What does 1 Corinthians 3:7 mean?

So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. 1 Corinthians 3:7

Explanation

1 Corinthians 3:7 is a verse that highlights the sovereignty and power of God in the process of spiritual growth. The apostle Paul is addressing the church in Corinth, dealing with issues of division among them. The members of the Corinthian church were boasting about different apostles, with some claiming allegiance to Paul and others to Apollos, another early Christian teacher. Paul uses the metaphor of planting and watering to illustrate the roles that human ministers play in God’s work. He emphasizes that while one person may plant the seed (the gospel) and another may water it (nurture the believers), the actual growth is entirely God’s doing. The literal meaning is clear; human effort in ministry is necessary but ultimately inconsequential without the blessing of divine intervention. The deeper meaning suggests humility and the recognition of God’s supremacy in all things, especially in the work of the church and individual spiritual development.

Historical Context

This verse is part of a larger discussion in Paul’s first epistle to the Corinthians, written approximately in A.D. 53-55. The church in Corinth was a relatively young Christian community with diverse backgrounds, including both Jews and gentiles, rich and poor, and various cultures. They struggled with unity and had succumbed to boasting and divisions, often regarding who was the better leader. Paul’s message is a response to reports he had received about this sectarian spirit, and his metaphor of planting and watering was well understood in a largely agrarian society. Paul’s epistle aims to address these issues and correct the behavior of the Corinthian believers.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, this verse emphasizes God’s role in spiritual growth and the futility of human pride and boasting in ministry. The verse aligns with the Christian belief that salvation and growth are acts of grace, not human accomplishment. This view supports the doctrine of sola gratia (grace alone), where faith and regeneration are God-given, not man-made.

Among different Christian traditions, there may be variations in the interpretation of the role that human actions play in partnership with divine action. For example, some may emphasize that God is always the prime mover, while others might focus on the cooperative aspect of grace, such as Synergism, which suggests a cooperation between human will and divine grace.

Practical Applications

The teachings of this verse can be applied in a number of practical ways:

• Christians are encouraged to be humble in ministry and recognize that despite their efforts, it is God who causes any increase or spiritual growth.
• Believers should avoid divisions within the church centered around church leaders or individual beliefs, remembering that all are servants of God.
• This verse can serve as a reminder that success in ministry or in spiritual life is not for personal accolades but for the glory of God.
• In daily life, the principle of recognizing God’s hand in all outcomes can lead to a more grateful and less self-centered life.

Cross-References

• 1 Corinthians 15:10 – “But by the grace of God, I am what I am: and his grace which was upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.”
• Acts 18:9-11 – “And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.”
• John 15:5 – “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”

Language Study

In the original Greek, significant words in 1 Corinthians 3:7 include:

• “planteth” (φυτεύων, phyteuōn): to plant, used metaphorically for initiating or starting something.
• “watereth” (ποτίζων, potizōn): to water, to provide with water for growth, used metaphorically for nurturing or continuing something.
• “giveth the increase” (αὔξανον διδούς, auxanon didous): to cause to grow, increase. Here, it indicates the divine action of causing growth.

These terms are common agricultural metaphors that Paul uses to explain spiritual realities.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Comparing this verse to other ancient beliefs, one can find parallel thought patterns in several other religious traditions. For instance, in various Greek philosophies, there was an understanding of some higher power being responsible for true growth or enlightenment. However, Christianity places a personal God at the center of this spiritual growth, rather than an abstract principle or impersonal force.

In Judaism, the idea of God as the one who gives growth and blessing is also prevalent, seen in the many accounts of God’s providential actions in the Hebrew scriptures.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific standpoint, this verse metaphorically references agriculture, a process well understood by modern science. While humans can seed and water a plant, the biological growth process is indeed governed by natural laws created by God, in the Christian perspective. While science can describe the mechanisms of growth, it does not ascribe an ultimate purpose or intentionality behind these processes, which is where faith traditions step in to provide a spiritual interpretation of the natural world.

Commentaries

Various biblical commentaries interpret 1 Corinthians 3:7 as a call to humility and a reminder of God’s sovereignty:

• Matthew Henry’s Commentary emphasizes the unity in purpose of those who plant and water and how God alone makes this teamwork fruitful.
• The Expositor’s Bible Commentary highlights the importance of every contributor in the process, but ultimately God deserves the glory for the growth.
• The NIV Application Commentary suggests that the goal of the servants should not be personal success but the growth that comes from God.

Each of these commentaries acknowledges the cooperative effort in ministry but affirms that ultimate success depends on God’s providence.