“So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.”
My Notes
What Does 1 Corinthians 3:7 Mean?
"Neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase." Paul resolves the Corinthian personality cult ("I am of Paul," "I am of Apollos" — 1:12) by diminishing both himself and Apollos: neither the planter nor the waterer matters. God is the one who produces growth. The leaders are instruments. The growth is God's.
The phrase "any thing" (ti) is deliberately reductive: neither planter nor waterer is anything. Not "less important" — nothing. Paul's self-assessment and his assessment of Apollos are equally zero. In the context of God's growth-giving power, human instrumentality is insignificant.
The agricultural metaphor distributes functions: one plants, another waters, God grows. Each function is different. Each is necessary. None is the cause of the growth. The plant doesn't grow because someone planted it — the plant grows because God gives the increase. The planting and watering are necessary conditions, not sufficient causes.
Reflection Questions
- 1.Are you following a leader more than the God behind the leader?
- 2.What credit are you taking for growth that God actually produced?
- 3.How does 'the planter is nothing' free you from both celebrity worship and ministry pressure?
- 4.What does it mean for necessary instruments to be personally insignificant?
Devotional
The planter is nothing. The waterer is nothing. God gives the growth. Two powerful ministers — Paul and Apollos — are reduced to zero by comparison with the God who actually produces results.
The Corinthians were divided into personality cults: Team Paul, Team Apollos, Team Peter. Each group thought their leader was superior. Paul's response: we're all nothing. Neither the person who planted nor the person who watered is significant. The growth comes from God. Your favorite leader is instrumentally necessary and personally insignificant.
This is one of the healthiest statements about ministry in the New Testament: the workers don't matter. The work does. And even the work doesn't produce the results — God does. You can plant perfectly and water diligently, and without God's growth-giving power, nothing grows. The growth isn't your product. It's God's gift.
This should humble every leader and free every follower. Leaders: stop claiming credit for what God grows. Your planting is important but insufficient. Your watering is necessary but inadequate. The growth belongs to God, and the glory should too. Followers: stop idolizing leaders. They're nothing — they said so themselves. The God behind the leaders is everything.
Who are you following more than the God behind them? And if you're a leader, what credit are you taking for growth that God produced?
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
So then, neither is he that planteth anything,.... Not that he is the happy instrument of beginning the good work:…
Anything - This is to he taken comparatively. They are nothing in comparison with God! Their agency is of no importance…
So then, neither is he that planteth any thing - God alone should have all the glory, as the seed is his, the ground is…
Here the apostle instructs them how to cure this humour, and rectify what was amiss among them upon this head,
I. By…
Christian Ministers only labourers of more or less efficiency, the substantial work being God's
6. I have planted,…
Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture