New Living Translation
1 Corinthians 3:7
7It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow.
1 Corinthians 3:7 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.
- New International Version (NIV)So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.
- English Standard Version (ESV)So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.
- New King James Version (NKJV)So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.
Context of 1 Corinthians 3:7
5After all, who is Apollos? Who is Paul? We are only God’s servants through whom you believed the Good News. Each of us did the work the Lord gave us. 6I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow. It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow. 8The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose. And both will be rewarded for their own hard work. 9For we are both God’s workers. And you are God’s field. You are God’s building.
Read all of 1 Corinthians 31 Corinthians 3:7 word by word
ὥστε οὔτε ὁ φυτεύων ἐστίν τι οὔτε ὁ ποτίζων, ἀλλ᾽ ὁ αὐξάνων θεός·Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- So thenὥστεhōste · soG5620
- neitherοὔτεoute · neitherG3777
- is heεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- that plantethφυτεύωphuteuō · to plantG5452
- any thingτιςtis · oneG5100
- he that waterethποτίζωpotizō · to waterG4222
- butἀλλάalla · butG235
- Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
- that giveth the increaseαὐξάνωauxanō · to growG837
Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 3:7
- 1 Corinthians 13:2If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing.
- Psalms 115:1Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name goes all the glory for your unfailing love and faithfulness.
- Isaiah 40:17The nations of the world are worth nothing to him. In his eyes they count for less than nothing— mere emptiness and froth.
- Isaiah 41:29See, they are all foolish, worthless things. All your idols are as empty as the wind.
- Daniel 4:35All the people of the earth are nothing compared to him. He does as he pleases among the angels of heaven and among the people of the earth. No one can stop him or say to him, ‘What do you mean by doing these things?’
- John 15:5“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.
- 2 Corinthians 12:9Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.
- Galatians 6:3If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important.
Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 3:7
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 7So 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 laborers are his, and the produce all comes from himself.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 7Anything - 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…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. 77. neither is he that ... anything ... but God--namely, is all in all. "God" is emphatically last in the Greek, "He that giveth the increase (namely), God." Here follows a parenthesis, 1Co 3:8-21, where "Let no man glory in men" stands in antithetic contrast to "God" here.Read the comment
Topics related to 1 Corinthians 3:7
In the dictionaries
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
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