On Not Threatening the Minister

“At thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore” (Ps. 16: 11)

The Basket Case Chronicles #198

“Now if Timotheus come, see that he may be with you without fear: for he worketh the work of the Lord, as I also do. Let no man therefore despise him: but conduct him forth in peace, that he may come unto me: for I look for him with the brethren. 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 Cor. 16:10–12).

Paul now gives a series of exhortations concerning two of his fellow workers in the gospel. If Timothy comes to Corinth, they are to make sure that he can work there “without fear.” The reason for this is that Timothy is engaged in the work of the Lord, just as Paul was. If they received Paul, so also should they receive Timothy. What the threat to Timothy would be, what he might have to fear from them, is not mentioned. Presumably they knew what threats they might be tempted to level at a minister of the gospel working in their midst. Whatever it was, Paul told them not to do it.

Conjoined to this, and probably related to it, Paul tells them not to look down on Timothy, not to despise him. Rather, they should conduct him forth “in peace” so that he would be able to come to Paul along with some others. Paul found him quite valuable even if he knew that others might be tempted not to value him.

The subject then turn to Apollos. Paul had wanted him to come with the entourage of brothers, but he was unwilling to do so. He would come to Corinth when he had the opportunity.