The Corinthians were immature, “mere infants” who were pridefully following men, quarreling and jealous of one another, etc.; they needed maturing in the Gospel.
Hebrews 5:13 NIV says, “Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness.” Those wanting to mature in Christ must become intimately acquainted with the message of the cross, which tells us of sin removed and righteousness given. “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21).
Notice how Paul encourages the growth of the Corinthians:
“What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. 6 I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. 7 So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 8 The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. 9 For we are co-workers in God's service; you are God's field, God's building.”
1 Corinthians 3:5-9 NIV
Question 1. What analogy does Paul use in 1 Corinthians 3:6-8 NIV?
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To people claiming to follow men, Paul declares that 1) he and Apollos are merely servants through whom (not in whom) you believe (1 Corinthians 3:5), and 2) God alone can make things grow (verse 6).
Paul then uses an analogy of a field; the Corinthians were the field. For something to grow in a field, a seed must be planted and watered. Paul had planted "the seed" by preaching the Gospel to the Corinthians; Apollos watered "the seed" as he reinforced the Gospel, both had their tasks assigned by God (verse 5). But please note two important points:
Neither the one that plants nor the one that waters are anything, meaning contextually they are nothing, and
God is everything. Only He can cause growth. Paul could have planted seeds all day long with no growth unless God provided good soil. Apollos could have watered carefully and strategically, with no growth, unless God brought it about. Spiritual growth, like spiritual life, is a miracle! Only God can “make things grow!”
Ultimately, Paul’s message is always the Gospel and is one of the reasons Paul uses the analogy of a field. Two thousand years ago, God looked out over the world and saw it as a field, “the field is the world” (Matthew 13:38). Out of love for you, He planted His Son in the ground and covered Him over with the dirt of your sin. On the third day, Jesus rose, having eradicated your sin and guilt from you. Having purchased your full pardon and secured your eternal life, He ascended to the Father. Now, everyone who believes in Him is the “fruit” produced by the Seed planted in the ground.
All servants of the Lord who minister the Gospel are to be respected, valued, and appreciated, but are to continually point away from themselves and to this “Seed” planted, to Jesus Christ, so that after they have ministered to you, Christ crucified receives your praise.
At one point, Jesus took Peter, James, and John up to a high mountain and was transfigured in front of them, and then Moses and Elijah, whose lives and ministries were long over, appeared and spoke with Jesus. Peter got confused and said the wrong thing, so God spoke to make things clear, and the disciples were afraid, but Jesus comforted them, and notice what happened next “when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus” (Matthew 17:8).
Moses and Elijah (representing the Law and the Prophets) had served faithfully, pointing away from themselves and to Jesus; God confirmed His Son as the One that mattered, and in the end, the disciples saw Jesus only. All who minister the Gospel should make every effort to leave their hearers focused on Jesus, mesmerized by His love displayed on the cross, in awe of the One who gave His life for them and rose from the dead three days later.
Only beholding Him corrects the way we live, enabling us to turn from sin and mature in our faith! That is why “We proclaim Him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ” (Colossians 1:28 Berean Study Bible).
Question 2. Please read John 12:24. As you consider Jesus, the Seed who died for you, what are your thoughts?
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