verse runs, "Now concerning Apollos the brother, I strongly urged him to come to you with the brothers, but it was not at all his desire to come now; but he will come when he has an opportunity." (16:12). It gives no reason beyond these words, and these notes don't supply one.

The verses

“Now concerning Apollos the brother, I strongly urged him to come to you with the brothers, but it was not at all his desire to come now; but he will come when he has an opportunity.”
1 Corinthians 16:12 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of 1 Corinthians 16

1 Corinthians 16: With my own hand

Near its end the letter says, "Let all that you do be done in love." (16:14), and its last words are "My love to all of you in Christ Jesus. Amen." (16:24). In the Greek, love is the same noun in both.

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Last reviewed October 8, 2026. Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions