Albert Barnes Commentary 1 Corinthians 3:6

"I planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase." — 1 Corinthians 3:6 (ASV)

I have planted. The apostle here compares the establishment of the church at Corinth to the planting of a vine, a tree, or grain. The figure is taken from agriculture, and the meaning is obvious. Paul established the church. He was the first preacher in Corinth; and if any distinction was due to anyone, it was to him rather than to the teachers who had labored there subsequently. However, he regarded himself as worthy of no such honor as to be the head of a party, for it was not himself, but God who had given the increase.

Apollos watered. This figure is taken from the practice of watering a tender plant, or of watering a garden or field. This was particularly necessary in eastern countries. Their fields became parched and dry from their long droughts, and it was necessary to irrigate them by artificial means. The meaning here is that Paul had labored in establishing the church at Corinth, but that subsequently Apollos had labored to increase it and to build it up. It is certain that Apollos did not go to Corinth until after Paul had left it (see Acts 18:18, 27).

God gave the increase. God caused the seed sown to take root and spring up, and God blessed the irrigation of the tender plants as they sprang up and caused them to grow. This idea is still taken from the farmer. It would be vain for the farmer to sow his seed unless God should give it life.

There is no life in the seed, nor is there any inherent power in the earth to make it grow. God only, the Giver of all life, can quicken the germ in the seed and make it live. So it would be in vain for the farmer to water his plant unless God should bless it.

There is no living principle in the water, no inherent power in the rains of heaven to make the plant grow. Water is indeed suited for this, and the seed would not germinate if it were not planted, nor grow if it were not watered; but the life is still from God.

He arranged these means, and He gives life to the tender blade and sustains it. And so it is with the word of life. It has no inherent power to produce an effect by itself. The power is not in the naked word, nor in the one who plants, nor in the one who waters, nor in the heart where it is sown, but in God.

But there is a fitness of the means to the end. The word is adapted to save the soul. The seed must be sown, or it will not germinate. The truth must be sown in the heart, and the heart must be prepared for it—as the earth must be plowed and made mellow—or it will not spring up.

It must be cultivated with assiduous care, or it will produce nothing. But still, it is all of God, just as much as the yellow harvest of the field, after all the toils of the farmer, is of God. And as the farmer who has a proper understanding will take no praise to himself because his corn and his vine start up and grow after all his care, but will ascribe all to God's unceasing, beneficent agency, so will the minister of religion, and so will every Christian, after all their care, ascribe all to God.