1 Corinthians 3:6 meaning summary explained with word-by-word analysis enriched with context, commentary and Cross References from KJV, NIV, ESV and NLT.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 55:10-11 | "For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven... so shall my word be" | God's word is effective and produces fruit. |
| Psa 127:1 | "Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain." | Human effort is futile without divine work. |
| Prov 16:9 | "The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps." | God's sovereignty directs human actions and outcomes. |
| John 3:27 | "A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven." | All spiritual gifts and blessings originate from God. |
| John 6:44 | "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him." | Divine drawing is necessary for salvation. |
| John 15:5 | "I am the vine; you are the branches. Apart from me you can do nothing." | Spiritual fruit comes solely from connection to Christ. |
| Acts 11:21 | "The hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed..." | God's power brings about conversion. |
| Acts 14:27 | "...God had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles..." | God opens the way for evangelism and belief. |
| Rom 9:16 | "So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy." | Salvation is by God's mercy, not human striving. |
| Rom 12:4-8 | "For as in one body we have many members... but all have not the same function" | Diverse gifts and roles within one body. |
| 1 Cor 1:12-13 | "I follow Paul, or I follow Apollos... Is Christ divided?" | Condemns factionalism and allegiance to men. |
| 1 Cor 2:5 | "that your faith might not rest on the wisdom of men but on the power of God." | Faith relies on God's power, not human eloquence. |
| 1 Cor 3:3-4 | "...for where there is envy and strife and divisions... are you not carnal?" | Divisions show spiritual immaturity and worldliness. |
| 1 Cor 3:7 | "So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth." | Reiteration of God's exclusive role in growth. |
| 1 Cor 12:4-6 | "Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit..." | All spiritual manifestations are from the same God. |
| 2 Cor 3:5-6 | "Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything... but our sufficiency is from God" | Ministerial competence is derived from God alone. |
| 2 Cor 4:7 | "But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God." | Human fragility highlights divine power. |
| Eph 2:8-9 | "For by grace you have been saved through faith... not a result of works." | Salvation is a free gift from God, not earned. |
| Eph 4:11-13 | "And he gave the apostles, the prophets... to equip the saints..." | Christ empowers diverse ministries for church building. |
| Php 2:13 | "for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure." | God initiates and enables good works in believers. |
| Col 2:19 | "...from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together... grows with a growth that is from God." | Growth and health of the church come from Christ, given by God. |
| Zec 4:6 | "Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts." | Spiritual success is achieved by divine Spirit, not human strength. |
1 Corinthians 3 verses
1 Corinthians 3 6 meaning
The Apostle Paul establishes that while different individuals perform various roles in spreading the Gospel and nurturing believers, all true spiritual growth and salvation are exclusively a work of God. Human ministers, like Paul who planted the initial seed of faith and Apollos who watered it with further instruction, are merely instruments. The power to convert souls, sustain spiritual life, and bring about the "increase" in numbers and maturity resides solely with God. This statement is a profound declaration of God's sovereignty over the Christian life and a call for humility among those serving in ministry.
1 Corinthians 3 6 Context
First Corinthians 3:6 is embedded in Paul's broader argument addressing severe divisions within the Corinthian church. The believers there were forming factions based on their preferred leaders, proclaiming, "I follow Paul," "I follow Apollos," or "I follow Cephas." Paul confronts this issue by labeling them as "carnal" and "worldly," indicating their spiritual immaturity.
In the preceding verses (1 Cor 3:1-5), Paul chides them for their jealousy and strife, revealing a mindset focused on human personalities rather than the unifying truth of Christ. He emphasizes that ministers are merely "servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each." Verse 6 then provides a concrete analogy to illustrate this point: ministers play distinct but secondary roles, akin to a farmer planting seeds and another watering them, but only God possesses the power to make the seeds grow. The agricultural metaphor was readily understood by the Corinthian audience, making a clear connection between physical agriculture and spiritual growth. The underlying polemic is against any human boasting or pride in ministry, instead directing all glory and credit to God.
