Uncle Apollos

Luke 6:40, NKJV: A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone WHO IS PERFECTLY TRAINED will be like his teacher.

Paul was more involved in church planting and he had helpers in ministry (Apollos inclusive) whom he placed over the churches he planted, to help grow and establish them in the way of truth. To understand the epistle and the characters in it, you need to study the Acts of Apostles.

The very first time I encountered the name Apollos was in 1 Corinthians 3:6: I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.

For you to be the right hand man of Apostle Paul was not “beans”, it was no easy task.  You had to be sound and whatever was taught had to be consistent with the foundation he had laid. You had to have an understanding of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ and present Him to the church till they grow up in Him. So one would naturally expect so much from Apollos.  See what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 3:10: According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed on how he builds on it.

But here was Apollos before he met Paul, he had been a preacher but knew nothing about Christ.

Acts 18:24-28: Now a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, AN ELOQUENT MAN, AND MIGHTY IN THE SCRIPTURES, came to Ephesus. This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; AND BEING FERVENT IN SPIRIT, HE SPOKE AND TAUGHT ACCURATELY THE THINGS OF THE LORD, THOUGH HE KNEW ONLY THE BAPTISM OF JOHN.

So he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Aquila and Priscilla heard him, THEY TOOK HIM ASIDE AND EXPLAINED TO HIM THE WAY OF GOD MORE ACCURATELY. ………for he vigorously refuted the Jews publicly, showing from the scriptures that Jesus is the Christ.

1. Apollos was ELOQUENT. He had good oratory skills but he was skillful with an incomplete knowledge. (He was indoctrinated in the baptism of John only).
2. He was MIGHTY IN SCRIPTURES. He could quote several scriptures but only had mental knowledge of it not a revelation knowledge of Christ. Just the way Timothy knew scriptures that could make him wise unto salvation from childhood.( 2Timothy 3:15)
3. He was FREVENT IN SPIRIT. Fervency in the spirit does not translate to accuracy in knowledge. You can be zealous yet ignorant (Romans 10:1) or zealous with the wrong knowledge. God on the other hand might permit some great things in your life and ministry because he is a merciful God. For example some present day Jew who do not believe in Christ yet, still enjoy the covenant God made with Abraham. As much as you are fervent in the spirit, you must also have an accurate knowledge of Christ.

Thank God for Aquila and Priscilla, who took Apollos aside to teach him. They did not try to correct him openly, they just knew he did not know enough. The moment Apollos got it right, he went to present the accurate teachings of Christ. These couple had been with Paul so their understanding of Christ was definitely accurate (Acts 18:1-4). They knew Apollos had great ministry potential, they refined him and he came out better.

The truth is, in this present day, the Aquilas and Priscillas around you might not call you aside but it is your responsibility to submit and learn from them till you become all God has called you to be.  Paul could not put the unlearned Apollos over a church, it would nullify the good foundation he had laid.

Meekness (teachability) or readiness to learn must be the hallmark of every minister or child of God. You grow faster when you are teachable. Be humble enough to learn. Training or learning refines you. God bless every “Aquilas and Priscillas” that have taught me and are still teaching me. I celebrate y’all eternally.