The Meaning of 1 Corinthians 3:9 Explained

1 Corinthians 3:9

KJV: For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.

YLT: for of God we are fellow-workmen; God's tillage, God's building ye are.

Darby: For we are God's fellow-workmen; ye are God's husbandry, God's building.

ASV: For we are God's fellow-workers: ye are God's husbandry, God's building.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

For  we are  labourers together  with God:  ye are  God's  husbandry,  [ye are] God's  building. 

What does 1 Corinthians 3:9 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Paul and Apollos were fellow workers for God. Elsewhere Paul spoke of believers as fellow workers with God ( 2 Corinthians 6:1), but that was not his point here. The Corinthians were the field in view in the preceding illustration ( 1 Corinthians 3:6-8). Paul now compared them to a building. He proceeded to develop this illustration in the following verses ( 1 Corinthians 3:10-17). This verse is transitional.
To help the Corinthians abandon the party spirit that marked their church, Paul stressed the equality of their teachers as fellow workers under God"s sovereign authority ( 1 Corinthians 3:5-9).
"Everything is God"s-the church, its ministry, Paul, Apollos-everything. Therefore, it is absolutely not permissible to say "I belong to Paul," since the only legitimate "slogan" is "we all belong to God."" [1]
"A sermon on our text [2] would focus on the attitudes of preachers and congregations about one another as they relate to the gospel of the cross. Peruse this brief sermon sketch:
""I belong to Paul." "I belong to Apollos." Familiar cries in a world of hi-tech religion. See huge Sunday crowds squint under the glare of spotlights as "their" preachers dazzle millions of electronic viewers with wisdom and rhetorical charm. Overhear the Christian public admire TV evangelists and big-time clergy: "Oh, I like to listen to _____." "Well, he"s O.K. but I like _____ better." You fill in the blanks. Yes, everyone has their favorite preacher nowadays. In spite of all the notorious hucksters, "preacher religion" is in. The result? An increasingly fragmented church. "I belong to Paul and you don"t." It is enough to make Corinth look tame by comparison." [3]

Context Summary

1 Corinthians 3:1-9 - Prosperity Comes From God
In all our relations with our fellow-men, Christ's followers must realize their obligations as members of one great family, with one God. A man may be in Christ, truly regenerate and forgiven for his past sins, and yet be carnal; that is, according to Romans 7:18, he may be ruled by me, I, self. The marks of this inward disposition are set out here. He is a babe who needs to be fed with milk, little and often, because unable to digest solid food. He is a sectarian, throwing contempt on those who do not belong to his own school of thought. He allows himself to be infected with jealousy and strife. Let us test our Christian life by these symptoms. Where are we? And if we are conscious that self has become enthroned as the governing motive of life, let us not rest till Christ takes its place.
It is not easy to learn that the planter or the waterer is just nothing at all, and that God is all. Let us think of ourselves only as God's instruments, and in a humble way as God's fellow-workers. It is a most helpful thought. Constantly when engaged in tilling the soil as evangelists or in building character as preachers and teachers, let us count on success, because of the all-power of our great Partner. He must give the policy and direction; it is our part to conform wholly to His will and guidance. [source]

Chapter Summary: 1 Corinthians 3

1  Milk is fit for children
3  Strife and division, arguments of a fleshly mind
7  He who plants and He who waters are nothing
9  The ministers are God's fellow workmen
11  Christ the only foundation
16  You are the temples of God, which must be kept holy
19  The wisdom of this world is foolishness with God

