| 12. Linguistic Exegesis The verse begins with the prepositional phrase peri de Apollō tou adelphou {Περὶ δὲ Ἀπολλῶ τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ | Perì dè Apollô tou adelphoû}, where peri introduces the topic “concerning our brother Apollos” and de functions as a mild connective. The adverbial accusative polla modifies parekalesa {παρεκάλεσα | parekálēsa} to intensify Paul’s urging. The purpose clause hina elthē pros hymas {ἵνα ἔλθῃ πρὸς ὑμᾶς | hína élthē pròs hymâs} uses the aorist subjunctive elthē to present the visit as a potential action. The phrase meta tōn adelphōn {μετὰ τῶν ἀδελφῶν | metà tôn adelphôn} indicates company. The conjunction kai pantōs ouk ên thelēma hina nyn elthē {καὶ πάντως οὐκ ἦν θέλημα ἵνα νῦν ἔλθῃ | kaì pántōs ouk ên thélēma hína nûn élthē} uses pantōs to strengthen the negation and hina to specify the timing “now.” Finally, the temporal clause eleusetai de hotan eukairēsē {ἐλεύσεται δὲ ὅταν εὐκαιρήσῃ | eleúsetai dè hótan eukairḗsē} with the future middle eleusetai and subjunctive eukairēsē indicates Apollos’s eventual coming when circumstances allow. The English splits the complex Greek sentence to preserve contrast and conditional nuance. |