1 Corinthians 3:9

The ministers are God’s fellowworkmen.

Labourers together with God. The Greek places the emphasis on “God.” The work is God’s. Men are merely the hands of the heavenly agencies. As workers in association with the great Master Workman, men must be willing to labor in His way even though that may be altogether contrary to their natural ideas (Col. 3:23). They will endeavor to cooperate fully with the Lord in carrying out His instructions. The child of God knows that his Father will never require him to do anything that is not for his best interests. This relationship of joyful cooperation is based on simple trust in the great love of the Omniscient Father. Confidence in the wisdom and love of God results in willing submission to divine guidance. Those who thus submit will be used by God as His colaborers (see 8T 172). A vision of the exalted nature of being co-workers, not with the great men of this world, but with the Creator of this world, the One by whose power the universe is maintained, makes the highest honors and greatest rewards the world can offer seem insignificant. If all would catch this vision of their exalted privilege, and act unitedly for the carrying out of God’s plans, they would move the world (see 9T 221; cf. 2T 443).

Husbandry. Gr. georgion, “tilled land,” “a cultivated field.” The word does not appear elsewhere in the NT. Paul is continuing the figure begun in v. 7. The church at Corinth is represented as a field that God cultivates in order to produce fruit for His kingdom. God is the Master Husbandman.

Building. Gr. oikodome from oikos, “house”, and demo, “to build.” Paul introduces a new metaphor. God is the Master Architect of the spiritual building of the church. Compare the use of this metaphor in Rom. 15:20; Eph. 2:20-22.