Epiphany
February 10, 2017
Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 3:1-9
What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you came to believe, as the Lord assigned to each. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. The one who plants and the one who waters have a common purpose, and each will receive wages according to the labor of each. For we are God’s servants, working together; you are God’s field, God’s building. –1 Corinthians 3:5-9
I find word usage interesting and, thus, on reading What then is Apollos? What is Paul? I was curious about the word translated “What” rather than “Who”. Is the translation important to the understanding of the text? This quote is from the New Revised Standard Version. Other more recent translations consistently use “What”; the King James translation uses “Who”. It makes a difference because “what” describes perhaps a role a person holds; “who” refers to the person. Strong’s Concordance indicates the Greek word tis could mean who, which, what, why*. This information gave me a greater appreciation of translators and made me very glad I was not one. Knowing that I am swimming dangerously in unknown waters, I think that the use of “What” is intended to connote the role of spokesperson, preacher, perhaps apostle.
It is the season for drafting various high school students into college athletic programs. In such instances while we are watching wonderful players on good teams working hard to get to championships, their replacements are already being identified and groomed. Jesus invested much time in grooming his followers together to become his Body carrying out his mission. While our responsibilities in fulfilling our “what” callings are important, it is just as important that we groom and mentor our replacements. We are each uniquely and wonderfully made, which means there will never be another you or me, making our contributions critical; and there will always be another her or him to carry on the work of a loving God.
Prayer: Loving God, make us each good role models and mentors, teachers and facilitators for those who strive with us and will follow us in your service. Amen.
*http://biblehub.com/greek/5101.htm