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In these verses the apostle gives a fourfold view of evangelical preachers.

I. TO THE PEOPLE (ver. 5). As against the foolish and heedless cry raised by the Corinthians, "I am of Paul," &c., the apostle raises this pertinent question: Who are these men? &c.

1. Ministers. At the root of the word there lies the idea of voluntary and responsible service. We have in St. Paul's own writings a full answer to his own question: "Who then is Paul... but ministers?" Ministers of what?

(1)  "Of the New Testament" (2 Corinthians 3:5, 6).

(2)  Of "the gospel" (Colossians 1:23).

(3)  Of "the mystery of Christ" (Ephesians 2:4-7).

(4)  Of "the Church" (Colossians 1:24, 25).

(5)  "Of Christ" (2 Corinthians 11:23).

(6)  "Of God" (2 Corinthians 6:4).

2. "Ministers by whom ye believed." When the Corinthians believed, there were three factors directly contributing to that result: the minister of God, the Spirit of God, and the Son of God. And so it is still; the minister sets forth the need and the nature of faith in Christ; the Holy Ghost applies the truth and inspires trust; the Lord Jesus is Himself the Object of saving faith. Ministers are instrumental in bringing together the sinner and the Saviour, even as men brought Bartimaeus to Jesus. They could not give sight to the blind man, but they led him unto One who said, "Receive thy sight."

II. TO EACH OTHER (ver. 8). The Corinthians had spoken of the apostles as rivals. The apostle shows that Paul and Apollos are one, and illustrates the oneness of the workers by the unity of the work. Through the circling seasons there runs a notable unity m all the operations of husbandry. As soon as the harvest is gathered in, preparations for the next are commenced. In the time between the first plough's entering the field and the last waggon's leaving it, many hands are at work — men, women, lads; and many kinds of work were done, skilled and unskilled; but it is all for one master, and all for one end. He that plougheth and he that soweth and he that reapeth are one. And this oneness among farm-workers is never felt so keenly as when the last sheaf is pitched, and the cry is raised of "harvest-home!" A Christian Church is made and maintained on this same principle: manifold operations and many workers. In carrying on this spiritual husbandry, ministers are not alone in the field. We look to Sunday-school workers, to local preachers, &c., and say, "We are labourers together." It is a partnership in holy toil. The farm-servant who guides the reaping-machine in the harvest-field does not disown his fellow-servants who, in the chilly days of later autumn, did the ploughing and the sowing. He knows that, but for their work, he would not have found any employment in reaping. And those who reap in the Church thankfully recognise as fellow-labourers the men who broke up the fallow-ground, and put in the seed-corn, and cared for the crop in early spring.

III. TO PRESENT SUCCESS (ver. 6). "I have planted"; this lies at the root of all good. Paul must plant before there can be anything for Apollos to water; and until man put in something, God cannot give increase. But while recognising this fact he says, We are nothing. That which the two apostles contributed toward success was labour. They had, so to speak, no capital. The very truth they taught was not their own; it was the truth of God. That mysterious force which we call growth belongeth only unto God; and were it not for the secret influence of His Spirit, the good seed of the kingdom scattered broadcast would in no case take root and spring up. Increase is of God, and wholly of Him.

IV. PREACHERS IS RELATION TO FINAL REWARD (ver. 8). True, he that planteth and he that watereth are one; but "every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour." In order to reward, there must be not only work, but labour, and every man shall receive his own reward not according to —

1. His success. Visible and numerical success is not always in proportion to labour.

2. His reputation. Whilst some sermons win for the preacher a name and a place in public opinion beyond their merit, there are others which are too full of thought to be appreciated by the many; and so it comes to pass that, now and then, a preacher's reputation is in inverse proportion to the quality of his preaching.

3. His position. For a time the position of a man in the ministry may be above his deserts, or below. A good place may be secured by favouring incident, and a lowly one through inadvertence.

4. His gifts or talents. We are not responsible for the number of talents given to us; and God does not make our reward depend upon a circumstance over which we had no control.

5. But every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.

(J. Bush.)

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KJV: For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?

WEB: For when one says, "I follow Paul," and another, "I follow Apollos," aren't you fleshly?