Paul picks up on Jesus’ paradigm of “seed” as he describes the role both he and another famous teacher, Apollos, had in the early years of the Corinthian church in 1 Corinthians 3:5-9:
“What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field...”
Notice Paul’s perspective on himself and Apollos? What words did he use to describe them?
Who actually makes things come to life?
Describe the difference between Paul’s role and Apollos’ role:
How important were Paul and Apollos in the life of the Corinthian church?
Does God need people to complete the task of delivering the “seed” of God’s Word to those in darkness?
For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.