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 fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like ordinary people? 4For when one person says, “I am with Paul,” and another, “I am with Apollos,” are you not ordinary people? What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, even as the Lord gave opportunity to each one. 6I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. 7So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth.

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
• is ApollosἈπολλῶςApollōs · ApollosG625
• is PaulΠαῦλοςPaulos · PaulG3972
• Servantsδιάκονοςdiakonos · servantG1249
• throughδιάdia · through/because ofG1223
• whomὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• you believedπιστεύωpisteuō · to trust (in)G4100
• evenκαίkai · andG2532
• as the Lordκύριοςkurios · lord: GodG2962
• gaveδίδωμιdidōmi · to giveG1325
• to eachἕκαστοςhekastos · eachG1538

Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 3:5

• 1 Corinthians 3:7So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth.
• 1 Corinthians 4:1This is the way any person is 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 those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word,
• Romans 10:14How then are they to call on Him in whom they have not believed? How are they to believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how are they to hear without a preacher?
• 2 Corinthians 3:6who also made us adequate as servants 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 preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants on account of Jesus.
• 2 Corinthians 6:1And working together with Him, we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain--
• 2 Corinthians 11:23Are they servants of Christ?--I am speaking as if insane--I more so; in far more labors, in far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, often in danger of death.
• 1 Corinthians 3:10According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each person must be careful how he builds on it.
• 1 Corinthians 9:17For if I do this voluntarily, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have been entrusted with a commission nonetheless.
• 1 Corinthians 12:4Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit.
• Matthew 25:15To one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey.
• John 3:27John replied, “A person can receive not even one thing unless it has been given to him from heaven.
• Romans 12:3For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.
• 1 Peter 4:10As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the multifaceted grace of God.

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