1 Corinthians 3:7

Contextual Overview

⁵What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. ⁵ What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. ⁵Besides, who is Apollos? Who is this Paul you speak of? We're just cowboys who had the job of telling y'all the good news. We ain't special. We were just doing what the Good Lord told us to. ⁵ What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, even as the Lord gave opportunity to each one. ⁵What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, even as the Lord gave to each one. ⁵ What then is Apollos? and what is Paul? They are but servants who gave you the good news as God gave it to them. ⁵ Who then is Apollos, and who Paul? Ministering servants, through whom ye have believed, and as the Lord has given to each. ⁵ What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? They are servants through whom you believed, and each has the role the Lord has given. ⁵ Who then is Apollos, and who is Paul, but servants through whom you believed; and each as the Lord gave to him? ⁵ and another, I am of Apollos, are ye not carnal? Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

1 Corinthians 13:2, Psalms 115:1, Isaiah 40:17, Isaiah 41:29, Daniel 4:35, John 15:5, 2 Corinthians 12:9, Galatians 6:3

Reciprocal: Numbers 20:10 - we fetch 2 Samuel 23:5 - to grow Psalms 65:10 - settlest the furrows thereof Psalms 90:17 - establish Psalms 104:14 - that he Psalms 107:37 - which may Psalms 127:1 - The Lord Hosea 10:12 - rain Joel 2:22 - yield Luke 8:11 - The seed John 15:16 - bring John 21:3 - and that Acts 11:21 - and a Acts 16:14 - whose 1 Corinthians 3:5 - ministers 1 Corinthians 10:19 - that the 1 Corinthians 12:6 - worketh 1 Corinthians 15:38 - General 2 Corinthians 12:11 - though Galatians 5:26 - desirous

Cross-References

Genesis 2:25
The man and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.

Genesis 2:25
Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.

Genesis 2:25
And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.

Genesis 2:25
And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.

Genesis 2:25
And they were both naked the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.

Genesis 2:25
The man and his wife were naked, but they were not ashamed.

Genesis 2:25
And the man and his wife were both naked, and were not ashamed.

Genesis 2:25
Forsothe euer eithir was nakid, that is, Adam and his wijf, and thei weren not aschamed.

Genesis 2:25
And they were both naked, the man & his wife, and were not ashamed.

Genesis 2:25
And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

So then, neither is he that planteth anything,.... Not that he is the happy instrument of beginning the good work:

neither he that watereth; who is the means of carrying of it on: not that they are simply and absolutely nothing, without any restriction and limitation; they are men, they are Christians, they are ministers, and useful ones, by whom others believe; they are labourers together with God, ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God, and so to be accounted of; but they are nothing in themselves, nor in their own account, or with respect to God: they are nothing of themselves as ministers; they have nothing but what they have received; all their gifts are from God, nor can they exercise them aright without the grace of God, not being able to think a good thought as of themselves; nor are they anything in making their planting and watering effectual; and so no glory belongs to them; nothing is to be ascribed to them, they have no part or lot in these things:

but God that giveth the increase; he gives them their abilities, assists them in the exercise of their gifts, makes their ministrations useful, and he has, as he ought to have, all the glory.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Anything - This is to he taken comparatively. They are nothing in comparison with God! Their agency is of no importance compared with his: see the note at 1 Corinthians 1:28. It does not mean that their agency ought not to be performed; that it is not important, and indispensable in its place; but that the honor is due to God - Their agency is indispensable. God could make seed or a tree grow if they were not planted in the earth. But He does not do it. The agency of the farmer is indispensable in the ordinary operations of His providence. If he does not plant, God will not make the grain or the tree grow. God blesses his labors; he does not work a miracle. God attends effort with success; God does not interfere in a miraculous manner to accommodate the indolence of people. So in the matter of salvation. The efforts of ministers would be of no avail without God. They could do nothing in the salvation of the soul unless God would give the increase. But their labors are as indispensable and as necessary, as are those of the farmer in the production of a harvest. And as every farmer could say, “my labors are nothing without God, who alone can give the increase,” so it is with every minister of the gospel.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 1 Corinthians 3:7. So then, neither is he that planteth any thing — God alone should have all the glory, as the seed is his, the ground is his, the labourers are his, and the produce all comes from himself.