John Calvin Commentary 1 Corinthians 3:9

"For we are God`s fellow-workers: ye are God`s husbandry, God`s building." — 1 Corinthians 3:9 (ASV)

For we are fellow-laborers with God. This is the best argument. It is the Lord’s work in which we are employed, and it is to Him that we have devoted our labors. Therefore, as He is faithful and just, He will not disappoint us of our reward. Accordingly, that person is mistaken who looks to people, or depends merely on their remuneration.

Here we have an admirable commendation of the ministry—that while God could accomplish the work entirely Himself, He calls us, puny mortals, to be, as it were, His co-workers, and makes use of us as instruments. Regarding the perversion of this statement by the Papists to support their system of free will, it is exceedingly silly, for Paul shows here not what people can achieve by their natural powers, but what the Lord accomplishes through them by His grace.

Regarding the interpretation given by some—that Paul, being God’s workman, was a fellow-workman with his colleagues, that is, with the other teachers—it appears to me harsh and forced, and there is nothing whatever in the case that compels us to resort to that refinement. For it corresponds admirably with the Apostle’s design to understand him to mean that, while it is peculiarly the work of God to build His temple or cultivate His vineyard, He calls forth ministers to be fellow-laborers, through whom He alone works, but at the same time, in such a way that they, in turn, labor in common with Him. Regarding the reward of works, consult my Institutes.

“God’s husbandry, God’s building.” These expressions may be explained in two ways. They may be taken actively in this sense: You have been planted in the Lord’s field by the labor of people in such a way that our heavenly Father Himself is the true Husbandman and the Author of this planting.

You have been built up by people in such a way that He Himself is the true Master-builder. Or, it may be taken in a passive sense, thus: In laboring to till you, and to sow the word of God among you and water it, we have not done this on our own account, or with a view to advantage for ourselves, but have devoted our service to the Lord.

In our endeavors to build you up, we have not been influenced by a view to our own advantage, but with a view to your being God’s planting and building. I prefer this latter interpretation, for I am of the opinion that Paul meant here to express the idea that true ministers labor not for themselves, but for the Lord. It therefore follows that the Corinthians were greatly to blame in devoting themselves to people, when by right they belonged exclusively to God. And, in the first place, He calls them His husbandry, continuing the metaphor previously used, and then afterwards, with the view of introducing a larger discussion, He uses another metaphor, derived from architecture.