1 Corinthians 3:7

KJV

So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.

KJV (with Strong's)

So {G5620} then neither {G3777} is {G2076} he that planteth {G5452} any thing {G5100}, neither {G3777} he that watereth {G4222}; but {G235} God {G2316} that giveth the increase {G837}.

Complete Jewish Bible

So neither the planter nor the waterer is anything, only God who makes things grow —

Berean Standard Bible

So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.

American Standard Version

So then neither is he that planteth anything, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
1 Corinthians 3:7 delivers a profound theological statement on the nature of spiritual growth and ministry, asserting that while human efforts in planting and watering the seed of the Gospel are essential acts of obedience, they are ultimately secondary to God's sovereign power. This verse underscores that true spiritual increase—conversion, sanctification, and the expansion of the church—is a divine work, reminding believers and ministers alike to maintain humility and to attribute all fruitfulness to God alone.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is deeply embedded within Paul's initial arguments in his First Epistle to the Corinthian church, where he confronts severe divisions and spiritual immaturity. The Corinthians were factionalized, with some aligning themselves with Paul, others with Apollos, and still others with Cephas or Christ ([1 Corinthians 1:12](/1_corinthians/1-12 "1 Corinthians 1:12 - Divisions in the Church")). Paul addresses this by challenging their worldly wisdom and carnal thinking, redirecting their focus from human personalities to God's ultimate authority and power. Immediately preceding this verse, [1 Corinthians 3:6](/1_corinthians/3-6 "1 Corinthians 3:6 - Paul Plants, Apollos Waters") establishes the agricultural metaphor: "I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase." Verse 7 then draws the logical and theological conclusion from this premise, emphasizing the absolute insignificance of the human instruments in comparison to the divine source of growth. The subsequent verses continue to develop this theme, highlighting the unity of purpose among God's co-laborers and the ultimate judgment based on the quality of their work, not its perceived success based on human metrics ([1 Corinthians 3:8-15](/1_corinthians/3-8-15 "1 Corinthians 3:8-15 - Laborers Together with God")).
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The city of Corinth was a major Roman provincial capital, a bustling commercial hub known for its wealth, diverse population, and a syncretistic religious environment. Its culture was heavily influenced by Greco-Roman philosophies, particularly rhetoric and intellectualism, which often led to an admiration of eloquent speakers and charismatic leaders. This cultural backdrop helps explain the Corinthian church's tendency to elevate human wisdom and personal allegiances, leading to the formation of cliques around prominent figures like Paul and Apollos. Paul's agricultural metaphor of planting and watering would have been readily understood by an ancient audience, as agriculture was a foundational aspect of their daily lives. By applying this common imagery to spiritual work, Paul subtly refutes the Corinthian overemphasis on human charisma and intellectual prowess, instead pointing to a divine, supernatural process that transcends human capabilities. His argument challenges the prevailing cultural values that prized human achievement and status, reorienting the church's perspective towards God's exclusive role in spiritual transformation.
* **Key Themes:** 1 Corinthians 3:7 contributes significantly to several overarching themes in the epistle. Foremost is the theme of **Divine Sovereignty in Spiritual Growth**, asserting that God alone is the source of life and increase in the spiritual realm. This directly counters the Corinthian tendency to attribute success to human agents or methods. It also reinforces the theme of **Humility in Ministry**, as it strips away any basis for boasting in human accomplishment, reminding all believers that they are merely instruments in God's hands. Furthermore, by de-emphasizing individual contributions, the verse promotes **Unity and Collaboration** within the body of Christ, fostering a sense that all laborers are working together for God's glory, not their own ([1 Corinthians 3:9](/1_corinthians/3-9 "1 Corinthians 3:9 - God's Fellow Workers")). This passage also implicitly addresses the theme of **True Wisdom versus Worldly Wisdom**, contrasting the Corinthians' carnal reliance on human leaders and intellectualism with the divine wisdom that recognizes God as the ultimate giver of growth ([1 Corinthians 1:18-25](/1_corinthians/1-18-25 "1 Corinthians 1:18-25 - The Wisdom of God")). Ultimately, the verse redirects the church's focus back to the **Glory of God**, ensuring that all praise for spiritual fruitfulness is directed to Him alone.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **planteth (Greek, _phyteúō'_):** This verb signifies "to set out in the earth" or "to implant." Figuratively, as used here, it means "to instil doctrine" or "to initiate spiritual work." It refers to the initial act of evangelism or teaching, laying the groundwork for faith.
* **watereth (Greek, _potízō'_):** Meaning "to furnish drink" or "to irrigate," this word extends the agricultural metaphor to the ongoing nurture and discipleship of new believers. It speaks to the continuous effort of teaching, encouraging, and supporting spiritual development after the initial planting.
* **increase (Greek, _auxánō'_):** This term denotes "to grow," "to wax," or "to enlarge," encompassing both literal and figurative growth, active or passive. In this context, it powerfully conveys the idea of spiritual growth, numerical expansion, and the development of faith, all of which are divinely enabled and not merely the result of human effort.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"So then neither is he that planteth any thing":** Paul begins with a strong negation, emphasizing the utter insignificance of the human agent who initiates the spiritual work. The planter, despite their crucial role in sowing the seed of the Gospel, possesses no inherent power or merit to produce life or growth on their own. Their action, while necessary, is not the source of the outcome.
* **"neither he that watereth":** This clause extends the same principle of human insignificance to the one who nurtures and sustains the spiritual life. The waterer, who provides ongoing care and instruction, is equally powerless to bring about genuine spiritual increase. Both roles are vital but derive their efficacy not from themselves, but from a higher power.
* **"but God that giveth the increase":** This is the pivotal and climactic declaration of the verse. The conjunction "but" (Greek, _allá'_) introduces a stark contrast, shifting the focus entirely to God. It is God, and God alone, who possesses the power to cause spiritual growth, to bring life from the planted seed, and to enlarge the kingdom. This phrase highlights divine sovereignty as the exclusive source of all true spiritual fruitfulness.

