1 Corinthians 3:5
What does 1 Corinthians 3:5 mean?
A plain-English look at 1 Corinthians 3:5 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What 1 Corinthians 3:5 means
Paul reduces both himself and Apollos to their proper scale: “Ministers through whom ye believed; and each as the Lord gave to him.” They are instruments, not sources; channels, not springs. Faith came through their service, but the Lord assigned the place, portion, and power. This verse restores perspective about Christian leadership. God uses different servants in different ways, but He remains the author of all saving fruit. Boasting in the vessel ignores the Giver. By asking, “What then is Apollos? and what is Paul?” Paul invites the church to answer rightly: God’s servants, nothing more and nothing less. This humility honors God and guards the church from personality-driven divisions.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000What then is Apollos? and what is Paul? Ministers through whom ye believed; and each as the Lord gave to him.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901What then is Apollos? and what is Paul? Ministers through whom ye believed; and each as the Lord gave to him.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949What then is Apollos? and what is Paul? They are but servants who gave you the good news as God gave it to them.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862Who, then, is Paul, and who Apollos, but ministrants through whom ye did believe, and to each as the Lord gave?
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752The ministers of him whom you have believed: and to every one as the Lord hath given.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Who then is Apollos, and who Paul? Ministering servants, through whom ye have believed, and as the Lord has given to each.
Context
Verse 4 named the problem—loyalty to leaders as party identifiers. Now Paul reframes leadership in God-centered terms. He begins a new section (verses 5–9) that employs agricultural and architectural images to show complementary roles under God’s sovereign action. The point is not to demean ministers but to dethrone them from the pedestal the Corinthians built. Next, verse 6 will explain the different tasks of planting and watering, followed by the central truth that God alone causes growth. This prepares for both unity among ministers and a warning about how we build on Christ.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 1 Peter 4:10
according as each hath received a gift, ministering it among yourselves, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God;
- 2 Corinthians 3:6
who also made us sufficient as ministers of a new covenant; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
- 2 Corinthians 6:4
but in everything commending ourselves, as ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,
- Romans 12:3
For I say, through the grace that was given me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but so to think as to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to each man a measure of faith.
- 1 Corinthians 3:10
According to the grace of God which was given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder I laid a foundation; and another buildeth thereon. But let each man take heed how he buildeth thereon.
- 1 Corinthians 12:4
Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
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