1 Corinthians 3:8 - Printer Friendly

ESV: He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor.

NIV: The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor.

NASB: Now the one who plants and the one who waters are one; but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor.

CSB: Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his own reward according to his own labor.

NLT: The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose. And both will be rewarded for their own hard work.

KJV: Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.

NKJV: Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.

Paul has used an agricultural metaphor to tackle needless division and fighting in the Corinth. The Corinthians believers have divided themselves into factions based on which Christian leader they were loyal to. Most likely, this also meant them proclaiming which Christian teachers they stood against.

Paul has written that he and Apollos are both merely servants of the true source of power. One planted the seed of the gospel and another watered it, but only God could cause it to grow. Now Paul states clearly that he and Apollos are one. They are on the same side, working together to complete the same mission. They are not in competition, and it does not make sense to choose one over the other to be loyal to. Those who plant and water don't seek a following; they just want to do the job they've been given.

Paul's lesson here does not excuse false teaching or heresy. The point is not that every single person who claims Christ is an equally worthy source of spiritual knowledge (2 Peter 2:1). Rather, it is that differences are not the same as disagreements, and preferences are not the same as principles (Romans 14).

Paul adds that each will be paid for his labor. Paul teaches about awards for faithful service in several of his letters, but here his point may be that both he and Apollos are paid by the same master: God. This shows that both are working together for the gospel and not against each other. Why would anyone declare him- or herself a follower of one of the workers and not the one who is responsible for the entire project?

First Corinthians 3:1–9 describes Paul's rebuke of the Corinthian Christians as infants in Christ. As a contrast to a spiritually-indwelt believer, Paul uses the concept of being ''merely human.'' Such persons are not ready for solid food, still behaving as immature, undeveloped believers. Instead of following Paul or Apollos, or some other human being, they should follow God, the master of all. Different leaders might be called to different tasks in God's will, but none are ultimately more important than others.

Paul cannot call the Corinthian Christians ''spiritual'' people. Though they are in Christ, they continue to live to the flesh. They are spiritual infants, not ready for solid food. Divisions among them prove they are still serving themselves, picking sides in a senseless debate between Christian teachers. Paul insists that both he and Apollos are mere servants of the Lord and co-workers. They are not in competition. Those who lead the Corinthians must build carefully because their work will be tested on the day of the Lord. Christian leaders who build the church will have their work judged by Christ to see if they have built on the foundation of Christ. All human wisdom will be shown to be futile and worthless.

First Corinthians 3 follows Paul's teaching that only spiritual people can understand the wisdom of God. Paul cannot fully call the Corinthian Christians spiritual people, though, because they continue to live of the flesh, as if they were still infants trapped in an immature condition. Evidence includes the divisions among them. Paul insist that he and Apollos are both servants of the same master. The Corinthians should follow God, not them. Those whose work is worthless will suffer loss, but they will be saved. After this, Paul will expound on the idea that believers ought to set Christ as their example, rather than being defined in terms of their earthly leaders.

First Corinthians is one of the more practical books of the New Testament. Paul writes to a church immersed in a city associated with trade, but also with corruption and immorality. These believers are struggling to properly apply spiritual gifts and to resist the ungodly practices of the surrounding culture. Paul's letter gives instructions for real-life concerns such as marriage and spirituality. He also deals with the importance of unity and gives one of the Bible's more well-known descriptions of love in chapter 13.