Greek Commentary for 1 Corinthians 3:9

God‘s fellow-workers [τεου συνεργοι]
This old word (Corinthians-workers of God) has a new dignity here. God is the major partner in the enterprise of each life, but he lets us work with him. Witness the mother and God with the baby as the product. [source]
God‘s husbandry [τεου γεωργιον]
God‘s tilled land The farmer works with God in God‘s field. Without the sun, the rains, the seasons the farmer is helpless. God‘s building (οικος — theou oikodomē). God is the Great Architect. We work under him and carry out the plans of the Architect. It is building (δεμω — oikos house, demō to build). Let us never forget that God sees and cares what we do in the part of the building where we work for him. [source]
God‘s building [οικος]
God is the Great Architect. We work under him and carry out the plans of the Architect. It is building Let us never forget that God sees and cares what we do in the part of the building where we work for him. [source]
God's []
In this and the two following clauses, God is emphatic. “It is of God that ye are the fellow-workers.” [source]
Husbandry [γεώργιον]
Rev., in margin, tilled land. Only here in the New Testament. Bengel says: “Embracing field, garden, and vineyard.” [source]
Building [οἰκοδομή]
Paul's metaphors are drawn from the works and customs of men rather than from the works of nature. “In his epistles,” says Archdeacon Farrar, “we only breathe the air of cities and synagogues.” The abundance of architectural metaphors is not strange in view of the magnificent temples and public buildings which he was continually seeing at Antioch, Athens, Corinth, and Ephesus. His frequent use of to build and building in a moral and spiritual sense is noteworthy. In this sense the two words οἰκοδομέω and οἰκοδομή occur twenty-six times in the New Testament, and in all but two cases in Paul's writings. Peter uses build in a similar sense; 1 Peter 2:5. See edify, edification, build, Acts 9:31; Romans 15:20; 1 Corinthians 8:1; 1 Corinthians 8:10, where emboldened is literally built up, and is used ironically. Also Romans 14:19; Romans 15:2; 1 Corinthians 14:3; Ephesians 2:21, etc. It is worth noting that in the Epistle to the Hebrews, while the same metaphor occurs, different words are used. Thus in Hebrews 3:3, Hebrews 3:4, built, builded, represent κατασκευάζω toprepare. In Hebrews 11:10, τεχνίτης artificerand δημιουργὸς , lit., a workman for the public: A.V., builder and maker. This fact has a bearing on the authorship of the epistle. In earlier English, edify was used for build in the literal sense. Thus Piers Ploughman: “I shal overturne this temple and a-down throwe it, and in thre daies after edifie it newe.” See on Acts 20:32. In the double metaphor of the field and the building, the former furnishes the mould of Paul's thought in 1 Corinthians 3:6-9, and the latter in 1 Corinthians 3:10-17. Edwards remarks that the field describes the raw material on which God works, the house the result of the work. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 1 Corinthians 3:9

