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Epiphany Season · Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany · Year A

1 Corinthians 3:1-9

Planting, Watering, and God's Growth

February 15, 2026

Paul and Apollos, Edward John Poynter
Paul and Apollos, Edward John Poynter, 1872Tate, London
In a walled field one young man kneels to plant an olive sapling while the other pours water over it from a jar.I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth … you are God’s field.Edward John PoynterA Victorian academic painter, later President of the Royal Academy and Director of the National Gallery.Tate, LondonTate, London.Tate, London
Revised Common Lectionary
GospelMatt. 5:21-37Mt 5:21-37
Epistle1 Cor. 3:1-91 Cor 3:1-9
Old TestamentDeut. 30:15-20Dt 30:15-20 orSir. 15:15-20Sir 15:15-20
PsalterPs. 119:1-8Ps 119:1-8

Overview & Insights

"I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth." (1 Corinthians 3:6)

Paul rebukes the Corinthians for their jealousy and quarreling, which he says marks them as still infants in the faith. He reframes the church's leaders as fellow workers in God's field, with God alone responsible for any growth.

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Take it further: 1 Corinthians 3:1-9

Commentary

1 Corinthians 3:1-9 Commentaries1 Cor 3:1-9 Commentaries BibleHub

Collects classic commentaries on Paul's rebuke of Corinthian factionalism.

1 Corinthians 3 Commentary1 Cor 3 Commentary Enduring Word

A pastoral walk through Paul's field and building images for the church.

Commentary on 1 Corinthians 3:1-9Commentary on 1 Cor 3:1-9 Working Preacher

The RCL preaching commentary on this exact pericope for Year A.

1 Corinthians 3:1-9 Commentary1 Cor 3:1-9 Commentary CEP

A preaching-focused reading of the planting and watering image.

1 Corinthians 3 Commentary1 Cor 3 Commentary Precept Austin

An evangelical verse-by-verse study of the chapter's call to spiritual maturity.

1 Corinthians 3 - Gill's Exposition1 Cor 3 - Gill's Exposition StudyLight

Gill's older exposition for additional historic detail on the chapter.

Background & Word Study

1 Corinthians 3:1-9 Interlinear1 Cor 3:1-9 Interlinear BibleHub

Shows the underlying Greek for terms like infants in Christ and fellow workers.

Book of 1 Corinthians OverviewBook of 1 Cor Overview BibleProject

An animated overview locating this passage within Paul's argument against factions.

Fathers

1 Corinthians 3 Catena1 Cor 3 Catena Catena

Early church comment on Paul's teaching about spiritual infancy and God's field.

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