1 Corinthians 3:5

What then is Apollos? and what is Paul? Ministers through whom ye believed; and each as the Lord gave to him.

'What then is Apollos? and what is Paul?' -'In these verses Paul begins his discussion about the real place of people like himself. He doesn't ask "who is Apollos". He asks "What is Apollos?" The neuter stresses instrumentality. It plays down the personality of the minister and plays up the idea of his being. "tool" (as it where) in the hands of God.' [Note:. McGuiggan pp. 50-51]

'Ministers' -'No more than servants' (Phi); 'Just servants' (Gspd). 'The etymology of the word Thayer gives as "dia" and "konis", "raising dust by hastening." (Robertson p. 93) 'Besides evidencing. misapprehension of the gospel itself, the Corinthians' slogans bespeak. totally inadequate perception of the church and its ministry (ministers). They are boasting in their individual teachers as though they could "belong" to them in some way...Apollos and Paul are "only servants", he asserts (v.5), and by implication, therefore, not "masters" to whom they may belong.' [Note:. Fee p. 129]

'Paul and Apollos were not lords; they were servants and, therefore, unworthy that anyone should treat them as leaders of parties in the church..men are mere servants; no one worships. servant!' [Note:. Willis p. 97]

'through whom ye believed' -the point being, that the Corinthian's did not believe "in" Paul or Apollos, but "through" them came to believe in Christ. Another passage indicating that faith comes by hearing. (Romans 10:17)

'and each as the Lord gave to him' -'even as the Lord gave opportunity to each one' (NASV). God gave different opportunities and tasks to Paul and Apollos (1 Corinthians 3:6).