John 15:1 The true vine [η αμπελος η αλητινη]
“The vine the genuine.” Assuming that the Lord‘s Supper had just been instituted by Jesus the metaphor of the vine is naturally suggested by “the fruit of the vine” (Mark 14:25; Matthew 26:29). Αμπελος — Ampelos in the papyri (Moulton and Milligan‘s Vocabulary) is sometimes used in the sense of ο γεωργος — ampelōn (vineyard), but not so here. Jesus uses various metaphors to illustrate himself and his work (the light, John 8:12; the door, John 10:7; the shepherd, John 10:11; the vine, John 15:1). The vine was common in Palestine. See Psalm 80:8. “On the Maccabean coinage Israel was represented by a vine” (Dods). Jesus is the genuine Messianic vine. The husbandman (τεου γεωργιον — ho geōrgos) as in Mark 12:1; James 5:7; 2 Timothy 2:6. cf. 1 Corinthians 3:9, theou geōrgion (God‘s field). [source]
Acts 20:32 I commend [παρατιτεμαι]
Present middle indicative of παρατιτημι — paratithēmi old verb to place beside, middle, to deposit with one, to interest as in 1 Timothy 1:18; 2 Timothy 2:2. Paul can now only do this, but he does it hopefully. Cf. 1 Peter 4:19. The word of his grace (τωι λογωι της χαριτος αυτου — tōi logōi tēs charitos autou). The instrumentality through preaching and the Holy Spirit employed by God. Cf. Colossians 4:6; Ephesians 4:29. Which is able to build up God works through the word of his grace and so it is able to build up (edify); a favourite Pauline word (1 Corinthians 3:10-14; 1 Corinthians 3:9; 2 Corinthians 5:1; Ephesians 2:20-22; 2 Timothy 3:15; etc.), and James 1:21. The very words “build” and “inheritance among the sanctified” will occur in Ephesians 1:11; Ephesians 3:18 and which some may recall on reading. Cf. Colossians 1:12. Stephen in Acts 7:5 used the word “inheritance” (κληρονομιαν — klēronomian), nowhere else in Acts, but in Ephesians 1:14, Ephesians 1:18; Ephesians 5:5. In Ephesians 1:18 the very expression occurs “his inheritance among the saints “ (την κληρονομιαν αυτου εν τοις αγιοις — tēn klēronomian autou en tois hagiois). [source]
Acts 20:32 Which is able to build up [τωι δυναμενωι οικοδομησαι]
God works through the word of his grace and so it is able to build up (edify); a favourite Pauline word (1 Corinthians 3:10-14; 1 Corinthians 3:9; 2 Corinthians 5:1; Ephesians 2:20-22; 2 Timothy 3:15; etc.), and James 1:21. The very words “build” and “inheritance among the sanctified” will occur in Ephesians 1:11; Ephesians 3:18 and which some may recall on reading. Cf. Colossians 1:12. Stephen in Acts 7:5 used the word “inheritance” (κληρονομιαν — klēronomian), nowhere else in Acts, but in Ephesians 1:14, Ephesians 1:18; Ephesians 5:5. In Ephesians 1:18 the very expression occurs “his inheritance among the saints “ (την κληρονομιαν αυτου εν τοις αγιοις — tēn klēronomian autou en tois hagiois). [source]
1 Corinthians 3:6 Apollos watered [Απολλως εποτισεν]
Apollos irrigated the church there as is seen in Acts 18:24-19:1. Another aorist tense as in 1 Corinthians 3:2. But God gave the increase (αλλα ο τεος ηυχανεν — alla ho theos ēuxanen). Imperfect tense here (active indicative) for the continuous blessing of God both on the work of Paul and Apollos, Corinthians-labourers with God in God‘s field (1 Corinthians 3:9). Reports of revivals sometimes give the glory to the evangelist or to both evangelist and pastor. Paul gives it all to God. He and Apollos cooperated as successive pastors. [source]
1 Corinthians 3:6 But God gave the increase [αλλα ο τεος ηυχανεν]
Imperfect tense here (active indicative) for the continuous blessing of God both on the work of Paul and Apollos, Corinthians-labourers with God in God‘s field (1 Corinthians 3:9). Reports of revivals sometimes give the glory to the evangelist or to both evangelist and pastor. Paul gives it all to God. He and Apollos cooperated as successive pastors. [source]
1 Corinthians 3:16 Ye are a temple of God [ναος τεου εστε]
Literally, a sanctuary (ναος — naos not ιερον — hieron the sacred enclosure, but the holy place and the most holy place) of God. The same picture of building as in 1 Corinthians 3:9 (οικοδομη — oikodomē), only here the sanctuary itself. [source]
2 Corinthians 6:1 As workers together with Him [συνεργοῦντες]
Lit., working together. With Him is implied in the compounded ούν withThat it refers to God, not to the fellow-Christians, is evident from the parallel 1 Corinthians 3:9, laborers together with God, and because the act of exhortation or entreaty in which the fellowship is exhibited is ascribed to God in 2 Corinthians 5:20. The phrase Θεοῦ πάρεδροι assessorsof God, occurs in Ignatius' letter to Polycarp. Compare Mark 16:20. [source]
2 Corinthians 6:1 Working together with him [συνεργουντες]
We are Corinthians-workers, partners with God (1 Corinthians 3:9), in this work of grace. [source]
Ephesians 2:2 According to the course of this world [κατα τον αιωνα του κοσμου τουτου]
Curious combinations of αιων — aiōn (a period of time), κοσμος — kosmos (the world in that period). See note on 1 Corinthians 1:20 for “this age” and 1 Corinthians 3:9 for “this world.” [source]
Colossians 2:7 Rooted - built up [ἐῤῥιζωμένοι - ἐποικοδομούμενοι]
Note the change of metaphor from the solidity of military array to walking, rooting of a tree, and then to building. The metaphors of rooting and being founded occur together, Ephesians 3:17. Compare 1 Corinthians 3:9. In Jeremiah 1:10, ἐκριζοῦν toroot out is applied to a kingdom, and the words to build and to plant follow. It must be said that ῥιζόω tocause to take root is often used in the sense of firmness or fixedness without regard to its primary meaning. Built up. The preposition ἐπί uponindicates the placing of one layer upon another. See on Acts 20:32, and see on 1 Corinthians 3:9. Compare 1 Corinthians 3:10-14; Ephesians 2:20. note also the change of tenses: having been rooted (perfect participle), being (in process of) built up and strengthened (present participle). [source]
