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There is a single thread running through this section which unites the different phases
of Paul's argument, and which saves the reader when he sees it from importing
extraneous matter into the Apostle's theme; it is the reference to the divisions which had
developed in Corinth around the names of Paul, Apollos and Cephas. These references
are I Cor. 1: 12; 3: 4, 5, 6, 22; and 4: 6. Out of the first of these references, the
argument of I Cor. 1: 13-31 develops, which is further expanded in chapter 2:
In
chapter 3: the Apostle reverts to the abuse of the names of the apostles and teachers,
saying:
"For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?
Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the
Lord gave to every man?" (I Cor. 3: 4, 5).
"From this statement a chain of argument links the contrasting babes and full grown
with the antonym of the foundation and the building. The argument is that Paul and
Apollos are but ministers, and all such ministry is `as the Lord gave to every man'.
Consequently, to magnify the minister is to forget the Lord Whose grace alone makes all
and any ministry profitable. In order to enforce this thought, the Apostle speaks of his
own ministry and that of Apollos in terms of husbandry:
(2)
I have planted.
(3)
Apollos watered.
(4)
But God gave the increase (or growth).
The Apostle said, in effect, see how foolish this party spirit really is. Transfer your
argument to the field worker. Consider, of what use is the planter without his planting
receiving subsequent care? Or, of what use is watering if there has been no preceding
planting? Don't you see, the work of both is inter-dependent? Above and beyond this
however is a more serious omission. Suppose one plants most carefully, and another
waters most assiduously, of what avail will all this labour be apart from God, Who giveth
the increase? Behind all the labour of man in the field, stands the miracle of life and
growth:
"So then neither is he that planteth anything, neither he that watereth; but God that
giveth the increase" (I Cor. 3: 7).
On the other hand, continued the Apostle, when once you have these things in their
true perspective, then you can return to the individual minister, for God is not unjust or
unmindful, for:
"He that planteth and he that watereth are one" (I Cor. 3: 8).
Even so, there is no confusion of service, recognition, or reward in the eyes of the
Lord:
". . . . . and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour" (3: 8).