1 Corinthians 3 6 Word analysis
- I (ἐγὼ - egō): Paul, the Apostle, is explicitly referring to himself, identifying his foundational work at Corinth.
- planted (ἐφύτευσα - ephuteusa): From the verb φυτεύω (phuteuō), meaning "to set a plant, implant, cultivate, establish." This signifies the initial evangelism, bringing the Gospel message to the Corinthians and establishing the church. It is the work of introducing the seed of God's word for the first time.
- Apollos (Ἀπολλῶς - Apollos): A learned and eloquent Jewish Christian from Alexandria, mentioned several times in Acts and Paul's letters. He arrived in Corinth after Paul, strengthening the believers.
- watered (ἐπότισεν - epotisen): From the verb ποτίζω (potizō), meaning "to give to drink, nourish." This signifies the subsequent instruction, teaching, and pastoral care that nourished the initial converts, helping them to grow in faith and understanding.
- but (ἀλλά - alla): A strong adversative conjunction, indicating a significant contrast. It sets apart the human actions from the divine action, emphasizing the essential difference in source and power.
- God (ὁ Θεός - ho Theos): The singular, sovereign Divine Being. This specifies the ultimate, independent, and all-powerful agent responsible for spiritual increase.
- gave the increase (ηὔξανεν - ēuxanen): From the verb αὐξάνω (auxanō), meaning "to cause to grow, make larger, multiply, increase." This refers to the miraculous, supernatural process of spiritual development – both in the conversion of souls (quantitative growth) and the maturity of believers (qualitative growth). It is God alone who provides the life-giving power for the seed to sprout, take root, and bear fruit.
Word-groups analysis:
- "I planted, Apollos watered": This phrase succinctly describes two distinct, complementary phases of ministry: initial proclamation (planting the seed of the Gospel) and subsequent discipleship (nurturing that seed). It highlights human agency in specific roles, but also implies their dependence on each other for a complete process, not as rivals.
- "but God gave the increase": This concluding statement utterly shifts the focus from human effort to divine power. The "increase" (growth in faith, salvation, spiritual maturity, church size) is attributed solely to God. This negates any claim of human effectiveness or superiority, establishing God as the supreme source of life and growth in the spiritual realm.
1 Corinthians 3 6 Bonus section
This verse also subtly implies the ongoing process of sanctification. While "planting" often refers to conversion, and "watering" to continued instruction, the "increase" covers the entire journey of spiritual growth, from justification to glorification. It emphasizes that every stage of a believer's development, from nascent faith to spiritual maturity, is superintended and powered by God. The analogy of the field further suggests a communal aspect; multiple workers contribute to the same harvest, under the ultimate care of the divine Master of the harvest. This shared enterprise under God's sovereignty ought to foster a spirit of humility, cooperation, and mutual encouragement among all who serve Christ.
1 Corinthians 3 6 Commentary
1 Corinthians 3:6 is a pivotal verse for understanding the nature of Christian ministry and God's sovereign work in the world. Paul effectively de-personalizes ministry by employing the agricultural analogy. He and Apollos are not saviors or ultimate sources of spiritual life; they are mere laborers in God's field. Paul laid the initial groundwork by preaching the Gospel (planting), and Apollos followed by providing further instruction (watering). Both tasks are essential, but neither can produce life on its own.
The vital distinction is made by the word "but," unequivocally assigning the power of "increase" – the conversion of a heart, the spiritual maturity of a believer, the growth of the church – to God alone. This truth humbles ministers, reminding them that their efforts, while diligent and necessary, are entirely dependent on divine efficacy. It counters human pride, competitiveness, and the temptation to credit human eloquence or strategy for spiritual fruit.
Practically, this verse calls for unity among believers and ministers, as all serve the same God with diverse but interdependent functions. It reminds every believer that their faith is not in a charismatic personality or a human leader, but in God, who alone empowers transformation.Examples:
- A preacher may deliver a powerful sermon, but only God can open a heart to receive it.
- A Sunday school teacher may diligently teach children, but only God can bring spiritual understanding and growth.
- Missionaries may sacrifice greatly to bring the Gospel to a new land, but only God can establish His church there.