1 Corinthians 3:6 Meaning and Explanation
“I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Paul planted and Apollos watered, but only God made the seed of faith grow.
What Does 1 Corinthians 3:6 Mean?
Paul turns to the image of a field. He himself founded the church (planting), and Apollos nurtured it afterward (watering). Each did real and necessary work in sequence.
Yet the living power that makes anything grow belongs to God alone. A farmer cannot command a seed to sprout; he can only tend it. So the increase of faith and the fruit of any ministry are God's gift, which keeps human servants from boasting and keeps glory where it belongs.
1 Corinthians 3:6 in the Original Language
auxano (αὐξάνω), 'increase' -- to cause to grow, the living enlargement only God can give.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Corinthians 3:6
What does 1 Corinthians 3:6 mean?
Paul planted and Apollos watered, but only God made the seed of faith grow.