1 Corinthians 3 7

1 Corinthians 3:7 kjv

So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.

1 Corinthians 3:7 nkjv

So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.

1 Corinthians 3:7 niv

So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.

1 Corinthians 3:7 esv

So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.

1 Corinthians 3:7 nlt

It's not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What's important is that God makes the seed grow.

1 Corinthians 3 verses

1 Corinthians 3 7 meaning

The verse concisely states that human efforts in ministry, whether planting the initial seed of faith or nurturing it afterward, hold no ultimate power or significance in producing spiritual growth. True and lasting growth comes solely from God, who is the divine agent and source of all increase in the Kingdom. It underscores God's absolute sovereignty and human dependency.

1 Corinthians 3 7 Context

First Corinthians chapter 3 continues Paul's address to the deep-seated divisions and spiritual immaturity ("carnality") within the Corinthian church, introduced in chapter 1. Believers were aligning themselves with different Christian leaders (e.g., "I follow Paul," "I follow Apollos"), creating factions. Paul begins by chastising them for their infantile spiritual state, still reliant on "milk" rather than "solid food." In verses 6-9, he uses the agricultural analogy of planting, watering, and harvesting to explain the proper roles of ministers and, most importantly, the ultimate source of spiritual growth. He identifies himself as the "planter" and Apollos as the "waterer," but he asserts that neither is the crucial factor. Verse 7 acts as the concluding statement for this specific part of the analogy, emphatically pointing to God as the sole giver of growth, thereby diminishing any human pride or party loyalty surrounding human workers. This statement directly combats the Corinthian tendency to exalt human leaders.

1 Corinthians 3 7 Word analysis

• So then (Ὧστε - Hōste): This Greek conjunctive adverb signals a logical conclusion drawn from the preceding statements. It indicates that the truth expressed in this verse naturally follows from the explanation that Paul planted and Apollos watered (v.6), yet it was God who caused the growth.

• neither he who plants (οὔτε ὁ φυτεύων): Refers to Paul himself (as per v.6), who initiated the ministry in Corinth by preaching the gospel. The phrase emphasizes a person involved in the initial spiritual foundational work. The repetitive use of "neither...nor" creates an emphatic negation.

• nor he who waters (οὔτε ὁ ποτίζων): Refers to Apollos (as per v.6), who came after Paul and continued the discipleship and teaching. This emphasizes a person involved in nurturing and furthering the spiritual development.

• is anything (ἐστί τι): The Greek "esti ti" literally means "is something" but, in context with the emphatic negation ("neither...nor"), conveys "is of no significance/account/ultimate power" in terms of causing the actual spiritual growth. It doesn't mean human ministers are worthless entirely (they are vital instruments), but that their inherent capacity to cause growth is nil. Their role is instrumental, not causal.

• but (ἀλλ' - all'): This strong adversative conjunction introduces a sharp contrast, dramatically shifting the focus from the human workers to God. It highlights that the preceding negation is countered by a definitive affirmation.

• only God (ὁ Θεός): Emphatically points to God as the single, exclusive, and supreme agent. There is no other contender. The definite article "ὁ" ("the") underscores His unique identity.

• who gives the growth (ὁ αὐξάνων): The Greek "ho auxanōn" is a present active participle, meaning "the one who causes to grow" or "the one making to increase." This signifies God's active, continuous, and personal role in originating, sustaining, and bringing about spiritual vitality and multiplication. The word "auxanō" implies internal development and increase, directly attributing the vital work of spiritual progression to divine agency.

• Group analysis: "neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything": This phrase directly undermines human pride and self-exaltation in ministry. It reduces the human contribution from a primary causal role to a purely secondary, instrumental one, preventing factions from forming around personalities based on perceived spiritual power.

• Group analysis: "but only God who gives the growth": This second part re-centers all glory and ultimate credit on God. It’s a foundational theological statement emphasizing divine sovereignty over all spiritual outcomes, promoting humility in human service, and providing the proper perspective for evaluating all ministry.

1 Corinthians 3 7 Bonus section

This verse not only humbles human ministers but also reassures them. If the growth is solely God's responsibility, then ministers are freed from the crushing burden of ensuring results. Their duty is faithfulness in planting and watering; God guarantees the fruit according to His will and timing. This perspective cultivates reliance on prayer and dependence on the Holy Spirit rather than human strategizing or manipulation. Furthermore, it implies that diverse ministry gifts (like planting and watering) are complementary and equally important in God's unified work, discouraging competition or a sense of superiority among those with different roles. It affirms the ultimate reality that the church belongs to God, not to any human leader or denomination.

1 Corinthians 3 7 Commentary

1 Corinthians 3:7 serves as a theological linchpin against spiritual pride and sectarianism within the church. Paul's message is unequivocal: human beings, despite their dedicated service, are merely tools in God's sovereign hand. Their role is to plant and water, to teach and preach, to nurture and encourage, but the actual, life-giving growth in an individual's soul or the collective body of Christ is God's exclusive work. Ministers are vital and accountable laborers, yet they must operate from a position of profound humility, recognizing that their most eloquent sermon or diligent discipleship cannot effect true transformation apart from God's Spirit. This divine prerogative prevents humans from boasting, from forming cliques around favorite leaders, and from attributing success to their own talents or methods. Instead, it directs all praise and focus towards the only One who possesses the inherent power to bring life and increase. Practically, this calls believers to trust God more than human effort, pray earnestly for divine intervention, and value every part of ministry as equally significant in the larger divine plan, for it is God alone who provides the increase.