1 Corinthians 3:6 kjv
I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
1 Corinthians 3:6 nkjv
I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.
1 Corinthians 3:6 niv
I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow.
1 Corinthians 3:6 esv
I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.
1 Corinthians 3:6 nlt
I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow.
1 Corinthians 3 6 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Corinthians 3:5 | "What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul?" | Direct question of their roles |
| 1 Corinthians 3:7 | "Neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything," | Emphasizes futility without God |
| John 15:5 | "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him," | God's enabling power |
| Galatians 6:7 | "A man reaps what he sows." | Human action and divine result |
| Ephesians 2:8-9 | "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves," | God's initiative in salvation |
| Philippians 1:6 | "being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion" | God's completion of His work |
| John 3:8 | "The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So is everyone born of the Spirit." | Mysterious work of the Spirit |
| Acts 1:8 | "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you;" | Empowerment by the Spirit |
| 1 Corinthians 12:11 | "All these he works, by himself, distributing to each one just as he determines." | God's sovereign distribution |
| Romans 8:28 | "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him," | God's overarching work |
| Matthew 13:18-23 | Parable of the Sower | God's sovereignty in salvation |
| Genesis 26:12 | "Isaac planted seed in that land and reaped a hundredfold the next year, because the LORD blessed him." | God's blessing on labor |
| Joshua 24:13 | "I gave you a land on which you had not labored and cities you did not build—cities you do not now live in—and you eat from the fruit of vineyards that you did not plant." | God providing the fruit |
| 2 Corinthians 3:3 | "For surely you are a letter from Christ, produced by the ministry we perform." | Paul's work as a cause |
| 1 Peter 1:23-25 | "for, in contrast, you have been born again, not of a perishable seed, but of an imperishable seed through the living and enduring word of God." | God's incorruptible seed |
| Psalm 127:1 | "Unless the LORD builds the house, the builders labor in vain." | Divine foundation |
| Acts 14:23 | "Paul appointed elders in every church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had believed." | Entrusting to the Lord |
| Romans 1:16 | "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes:" | Gospel as God's power |
| John 1:12-13 | "Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but of God." | Divine birth |
| Colossians 1:6 | "This same gospel is bearing fruit and increasing all over the world—just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God’s grace." | Gospel's fruit and increase |
1 Corinthians 3 verses
1 Corinthians 3 6 Meaning
This verse states that Paul planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. It emphasizes that human efforts in ministry are secondary to God's divine work in bringing spiritual life and maturity to individuals.
1 Corinthians 3 6 Context
In 1 Corinthians chapter 3, Paul is addressing divisions within the Corinthian church. Believers were aligning themselves with different spiritual leaders, specifically Paul and Apollos, to the point of causing strife. Paul's aim in this passage is to correct this unhealthy factionalism and refocus them on the unity of God's work and the shared responsibility of ministers. He establishes that he and Apollos are merely servants who contribute to God's overarching plan of salvation and growth. This specific verse, 1 Corinthians 3:6, is crucial in this argument, as it illustrates the complementary roles of ministry and God's ultimate sovereignty in bringing about spiritual results.
1 Corinthians 3 6 Word Analysis
Ἐγὼ (Ego) - I. Emphasizes Paul's personal involvement and statement.
μὲν (men) - Indeed, truly. A particle introducing a contrast or affirmation.
ἐφύτευσα (eputeusa) - I planted. Aorist active indicative of φιτεύω (phuteuo). Refers to the foundational work of evangelism and establishing the initial faith in Corinth. This signifies the initial sowing of the Gospel seed.
δὲ (de) - But. A conjunction that marks a strong contrast or transition.
ἐπότισα (epotisa) - I watered. Aorist active indicative of ποτίζω (potizo). Refers to the nurturing, teaching, and further spiritual development of the believers after the initial planting. It implies ongoing care and sustenance.
ὁ δὲ θεὸς (ho de theos) - But God. Shifts the focus from human agency to divine power and ultimate cause. The definite article "the" highlights the unique and singular role of God.
ἔδωκεν (edōken) - gave. Aorist active indicative of δίδωμι (didomi). Denotes God's act of imparting spiritual life and growth.
αὔξησιν (auxēsin) - growth. Accusative singular of αὔξησις (auxēsis). Refers to increase, expansion, and maturation in the spiritual life. It's the organic development that only God can bring.
Words-group by words-group analysis data
- "I planted, but Apollos watered": This phrase highlights the distinct but complementary roles of different ministers in the process of spiritual growth. It shows that both foundational teaching and ongoing nurture are important aspects of ministry.
- "but God gave the growth": This phrase is the crucial counterpoint. It asserts that while human effort is involved in planting and watering, the actual spiritual growth, the life and increase, comes solely from God. This counters any pride or reliance on human leaders.
1 Corinthians 3 6 Bonus Section
The imagery of planting and watering is common in scripture to describe God's work in His people. It reflects an agricultural metaphor where the soil represents the human heart, the seed is the Word of God, the planters and waterers are ministers, and the growth is the spiritual life produced by the Holy Spirit. The success of ministry is not measured by the popularity or eloquence of the minister, but by the growth in Christ that God accomplishes through them. This also points to the continuity of God's work, where one minister may lay the foundation and another build upon it, with God being the ultimate sustainer of all.
1 Corinthians 3 6 Commentary
This verse succinctly captures the principle of divine sovereignty in evangelism and spiritual development. Human efforts like preaching, teaching, and pastoral care (planting and watering) are vital tools in God's hands. However, it is God who causes the seed of the Gospel to germinate, to grow, and to bear fruit. This understanding fosters humility in ministers, recognizing their dependence on God, and directs believers' ultimate trust and allegiance to Him, not to any human leader. It discourages personality cults and emphasizes the unity of the divine purpose behind diverse ministries.