SEV Biblia, Chapter 3:5
¶ ¿Qu pues es Pablo? ¿Y qu es Apolos? Sino siervos por los cuales habis creído; y cada uno conforme a lo que el Seor dio.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 3:5
Verse 5. Ministers by whom ye believed] The different apostles who have preached unto you the word of life are the means which God has used to bring you to the knowledge of Christ. No one of those has either preached or recommended himself; they all preach and recommend Christ Jesus the Lord. Even as the Lord gave to every man?] Whatever difference there may be in our talents, it is of God's making; and he who knows best what is best for his Church, has distributed both gifts and graces according to his own mind; and, as his judgment is infallible, all these dispensations must be right. Paul, therefore, is as necessary to the perfecting of the Church of Christ as Apollos; and Apollos, as Paul. Both, but with various gifts, point out the same Christ, building on one and the same foundation.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 5. Who then is Paul? and who is Apollos? etc.] The apostles name being used, and he a party concerned, could speak the more freely upon this head, and ask what they thought of himself, and other preachers, whether they were more than men? what authority and power they had, whether they looked upon them as the authors of a new religion, or the founders of a new sect, that were to go by their names? and directs them what light to consider them in, how that they were but ministers by whom ye believed : they were servants to Christ and to his churches, and not lords; they did not assume any dominion over men, or pretend to lord it over Gods heritage; there is but one Lord and master, and that is Christ, whom they served, and taught others to obey; they were only instrumental in the hand of God, by whom souls were directed, encouraged, and brought to believe in Christ; as for faith itself, that is the gift of God, the operation of his power, and of which Christ is the author and finisher; they laid no claim to this as their work, or imagined they had any dominion over it; that they could either implant it, or increase it of themselves; but thought it honour enough done them, that it came by their ministry; and that that, and the joy of it, were helped and furthered by their means: the Vulgate Latin version reads, his ministers whom ye believed; that is, the ministers of Christ, whom they believed in; not in the ministers, but Christ; the Arabic version renders it, but two ministers, by whom ye believed; referring to Paul and Apollos, who are meant: even as the Lord gave to every man ; gifts to minister with, and success to his ministry; making him useful to this and the other man, to bring him to the faith of Christ; all which is owing to the free grace and sovereign good will and pleasure of God.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 5-9 - The ministers about whom the Corinthians contended, were onl instruments used by God. We should not put ministers into the place of God. He that planteth and he that watereth are one, employed by on Master, trusted with the same revelation, busied in one work, an engaged in one design. They have their different gifts from one and the same Spirit, for the very same purposes; and should carry on the sam design heartily. Those who work hardest shall fare best. Those who ar most faithful shall have the greatest reward. They work together with God, in promoting the purposes of his glory, and the salvation of precious souls; and He who knows their work, will take care they do no labour in vain. They are employed in his husbandry and building; and He will carefully look over them.
Greek Textus Receptus
τις 5101 I-NSM ουν 3767 CONJ εστιν 2076 5748 V-PXI-3S παυλος 3972 N-NSM τις 5101 I-NSM δε 1161 CONJ απολλως 625 N-NSM αλλ 235 CONJ η 2228 PRT διακονοι 1249 N-NPM δι 1223 PREP ων 3739 R-GPM επιστευσατε 4100 5656 V-AAI-2P και 2532 CONJ εκαστω 1538 A-DSM ως 5613 ADV ο 3588 T-NSM κυριος 2962 N-NSM εδωκεν 1325 5656 V-AAI-3S
Robertson's NT Word Studies
3:5 {What qen?} (ti oun;). He does not say tis (who), but ti (what), neuter singular interrogative pronoun. {Ministers} (diakonoi). Not leaders of parties or sects, but merely servants through whom ye believed. The etymology of the word Thayer gives as dia and konis "raising dust by hastening." In the Gospels it is the servant (#Mt 20:26) or waiter (#Joh 2:5). Paul so describes himself as a minister (#Col 1:23,25). The technical sense of deacon comes later (#Php 1:1; 1Ti 3:8,12). {As the Lord gave to him} (hws ho kurios edwken). Hence no minister of the Lord like Apollos and Paul has any basis for pride or conceit nor should be made the occasion for faction and strife. this idea Paul enlarges upon through chapters #1Co 3; 4 and it is made plain in chapter #1Co 12.
