1 Corinthians 3:5 Meaning and Explanation
“Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Paul and Apollos are only servants through whom the Corinthians came to faith, each given his work by the Lord.
What Does 1 Corinthians 3:5 Mean?
Paul answers his own question by lowering himself and Apollos to their true rank: ministers, servants, the channels through which the Corinthians believed. Their roles were assigned by the Lord, not seized for themselves.
The point dissolves the rivalry at its root. If teachers are merely servants, there is no glory to compete over. Faith came to the Corinthians through them but was never about them. Every gift and task is given, so every laborer remains accountable to the One who gave it.
1 Corinthians 3:5 in the Original Language
diakonos (διάκονος), 'ministers' -- servants or attendants, those who wait on the needs of others.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Corinthians 3:5
What does 1 Corinthians 3:5 mean?
Paul and Apollos are only servants through whom the Corinthians came to faith, each given his work by the Lord.