1 Corinthians Chapter 3, Verse 1
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1: και εγω αδελφοι ουκ ηδυνηθην λαλησαι υμιν ως πνευματικοις αλλ ως σαρκικοις ως νηπιοις εν χριστω
1: And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual,
but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
1: And I, brethren, could not speak to you as unto spiritual, but as
unto carnal. As unto little ones in Christ.
And I, brethren. See 1Cor 2:1. This is designed to meet an implied objection. He had said, 1Cor 2:14ff, that Christians were able to understand all things. Yet, they would recollect that he had not addressed them as such, but had confined himself to the more elementary parts of religion when he came among them. He had not entered upon the abstruse and difficult points of theology -- the points of speculation in which the subtle Greeks so much abounded and so much delighted. He now states the reason why he had not done it. The reason was one that was most humbling to their pride; but it was the true reason, and faithfulness demanded that it should be stated. It was, that they were carnal, and not qualified to understand the deep mysteries of the gospel; and the proof of this was unhappily at hand. It was too evident in their contentions and strifes, that they were under the influence of carnal feelings and views.
Could not speak unto you as unto spiritual. "I could not regard you as divested of the feelings which influence carnal men, the men of the world, and I addressed you accordingly. I could not discourse to you as to far-advanced and well-informed Christians. I taught you the rudiments only of the Christian religion." He refers here, doubtless, to his instructions when he founded the church at Corinth. See "1Cor 2:13ff.
But as unto carnal. The word carnal here, sarkikoi is not the same which in 1Cor 2:14 is translated natural, qucikov. That refers to one who is unrenewed, and who is wholly under the influence of his sensual or animal nature, and is nowhere applied to Christians. This is applied here to Christians -- but to those who have much of the remains of corruption, and who are imperfectly acquainted with the nature of religion; babes in Christ. It denotes those who still evinced the feelings and views which pertain to the flesh, in these unhappy contentions, and strifes, and divisions. The works of the flesh are "hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, envyings," Gal 5:19ff, and these they had evinced in their divisions; and Paul knew that their danger lay in this direction, and he therefore addressed them according to their character. Paul applies the word to himself, Rom 7:14, "but I am carnal;" and here it denotes that they were as yet under the influence of the corrupt passions and desires which the flesh produces.
As unto babes in Christ. As unto those recently born into his kingdom, and unable to understand the profounder doctrines of the Christian religion. It is a common figure to apply the term infants and children to those who are feeble in understanding, or unable, from any cause, to comprehend the more profound instructions of science or religion.