#### Literary Devices
The primary literary device employed in 1 Corinthians 3:7 is the **Agricultural Metaphor**. Paul consistently uses the imagery of planting, watering, and giving increase to explain spiritual work. This metaphor is highly effective because it draws on a universally understood natural process to illustrate a profound spiritual truth. Just as a farmer can plant and water but cannot force a seed to sprout or grow, so too human ministers can preach and teach, but only God can bring about conversion and spiritual maturity. The verse also employs **Understatement** (or Meiosis) by stating that the planter and waterer are "neither...any thing." This is not to say their work is valueless, but rather to minimize their independent significance in comparison to God's ultimate power, thereby preventing human boasting and redirecting all glory to the divine source. Finally, there is a strong **Contrast** between human effort and divine action, highlighted by the "neither...but God" construction, which serves to emphatically underscore God's exclusive role in producing spiritual results.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
1 Corinthians 3:7 serves as a foundational text for understanding the nature of divine sovereignty and human responsibility in the work of God's kingdom. It teaches that while God graciously involves human agents in His redemptive plan, He remains the ultimate and indispensable source of all spiritual life and growth. This truth guards against both human pride and despair; pride, by reminding us that our efforts are merely instruments, and despair, by assuring us that the effectiveness of our ministry does not depend on our own strength or wisdom, but on God's omnipotence. It aligns with the broader biblical narrative that God initiates, sustains, and completes His work, often through seemingly weak or insignificant means, so that all glory might redound to Him alone. This principle applies not only to evangelism and church growth but also to individual sanctification, reminding us that our spiritual maturity is a work of grace, not merely self-effort.

* [John 15:5](/john/15-5 "John 15:5 - Abiding in Christ for Fruitfulness")
* [Philippians 2:13](/philippians/2-13 "Philippians 2:13 - God Works in You")
* [Acts 11:21](/acts/11-21 "Acts 11:21 - The Hand of the Lord was with them")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
1 Corinthians 3:7 offers profound liberation and a vital perspective for every believer engaged in God's work. It frees us from the crushing burden of feeling solely responsible for spiritual outcomes, whether in evangelism, discipleship, or simply living out our faith. Our call is to faithfulness in planting the seeds of the Gospel through our words and deeds, and to diligently water them through ongoing nurture and prayer. The pressure to "produce" results, often a source of anxiety and burnout in ministry, is alleviated by the clear declaration that "God that giveth the increase." This truth fosters deep humility, preventing us from taking undue credit for conversions or spiritual breakthroughs, and instead directing all praise to the One who truly performs the work. It also promotes a beautiful unity within the body of Christ, as we recognize that every person's contribution, no matter how seemingly small or behind the scenes, is valued by God, and all glory for the harvest belongs to Him. We are called to work diligently, with passion and skill, but always in humble reliance on His power, knowing that true spiritual fruit is a supernatural gift.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does understanding God as the "giver of the increase" impact your approach to evangelism or discipleship?**
* **In what areas of your life or ministry might you be tempted to rely on your own efforts rather than God's power for growth?**
* **How can this verse foster greater humility and unity within your local church or Christian community?**
* **What practical steps can you take to "plant" and "water" more faithfully, while simultaneously trusting God for the "increase"?**