2 Timothy 2:19 Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity []
The second inscription, concerning the purity of the church. For of Christ rend. of the Lord ( κυρίου ). Ὁνομάζων namethonly here in Pastorals. It means to give a name to, to style, as Mark 3:14; Luke 6:14; 1 Corinthians 5:11: to pronounce a name as having a special virtue, as in incantation, as Acts 19:13: to utter a name as acknowledging and appropriating what the name involves, as a confession of faith and allegiance. So here. Comp. Romans 15:20; 1 Corinthians 5:11; Isaiah 26:13. For ὄνομα namesee on 2 Thessalonians 1:12. Ἁποστήτω ἀπὸ ἀδικίας departfrom iniquity. For the verb, see on 1 Timothy 4:1. Mostly in Luke and Acts. Comp. Numbers 16:26; Isaiah 52:11. Whatever may be implied in God's election, it does not relieve Christians of the duty of strict attention to their moral character and conduct. Comp. Philemon 2:12. The gift of grace (Ephesians 2:8) is exhibited in making one a coworker with God (1 Corinthians 3:9). The salvation bestowed by grace is to be “carried out” (Philemon 2:12) by man with the aid of grace (Romans 6:8-19; 2 Corinthians 6:1). What this includes and requires appears in Philemon 3:10; Philemon 4:1-7; Ephesians 4:13-16, Ephesians 4:22ff.; Colossians 2:6, Colossians 2:7. [source]
2 Timothy 2:6 The husbandman that laboureth [τον κοπιωντα γεωργον]
“The toiling tiller of the soil” See γεωργιον — geōrgion (field) in 1 Corinthians 3:9 and also 1 Corinthians 9:7. [source]
3 John 1:8 With the truth [συν]
So associative instrumental case with συνεργοι — sun in συνεργεω — sunergoi but it is not certain that this is the idea, though εργοις — sunergeō is so used with Συνεργος — ergois in James 2:22. τεου συνεργοι — Sunergos itself occurs with the genitive of the person as in της χαρας — theou sunergoi (1 Corinthians 3:9) or with genitive of the thing tēs charās (1 Corinthians 3:9). So then here the meaning may be either “co-workers with such brethren for the truth” (dative of advantage) or “co-workers with the truth” (associative instrumental case). [source]
3 John 1:8 To welcome [υπολαμβανειν]
Present active infinitive (habit of welcoming) of υπολαμβανω — hupolambanō old word, to take up under, to carry off (Acts 1:9), to reply (Luke 10:30), to suppose (Acts 2:15), only here in N.T. in this sense of receiving hospitably or to take under one‘s protection like υποδεχομαι — hupodechomai (Luke 10:38).Such (τους τοιουτους — tous toioutous). “The such” according to the Greek idiom (1 Corinthians 16:16, 1 Corinthians 16:18).That we may be Purpose clause with ινα — hina and the present middle subjunctive of γινομαι — ginomai “that we may keep on becoming.”Fellow-workers (συνεργοι — sunergoi). Old compound (συν εργον — sunτηι αλητειαι — ergon).With the truth So associative instrumental case with συνεργοι — sun in συνεργεω — sunergoi but it is not certain that this is the idea, though εργοις — sunergeō is so used with Συνεργος — ergois in James 2:22. τεου συνεργοι — Sunergos itself occurs with the genitive of the person as in της χαρας — theou sunergoi (1 Corinthians 3:9) or with genitive of the thing tēs charās (1 Corinthians 3:9). So then here the meaning may be either “co-workers with such brethren for the truth” (dative of advantage) or “co-workers with the truth” (associative instrumental case). [source]
3 John 1:8 That we may be [ινα γινωμετα]
Purpose clause with ινα — hina and the present middle subjunctive of γινομαι — ginomai “that we may keep on becoming.”Fellow-workers (συνεργοι — sunergoi). Old compound (συν εργον — sunτηι αλητειαι — ergon).With the truth So associative instrumental case with συνεργοι — sun in συνεργεω — sunergoi but it is not certain that this is the idea, though εργοις — sunergeō is so used with Συνεργος — ergois in James 2:22. τεου συνεργοι — Sunergos itself occurs with the genitive of the person as in της χαρας — theou sunergoi (1 Corinthians 3:9) or with genitive of the thing tēs charās (1 Corinthians 3:9). So then here the meaning may be either “co-workers with such brethren for the truth” (dative of advantage) or “co-workers with the truth” (associative instrumental case). [source]
Jude 1:20 Building up [εποικοδομουντες]
Present active participle of εποικοδομεω — epoikodomeō old compound with metaphor of a house (οικος — oikos), common in Paul (1 Corinthians 3:9-17; Colossians 2:7; Ephesians 2:20). [source]

What do the individual words in 1 Corinthians 3:9 mean?

Of God for we are fellow workers God’s field building you are
Θεοῦ γάρ ἐσμεν συνεργοί Θεοῦ γεώργιον οἰκοδομή ἐστε

Θεοῦ  Of  God 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: θεός  
Sense: a god or goddess, a general name of deities or divinities.
ἐσμεν  we  are 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 1st Person Plural
Root: εἰμί  
Sense: to be, to exist, to happen, to be present.
συνεργοί  fellow  workers 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: συνεργός  
Sense: a companion in work, fellow worker.
Θεοῦ  God’s 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: θεός  
Sense: a god or goddess, a general name of deities or divinities.
γεώργιον  field 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Neuter Singular
Root: γεώργιον  
Sense: a cultivated field, husbandry, tillage.
οἰκοδομή  building 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Feminine Singular
Root: οἰκοδομή  
Sense: (the act of) building, building up.
ἐστε  you  are 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: εἰμί  
Sense: to be, to exist, to happen, to be present.