APOLLOS - FAITHFUL PREACHER WHO GREATLY HELPED THE CHURCH THROUGH DEBATES

By Nana Yaw Aidoo

Now if you're asking who Apollos is, the Bible teaches that he was a faithful gospel preacher. In his first epistle to the Corinthians, the apostle Paul wrote; "Who then is Paul and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase." (1 Cor.3:5-6). And towards the end of the letter, the apostle calls Apollos, "brother." (1 Cor.16:12). To understand the force of this term of endearment, attention is called to Peter's usage of it in reference to Paul in 2 Peter 3:15.

We deemed it necessary to call attention to the fact that Apollos was a faithful preacher of the gospel because he also was a debator of truth. It is our intention to show in this note that faithfulness to God and debating are not mutually exclusive. The inspired historian wrote;

"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...And when he desired to cross to Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him; and when he arrived, he greatly helped those who had believed through grace; for he vigorously refuted the Jews publicly, showing from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ." (Acts 18:24-28).

Notice if you would that this faithful preacher of the gospel was a public debator. To the Jew, the idea that Jesus is the Christ was blasphemy. It was a teaching that offended their sensibilities. Knowing this, Apollos could have "locked his jaw," consented to a "conspiracy of silence," or preached about "love," "joy," "confidence," and such like, without saying anything that might "offend" his Jewish friends.

What does this faithful gospel preacher do? Sit down and hope that the truth that Jesus is the Christ would prevail? Not at all. The Bible says "...he vigorously refuted the Jews publicly, showing from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ." Apollos debated the issue publicly.

Notice also that, Luke who was inspired by the Holy Spirit (2 Tim.3:16-17; 2 Pet.1:20-21) did not indicate from his "pen" that Apollos did anything wrong by involving himself in a public debate. Rather, we see praise for Apollos for so doing. In Acts 18:27 Luke wrote that when Apollos went to Achaia, "...he greatly helped those who had believed through grace." "Those who had believed through grace" is a reference to the church and thus Luke states emphatically that Apollos helped the church in Achaia. This great preacher didn't just help the church there but he helped them greatly.

The question is how? How did this faithful preacher of the gospel greatly help the church in Achaia? Luke by inspiration tells us "how" in the very next verse. "For he vigorously refuted the Jews publicly, showing from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ." The word "for" is "gar" in the Greek. It is "a primary participle; properly, assigning a reason..." (Strongs Exhaustive Concordance). By using the word "for" Luke is in effect saying that, Apollos helped the church in Achaia greatly because he publicly debated the Jews. From this conclusion, there is no escape.

Brethren, if public debates helped the church then, what makes us think it won't do so today? The sins that would harm the Lord's cause today, are apathy, indifference, wordliness, pride, tolerance of error, ecumenism and fear. Not honourable public debates, that are held in the right sprit. (Eph.4:15) because public debates are a form of teaching. (Mark 16:15).

If I can preach my views publicly from a pulpit without someone opposing them and not be wrong, by what manner of "sound reasoning" do we conclude that when I preach those same views  in public, with someone opposing them, I am wrong? Let us quit wresting the Scriptures (2 Pet.3:16) to make it seem as if public debates are sinful. Our brothers who publicly debate error, need to be greatly encouraged.

"'Truth is mighty and will prevail,' and 'Truth crushed to earth will rise again, The eternal years of God are hers, But Error, wounded, writes in pain, And dies amid her worshippers,' but wilt thou know, O cowardly man, that truth will prevail only as it is championed by its defenders and propagators, and that error will be wounded, if at all, by some controversial tongue?" (Richard Whately, as cited by James Bales in "Christian Contend For Thy Cause").

We are interested in knowing from those who oppose our debating brethren, what they are doing to try and win Ghana for Christ.

May the Lord by His providence, give us many more Apollos'.