And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ.
Parallel translations
- WEB Brothers, I couldn’t speak to you as to spiritual, but as to fleshly, as to babies in Christ.
- KJV And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
- BSB Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual, but as worldly—as infants in Christ.
- NASB And I, brothers and sisters, could not speak to you as spiritual people, but only as fleshly, as to infants in Christ.
- NLT Dear brothers and sisters, when I was with you I couldn’t talk to you as I would to spiritual people. I had to talk as though you belonged to this world or as though you were infants in Christ.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Paul says he had to address the Corinthians as worldly, immature believers rather than spiritually mature ones. Their divisions exposed their lack of spiritual growth.
Overview
Paul resumes addressing the church's factions, now diagnosing their root: spiritual immaturity. Though genuine 'babies in Christ,' they were acting 'fleshly,' governed by worldly attitudes rather than the Spirit. This gentle but firm rebuke calls them to grow up into the maturity that befits those who have the mind of Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Heb 5:13For everyone who lives on milk is not experienced in the word of righteousness, for he is a baby.
- 1 Cor 2:14–15Now the natural man doesn’t receive the things of God’s Spirit, for they are foolishness to him, and he can’t know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
- Eph 4:13–14until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a full grown man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;
- 1 Cor 14:20Brothers, don’t be children in thoughts, yet in malice be babies, but in thoughts be mature.
- 1 Cor 2:6We speak wisdom, however, among those who are full grown; yet a wisdom not of this world, nor of the rulers of this world, who are coming to nothing.
- Rom 7:14For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am fleshly, sold under sin.
- 1 Cor 3:3–4for you are still fleshly. For insofar as there is jealousy, strife, and factions among you, aren’t you fleshly, and don’t you walk in the ways of men?
- 1 Jn 2:12I write to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake.
- Gal 6:1Brothers, even if a man is caught in some fault, you who are spiritual must restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; looking to yourself so that you also aren’t tempted.
- Matt 16:23But he turned, and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me, for you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of men.”
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Christ crucified is the wisdom and power of God; he is our Passover sacrificed for us, the firstfruits of resurrection, the foundation on which everything is built.
How 1 Corinthians 3:1 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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