Greek word · G625

Ἀπολλῶς

apollōs

Apollos

A personal name, probably shortened from Apollonios. Here it refers to one particular man.

Appears 10 times in 10 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

Ἀπολλώς, -ώ, ὁ

(perh. contr. from Ἀπολλώνιος, Acts 18:24 D)

Apollos: Acts 18:24 19:1, 1 Corinthians 1:12 3:4-6 3:22 4:6 16:12, Titus 3:13.†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of 1 Corinthians 1:12

Range of meaning

A personal name, probably shortened from Apollonios. Here it refers to one particular man.

Against the English

All versions render it "Apollos"; no difficulty.

Used elsewhere in the period

Acts 18:24–28 calls him a Jew of Alexandria, "an eloquent man" (ἀνὴρ λόγιος) and "mighty in the Scriptures," who went to Corinth (Acts 19:1) after Paul left. Paul treats him as a colleague: "I planted, Apollos watered" (1 Cor 3:6). He also says Apollos was unwilling to go back to Corinth for the time being (16:12), which suggests Apollos himself did not encourage a party.

Similar words

Where it appears

Acts · 2

  1. Acts 18:24 Ἀπολλῶς Apollos

    Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, well versed in the Scriptures.

    Here: A shortened Greek name, probably from Apollonios or Apollodoros, both built on the name of the god Apollo. Diaspora Jews often carried ordinary Greek names like this, so the name says nothing against his Jewish faith.

  2. Acts 19:1 Ἀπολλῶ Apollos

    While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the interior and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples

1 Corinthians · 7

  1. 1 Corinthians 1:12 Ἀπολλῶ, of Apollos,

    What I mean is this: Individuals among you are saying, “I follow Paul,” “I follow Apollos,” “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.”

    Here: "Apollos's." Apollos was the eloquent Jewish teacher from Alexandria who worked in Corinth after Paul had left (Acts 18:24–19:1).

  2. 1 Corinthians 3:4 Ἀπολλῶ, of Apollos,

    For when one of you says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere men?

  3. 1 Corinthians 3:5 Ἀπολλῶς Apollos

    What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? They are servants through whom you believed, as the Lord has assigned to each his role.

    Here: An eloquent Jewish teacher from Alexandria (Acts 18:24–28). He worked in Corinth after Paul left, and some there rallied around his name. In the oldest manuscripts he is named first, perhaps so that Paul does not seem to put himself forward.

  4. 1 Corinthians 3:6 Ἀπολλῶς Apollos

    I planted the seed and Apollos watered it, but God made it grow.

    Here: The learned Alexandrian Jewish teacher who worked in Corinth after Paul left (Acts 18:24–19:1). Some Corinthians had made him the figurehead of a faction (1 Cor 1:12; 3:4).

  5. 1 Corinthians 3:22 Ἀπολλῶς Apollos

    whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future. All of them belong to you,

    Here: An eloquent Jewish teacher from Alexandria. He worked in Corinth after Paul left (Acts 18:24–19:1), and some Corinthians rallied around him (1:12; 3:4–6).

  6. 1 Corinthians 4:6 Ἀπολλῶν Apollos

    Brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us not to go beyond what is written. Then you will not take pride in one man over another.

    Here: The eloquent Alexandrian Jewish teacher who worked in Corinth after Paul (Acts 18:24–19:1). Some at Corinth had made him the figurehead of a party (1 Cor 1:12; 3:4).

  7. 1 Corinthians 16:12 Ἀπολλῶ Apollos

    Now about our brother Apollos: I strongly urged him to go to you with the brothers. He was not at all inclined to go now, but he will go when he has the opportunity.

Titus · 1

  1. Titus 3:13 Ἀπολλῶν Apollos

    Do your best to equip Zenas the lawyer and Apollos, so that they will have everything they need.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.