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OET (OET-LV) But Concerning Apollōs the brother, much I_am_exhorting him that he_may_come to you_all with the brothers, and certainly not it_was ^his_will that now he_may_come, but he_will_be_coming whenever he_may_have_opportunity.
OET (OET-RV) And then concerning the brother Apollos, I strongly urged him to go to you with the brothers. He didn’t want to go at the present time, but he’ll go when he has another opportunity.
In this final section of the book, Paul wrote briefly about several topics. He wrote about collecting money for poor Christians in Jerusalem, and he wrote about the travel plans of him and his companions. Then he concluded his letter with some short exhortations, warnings, blessings, and greetings.
Here are some other possible section headings:
The conclusion of the letter
Final topics
In this paragraph Paul wrote about a Christian worker named Apollos. It appears that the Corinthians had asked for Apollos to visit them.
Now about our brother Apollos:
¶ As for our(incl) brother Apollos,
¶ In your letter you asked that Apollos, our(incl) brother in Christ might visit you.
Now about our brother Apollos: The phrase Now about refers to a topic that the Corinthians had mentioned in their letter. This phrase has been used several times. See 7:1, 7:25, 8:1, 12:1 and 16:1. See how you translated this phrase in those places.
Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
In your letter you asked about our brother Apollos
In your letter you said you wanted our brother Apollos to visit you
our brother Apollos: Apollos was a Jewish Christian leader. The Corinthians probably asked about him in their letter to Paul. This is Paul’s answer. Apollos is also mentioned in 1:12, 3:5, and Acts 18:24. Apollos was not literally Paul’s brother. He was a spiritual brother, a fellow believer in Jesus Christ.
Probably Apollos was younger than Paul, although we do not know for sure. In languages that track the age of siblings it can be translated as:
my younger brother, Apollos
I strongly urged him to go to you with the brothers.
I encouraged him strongly to go to you(plur) along with the other brothers.
I told him to go visit you when the other brothers in Christ go.
I strongly urged him to go to you with the brothers: Paul encouraged Apollos to visit the Corinthians.
Here are some other ways to translate this clause:
I urged him to visit you with the other believers (NLT)
I begged him to go visit you when the other brothers went
the brothers: These brothers were Christian workers. They may be the same Christian brothers mentioned in 16:11, or they may be the three men mentioned in 16:17a.
He was not at all inclined to go now,
He does not want to go at this time,
He said that he definitely would not go now.
In Greek, this clause connects to the previous clause with a conjunction that the BSB does not translate. This conjunction introduces Apollos’ rejection of Paul’s attempt to encourage him to visit Corinth. Many English versions translate this conjunction as:
but
He was not at all inclined to go now: This clause indicates that Apollos did not want to go to Corinth at that time. The word translated as at all means that he was very unwilling.
Here are some other ways to translate this clause:
He did not at all want to come now (NCV)
he was quite determined not to go at present (REB)
he said that he definitely would not go now
go: The BSB uses the word go to refer to Apollos’ travel to Corinth. The NCV and some other English versions use the word “come.” Consider whether go or “come” is more natural in your language.
but he will go when he has the opportunity.
but he will visit you(plur) when he has a chance.
However, he will go when the time is right.
but: The Greek conjunction that the BSB translates as but introduces a concession that contrasts with the refusal in 16:12c. In English it is not natural to use the word but in two consecutive phrases. English versions that use but in 16:12c sometimes begin a new sentence here without a conjunction. For example:
He will come when he has the opportunity. (NET)
You could also use a different conjunction, as the GNT has:
When he gets the chance, however, he will go. (GNT)
Connect these clauses in a way that is natural in your language.
he will go when he has the opportunity: Apollos hoped to visit the Corinthians at some future time that would be better or more convenient for him.
