1 Corinthians 3:6I planted. Apollos watered. But God gave the increase.
The setting
Corinth, Greece, ~55 AD. Paul uses agricultural metaphor familiar to this farming region...
The emotion here: relieved to shift focus from human competition to divine partnership
The original word
αὐξάνω (auxanō) — to grow naturally, like a plant responding to sunlight and rain
Why it matters
Corinth sat on an isthmus where sailors would drag ships overland rather than sail around
Read with care
What most readers miss in 1 Corinthians 3:6
Paul puts himself first as 'planter' but gives Apollos the ongoing 'watering' role
Common misconceptionPeople think this means human effort doesn't matter. Actually, both planting and watering are essential — God just controls the mysterious growth part.
The thread continues
Verses that echo 1 Corinthians 3:6
Bible Genome reading
1 Corinthians 3:6 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
1 Corinthians 3:6 comes from the book of 1 Corinthians, written during the early_church period. These words are attributed to Paul. The dominant emotion in this verse is worship, with a comfort power of 50% and a tone that is reflective. It belongs to the teaching genre of biblical literature. Key themes include collaboration, divine growth. Notable phrases: I planted, Apollos watered; God gave the increase.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same worship
“Hear, Israel: Yahweh is our God; Yahweh is one:”
— Deuteronomy 6:4
“and you shall love Yahweh your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.”
— Deuteronomy 6:5
“For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven:”
— Ecclesiastes 3:1
“Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me.”
— John 14:6
“Jesus said to them, "Most certainly, I tell you, before Abraham came into existence, I AM."”
— John 8:58
Your reflection
What does 1 Corinthians 3:6 mean to you, today?
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