1 Corinthians 3:5

1 Corinthians 3:5 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?
• New International Version (NIV)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.
• English Standard Version (ESV)What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one?

Context of 1 Corinthians 3:5

3for you are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and dissension among you, are you not worldly? Are you not walking in the way of man? 4For when one of you says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere men? What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? They are servants through whom you believed, as the Lord has assigned to each his role. 6I planted the seed and Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. 7So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.

1 Corinthians 3:5 word by word

Τί οὖν ἐστιν Ἀπολλῶς τί δέ ἐστιν Παῦλος; διάκονοι δι᾽ ὧν ἐπιστεύσατε, καὶ ἑκάστῳ ὡς ὁ κύριος ἔδωκεν.Read the interlinear

• Whatτίςtis · which?G5101
• thenοὖνoun · therefore/thenG3767
• isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• ApollosἈπολλῶςApollōs · ApollosG625
• Andδέde · thenG1161
• PaulΠαῦλοςPaulos · PaulG3972
• servantsδιάκονοςdiakonos · servantG1249
• throughδιάdia · through/because ofG1223
• whomὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• you believedπιστεύωpisteuō · to trust (in)G4100
• ·καίkai · andG2532
• asὡςhōs · as/whenG5613
• theὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Lordκύριοςkurios · lord: GodG2962
• has assignedδίδωμιdidōmi · to giveG1325
• to eachἕκαστοςhekastos · eachG1538

Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 3:5

• 1 Corinthians 3:7So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.
• 1 Corinthians 4:1So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.
• Luke 1:2just as they were handed down to us by the initial eyewitnesses and servants of the word.
• Romans 10:14How then can they call on the One in whom they have not believed? And how can they believe in the One of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone to preach?
• 2 Corinthians 3:6And He has qualified us as ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
• 2 Corinthians 4:5For we do not proclaim ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.
• 2 Corinthians 6:1As God’s fellow workers, then, we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain.
• 2 Corinthians 11:23Are they servants of Christ? (I am speaking as if I were out of my mind.) I am so much more: in harder labor, in more imprisonments, in worse beatings, in frequent danger of death.
• 1 Corinthians 3:10By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one must be careful how he builds.
• 1 Corinthians 9:17If my preaching is voluntary, I have a reward. But if it is not voluntary, I am still entrusted with a responsibility.
• 1 Corinthians 12:4There are different gifts, but the same Spirit.
• Matthew 25:15To one he gave five talents, to another two talents, and to another one talent—each according to his own ability. And he went on his journey.
• John 3:27John replied, “A man can receive only what is given him from heaven.
• Romans 12:3For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but think of yourself with sober judgment, according to the measure of faith God has given you.
• 1 Peter 4:10As good stewards of the manifold grace of God, each of you should use whatever gift he has received to serve one another.

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 3:5

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 5Ministers by whom ye believed - The different apostles who have preached unto you the word of life are the means which God has used to bring you to the knowledge of Christ. No one of those has either preached or recommended himself; they all preach and recommend Christ Jesus the Lord. Even as the Lord gave to every man? - Whatever difference there may be in our talents, it is of God's making; and he who knows best what is best for his Church, has…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 5Who then is Paul … - See the notes at 1 Corinthians 1:13. Why should a party be formed which should be named after Paul? What has he done or taught that should lead to this? What eminence has he that should induce any to call themselves by his name? He is on a level with the other apostles; and all are but ministers, or servants, and have no claim to the honor of giving names to sects and parties. God is the fountain of all your blessings, and whoever may…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 5-9Verses 5-9 The ministers about whom the Corinthians contended, were only instruments used by God. We should not put ministers into the place of God. He that planteth and he that watereth are one, employed by one Master, trusted with the same revelation, busied in one work, and engaged in one design. They have their different gifts from one and the same Spirit, for the very same purposes; and should carry on the same design heartily. Those who work hardest…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 5-9It is wrong to proudly identify as a follower of a human teacher because God does the real work of redemption. He deserves the honor. They are servants: See 2 Corinthians 4:5.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 55. Who then--Seeing then that ye severally strive so for your favorite teachers, "Who is (of what intrinsic power and dignity) Paul?" If so great an apostle reasons so of himself, how much more does humility, rather than self-seeking, become ordinary ministers! Paul ... Apollos--The oldest manuscripts read in the reverse order, "Apollos," &c. Paul." He puts Apollos before himself in humility. but ministers, &c.--The oldest manuscripts have no "but." "Who…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Corinthians 3:5

• Apollos
• Deacon
• Zeal, Religious

In the dictionaries

• Apollos
• Paul
• Paul, Saul
• Corinthians, First Epistle to the
• Foundation
• Humility
• Minister
• Plant
• Corinthians, First Epistle to the
• Paul, the Apostle

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings