1 Corinthians 3:5-9
5 “What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, even as the Lord gave opportunity to each one. 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. 7 So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth. 8 Now the one who plants and the one who waters are one; but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. 9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.”
God was causing the growth: It is ultimately God who causes His children to grow spiritually. This, in contrast, to the belief prevalent in the Corinthian church that association with various earthly teachers was a sign of spiritual maturity and growth. God works in and through His workers such as Paul and Apollos causing growth.
Reward according to his own labor: Paul is not speaking of individual rewards as if we can somehow earn more than what Christ accomplished. What Paul likely has in mind here are individuals who are impacted directly by Paul and Apollos’ ministry. The rewards, therefore, are ultimately people.
