I Corinthians 3:8
A plain-spoken deep dive on this verse. Read the chapter →
He who plants and he who waters are one in purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor.
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
one--essentially in their aim they are one, engaged in one and the same ministry; therefore they ought not to be made by you the occasion of forming separate parties. and every man--rather "but every man." Though in their service or ministry, they are essentially "one," yet every minister is separately responsible in "his own" work, and "shall receive his own (emphatically repeated) reward, according to his own labor." The reward is something over and above personal salvation (Co1 3:14-15; Jo2 1:8). He shall be rewarded according to, not his success or the amount of work done, but "according to his own labor." It shall be said to him, "Well done, thou good and (not successful, but) faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord" (Mat 25:23).
Open source ↗In this chapter the apostle, I. Blames the Corinthians for their carnality and divisions (Co1 3:1-4). II. He instructs them how what was amiss among them might be rectified, by remembering, 1. That their ministers were no more than ministers (Co1 3:5). 2. That they were unanimous, and carried on the same design (Co1 3:6-10). 3. That they built on one and the same foundation (Co1 3:11-15). III. He exhorts them to give due honour to their bodies, by keeping them pure (Co1 3:16, Co1 3:17), and to humility and self-diffidence (Co1 3:18-21). IV. And dehorts them from glorying in particular ministers, because of the equal interest they had in all (Co1 3:22 to the end).
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
Cross-references
Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.
God “will repay each one according to his deeds.”
For the Son of Man will come in His Father’s glory with His angels, and then He will repay each one according to what he has done.
Watch yourselves, so that you do not lose what we have worked for, but that you may be fully rewarded.
and loving devotion to You, O Lord. For You will repay each man according to his deeds.
Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast and immovable. Always excel in the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
“Behold, I am coming soon, and My reward is with Me, to give to each one according to what he has done.
And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.
Each one should test his own work. Then he will have reason to boast in himself alone, and not in someone else.
If what he has built survives, he will receive a reward.
For God is not unjust. He will not forget your work and the love you have shown for His name as you have ministered to the saints and continue to do so.