### FAQ
**Does this verse mean human effort is unimportant in ministry?**

Answer: No, quite the opposite. While 1 Corinthians 3:7 emphasizes God's ultimate sovereignty in giving the increase, it presupposes and affirms the necessity of human effort. Paul explicitly states, "I have planted, Apollos watered" in [1 Corinthians 3:6](/1_corinthians/3-6 "1 Corinthians 3:6 - Paul Plants, Apollos Waters"), acknowledging the vital roles played by human ministers. The verse's point is not to diminish human responsibility or diligence, but to correctly attribute the *source* of spiritual fruitfulness. Our efforts are indispensable acts of obedience and participation in God's work, but they are instruments, not the cause, of spiritual growth. We are called to be faithful laborers, knowing that the power for transformation comes from God alone.

**How does this verse relate to the concept of spiritual gifts?**

Answer: This verse is intimately connected to the concept of spiritual gifts, which Paul discusses extensively later in [1 Corinthians 12](/1_corinthians/12 "1 Corinthians 12 - Spiritual Gifts"). Just as planting and watering are specific functions in the agricultural metaphor, spiritual gifts are diverse manifestations of the Spirit given to believers for the common good ([1 Corinthians 12:4-7](/1_corinthians/12-4-7 "1 Corinthians 12:4-7 - Diversity of Gifts, Unity of Spirit")). Whether one has the gift of evangelism (planting), teaching (watering), or any other gift, the effectiveness and "increase" of that gift's exercise ultimately depend on God's power working through the individual. The verse reinforces that while gifts are diverse and essential for ministry, the glory for any fruit produced belongs to God, who empowers and orchestrates their use for His purposes.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
1 Corinthians 3:7 finds its ultimate fulfillment and deepest meaning in the person and work of Jesus Christ. He is the divine "giver of the increase," not merely in a general sense, but as the very embodiment of God's life-giving power. Jesus Himself used agricultural parables, such as the parable of the sower ([Matthew 13:1-23](/matthew/13-1-23 "Matthew 13:1-23 - Parable of the Sower")), to illustrate that the effectiveness of the seed (the Word of God) depends on the condition of the soil (the human heart) and, implicitly, on God's sovereign work to bring forth fruit. Christ is the "true vine" ([John 15:1](/john/15-1 "John 15:1 - Jesus, the True Vine")) from whom all spiritual life and fruitfulness flow; apart from Him, we can do nothing ([John 15:5](/john/15-5 "John 15:5 - Abiding in Christ for Fruitfulness")). His death and resurrection are the ultimate "planting" and "watering" that yielded the greatest increase—the salvation of humanity and the establishment of His church. The "increase" that God gives is fundamentally the growth of Christ's kingdom, the expansion of His body, and the spiritual transformation of individuals into His likeness. Therefore, when we plant and water, we do so in Christ's power, for His glory, and as participants in the harvest He Himself secured through His redemptive work on the cross. The increase is always *His* increase, manifesting His sovereign grace and power in the world.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

John 15:5

I am the vine, ye [are] the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

Galatians 6:3

For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.

Psalms 115:1

¶ Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, [and] for thy truth's sake.

2 Corinthians 12:9

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

1 Corinthians 13:2

And though I have [the gift of] prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

Daniel 4:35

And all the inhabitants of the earth [are] reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and [among] the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?

Isaiah 41:29

Behold, they [are] all vanity; their works [are] nothing: their molten images [are] wind and confusion.