1 Corinthians 3:4 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

I am of Apollos— From this verse, compared with ch. 1 Corinthians 4:6 it may be no improbable conjecture, says Mr. Locke, that the division in his church was owing to two opposite parties, whereof the one adhered to St. Paul, the other stood up for their head, a false Apostle, who opposed St. Paul. For the Apollos whom St. Paul mentions here was one, as he tells us, 1 Corinthians 3:6 who came in, and watered what he had planted; that is, when St. Paul had planted a church at Corinth, this Apostle got into it, and pretended to instruct them further, and boasted of his performances among them, of which St. Paul takes notice again, 2 Corinthians 10:15-16. Now the Apollos whom he here speaks of, he himself tells us, ch. 1 Corinthians 4:6 was another man, under that borrowed name. It is true, St. Paul in his Epistles to the Corinthians, generally speaks of these his opposers in the plural number; but it is to be remembered, that he speaks thus of himself also; which, as it was the less invidious way, with regard to himself, so it was the softer way towards his opposer; though he seems to intimate plainly, that it was one leader, who was set up against him. Others, differing in sentiment from Mr. Locke, think it much more probable from ch. 1 Corinthians 4:6 that St. Paul chose to make use of the name of Apollos, that he might give no offence, and to shew that he should lament and condemn any division among them, though it were in favour of himself, or the dearest friend he had in the world;—and they cannot think that St. Paul would have described this supposed false Apostle as watering his plantation which he rather wasted; of have spoken of himself, and that messenger of Satan as one. See 1 Corinthians 3:8.