Here are some other ways to translate this clause
he will visit you when he has an opportunity (GW)
When he gets the chance,…he will go (GNT)
he will go when there is nothing to hinder him
Note 1 topic: grammar-connect-words-phrases
περὶ δὲ
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Περί Δέ Ἀπολλῶ τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ πολλά παρεκάλεσα αὐτόν ἵνα ἔλθῃ πρός ὑμᾶς μετά τῶν ἀδελφῶν καί πάντως οὐκ ἦν θέλημα ἵνα νῦν ἔλθῃ ἐλεύσεται δέ ὅταν εὐκαιρήσῃ)
Just as in [16:1](../16/01.md), Now concerning introduces a new topic that Paul wishes to address. Likely, the topics that he introduces in this way are what the Corinthians wrote to him about. Translate Now concerning here as you did in [16:1](../16/01.md). Alternate translation: [Next, about]
Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit
τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ
the brother
Here, brother identifies Apollos as a fellow believer. Apollos was male, although brother does not emphasize this. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express brother with a word or phrase that identifies Apollos as a fellow believer. Alternate translation: [our Christian brother]
Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / go
ἔλθῃ & ἔλθῃ & ἐλεύσεται
˱he˲_˓may˒_come & ˱he˲_˓may˒_come & (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Περί Δέ Ἀπολλῶ τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ πολλά παρεκάλεσα αὐτόν ἵνα ἔλθῃ πρός ὑμᾶς μετά τῶν ἀδελφῶν καί πάντως οὐκ ἦν θέλημα ἵνα νῦν ἔλθῃ ἐλεύσεται δέ ὅταν εὐκαιρήσῃ)
Here, come refers to Apollos traveling from where Paul is to Corinth. Use a word that describes this kind of movement in your language. Alternate translation: [he would go … he would go … he will go]
Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / extrainfo
μετὰ τῶν ἀδελφῶν
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Περί Δέ Ἀπολλῶ τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ πολλά παρεκάλεσα αὐτόν ἵνα ἔλθῃ πρός ὑμᾶς μετά τῶν ἀδελφῶν καί πάντως οὐκ ἦν θέλημα ἵνα νῦν ἔλθῃ ἐλεύσεται δέ ὅταν εὐκαιρήσῃ)
Paul provides no information about who the brothers are or how they relate to Apollos. This may be the same group of brothers that Paul spoke about in the previous verse ([16:11](../16/11.md)), or it may be the three people whom Paul mentions in [16:17](../16/17.md). If possible, use a generic or general phrase that refers to other believers. Alternate translation: [with the fellow believers]
Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / gendernotations
τῶν ἀδελφῶν
the brothers
Although brothers is masculine, Paul is using it to refer to any believer, whether man or woman. It is possible that the brothers were male, but Paul is not focusing on their gender. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express brothers with a non gendered word or refer to both genders. Alternate translation: [the brothers and sisters]
Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns
πάντως οὐκ ἦν θέλημα
certainly not ˱it˲_was ˓his˒_will
If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea behind will, you can express the idea by using a verb such as “decide” or “choose.” Alternate translation: [it was not at all what he chose] or [he definitely did not choose]
Note 7 topic: translate-unknown
πάντως οὐκ
certainly not
Here, not at all makes a stronger negation than not by itself. Use a word or phrase that makes a negation stronger. Alternate translation: [definitely not]
Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis
θέλημα
˓his˒_will
Here Paul does not state whose will he is referring to. It could be: (1) the will of Apollos. This fits with the next sentence, where Apollos is one who will decide when to come later. Alternate translation: [Apollos’ will] (2) the will of God, who showed Apollos in some way that he should not go to Corinth. Alternate translation: [God’s will]
Note 9 topic: figures-of-speech / pastforfuture
νῦν
now
Here, now refers to the journey that those bearing this letter took. Apollos decided not to go on this journey. Use a word or phrase that identifies the timing of the journey of those who carried this letter. Alternate translation: [at this time] or [on this trip]
Note 10 topic: translate-unknown
ὅταν εὐκαιρήσῃ
whenever ˱he˲_˓may˒_have_opportunity
Here, to have the opportunity refers to when the situation is right or appropriate for some action. Most likely, Paul means that Apollos will visit the Corinthians when he has time and when he thinks it is the proper time to do so. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express have the opportunity with a word or phrase that identifies the appropriate time for something. Alternate translation: [when he has the chance] or [when the time is right]
Note 11 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns
εὐκαιρήσῃ
˱he˲_˓may˒_have_opportunity
If your language does not use an abstract noun for the idea behind opportunity, you can express the idea by using an adjective such as “opportune” or “available.” Alternate translation: [when it is opportune] or [when he is available]
16:11-12 Apollos: See study note on 1:12.
OET (OET-LV) But Concerning Apollōs the brother, much I_am_exhorting him that he_may_come to you_all with the brothers, and certainly not it_was ^his_will that now he_may_come, but he_will_be_coming whenever he_may_have_opportunity.
OET (OET-RV) And then concerning the brother Apollos, I strongly urged him to go to you with the brothers. He didn’t want to go at the present time, but he’ll go when he has another opportunity.
Note: The OET-RV is still only a first draft, and so far only a few words have been (mostly automatically) matched to the Hebrew or Greek words that they’re translated from.
Acknowledgements: The SR Greek text, lemmas, morphology, and VLT gloss are all thanks to the CNTR.