request shows the nature of the evil ■v\hich he apprehended, for he worJceth the work of the Lord. If they would recog- nize this, Timothy would be satisfied. The worJc of the Lord^ as in 15, 58, may mean either that work in which the Lord himself is engaged ; or that which he has prescribed. As I also do. A comprehensive commendation. Timothy preached the same gospel that Paul preached ; and with like assiduity and fidelity.
11. Let no man therefore despise him : but con- duct him forth in peace, that he may come unto me : for I look for him with the brethren.
Therefore^ i. e. because he works the work of the Lord, he is entitled to respect, and ought not to be despised. Per- haps it was Timothy's youth that made the apostle specially solicitous on this account, 1 Tim. 4, 12. But conduct him forth in peace ; i. e. attend him on his journey in a friendly manner, lliat he may come to m,e. It was not Paul's wish that Timothy should remain in Corinth ; but after having exe- cuted his commission, 4, 1 7, he was to return to the apostle. He did thus retui;n, and was with Paul when he wrote the second Epistle, 2 Cor. 1, 1. I expect him with the brethren^ i. e. the brethren whom Paul had appointed as Timothy's trav- elling companions. It is rare in the New Testament that we read of any one going on a missionary tour alone.
12. 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.
Either the Corinthians, among whom Apollos had already laboured, had requested Paul to send him to them again ; or for some other reason, the apostle earnestly wished that he would accompany the brethren from Corinth, who were to carry this epistle back with them ; see v. 17. It appears from this verse that Apollos was not imder Paul's authority. No reason is given for his declming to go to Corinth but that he was not willing. Why he was not willing is matter of conjec- ture. Many suppose it was because his name had been mixed up with the party strifes which disturbed the church there,