His success in preaching the gospel led some of the church to exalt his labors above those of Paul, while he himself was working in harmony with Paul for the advancement of the cause. This rival spirit threatened to greatly hinder the progress of truth. Paul had purposely presented the gospel to the Corinthians in its veriest simplicity. Disappointed with the result of his labors at Athens, where he had brought his learning and eloquence to bear upon his hearers, he determined to pursue an entirely different course at Corinth. He presented there the plain, simple truth, unadorned with worldly wisdom, and studiously dwelt upon Christ, and his mission to the world. The eloquent discourses of Apollos, and his manifest learning, were contrasted by his hearers with the purposely simple and unadorned preaching of Paul.{LP 120.1}

Han succes med at forkynde evangeliet ledte i menigheden til at ophøje hans arbejde over Paulus arbejde, skønt han selv arbejdede i harmoni med Paulus for sagens fremme. Denne rivalisering truede sandhedens fremmarch meget. Paulus ville give evangeliet til korinterne i sin fulde enkelthed. Skuffet over resultatet af hans arbejde med athenerne, hvor han fik sin lærdom og veltalenhed over sine tilhørere, og besluttede at tage en helt anden kurs i Korint. Han bragte denne klare og enkle sandhed, ubesmykket af verdslig visdom, og dvælede omhyggeligt om Kristus, og hans mission i verden. Apollos velformulerede prædikener, og hans tydelige lærdom, blev sat op imod hans tilhørere med Paulus enkle og ubesmykkede forkyndelse.