1 Corinthians 3:5

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 3:5-15

The one foundation and the diverse superstructure. read more

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Corinthians 3:5

Who then is Paul ... - See the notes at 1 Corinthians 1:13. Why should a party be formed which should be named after Paul? What has he done or taught that should lead to this? What eminence has he that should induce any to call themselves by his name? He is on a level with the other apostles; and all are but ministers, or servants, and have no claim to the honor of giving names to sects and parties. God is the fountain of all your blessings, and whoever may have been the “instrument” by whom... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Corinthians 3:4-7

1 Corinthians 3:4-7. For while one saith, I am of Paul I am one of Paul’s disciples, admiring his sublime sentiments, and being greatly edified by his instructive discourses: and another, I am of Apollos I give the preference to Apollos, being delighted with his fine language, and the pleasing manner of his address. St. Paul names himself and Apollos, to show that he would condemn any division among them, even though it were in favour of himself, or the dearest friend he had in the world.... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 3:1-9

Lack of spiritual growth (3:1-9)When Paul was in Corinth a year or two previously, he could not speak to the believers as spiritual people (such as those just described in 2:6-16), because they were then little different from ordinary, natural people of the world. They were babes in Christ and Paul treated them so. He did not find fault with them then, because one expects new converts to be like that; but he does find fault with them now, because they are still like that (3:1-2). They are like... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 1 Corinthians 3:5

ministers = servants. App-190 . by = through. App-104 . 1 Corinthians 3:1 . believed . App-150 . the Lord . App-98 . gave . See Ephesians 4:11 . every man = each (one). read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - 1 Corinthians 3:5

1 Corinthians 3:5. Who then is Paul, &c.— Some would read this and the following verse thus: Who is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed?—And as the Lord gave to every man, I planted, Apollos watered, &c. See Markland on Lysias, p. 560. read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - 1 Corinthians 3:5

5. Who then—Seeing then that ye severally strive so for your favorite teachers, "Who is (of what intrinsic power and dignity) Paul?" If so great an apostle reasons so of himself, how much more does humility, rather than self-seeking, become ordinary ministers! Paul . . . Apollos—The oldest manuscripts read in the reverse order, "Apollos," c. Paul." He puts Apollos before himself in humility. but ministers, &c.—The oldest manuscripts have no "but." "Who is Apollos . . . Paul? (mere)... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 Corinthians 3:5

Paul, Apollos, and, of course, Cephas were only servants of Christ each serving in his own way and sphere of opportunity under the Master’s direction. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 Corinthians 3:5-9

Fellow workers under God 3:5-9"Besides evidencing a misapprehension of the gospel itself, the Corinthians’ slogans bespeak a totally inadequate perception of the church and its ministry." [Note: Fee, The First . . ., p. 129. See Jay E. Smith, "Slogans in 1 Corinthians," Bibliotheca Sacra 167:655 (January-March 2010):68-88.] read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 Corinthians 3:5-17

5. The role of God’s servants 3:5-17Paul turned next to a positive explanation of how his readers should view him and his fellow workers."At issue is their radically misguided perception of the nature of the church and its leadership, in this case especially the role of the teachers." [Note: Fee, The First . . ., p. 128.] "In the first place, they have not understood the nature and character of the Christian message, the true wisdom (1 Corinthians 1:18 to 1 Corinthians 3:4). In the second... read more

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