1 Corinthians 3:6
I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
Study Note
Study Note
Paul's agricultural metaphor — 'I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase' — is designed to deflect the Corinthian factionalism (1:12; 3:4) that attached partisan loyalty to apostolic personalities. The threefold agency (Paul, Apollos, God) distributes the roles while radically subordinating both human contributions to divine sovereignty over growth — a theological move that the following verse makes explicit: 'neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.' The agricultural metaphor connects to Jesus' parables of the Kingdom (the Sower, Mark 4) and to Isaiah 55:10–11's promise that the divine word will not return void but produce fruit. The verse remains important for ecumenical theology's attempts to hold together multiple ministries in a non-competitive framework.
Other Translations
I planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
I planted, Apollos watered, but God was giving growth;
I did the planting, Apollos did the watering, but God gave the increase.
Cross References
For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and …
So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but …
For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it …
For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and …
But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, …
For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.
According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, …
I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you.
For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I …
Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye …