I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for solid food. In fact, you are still not ready,
Parallel translations
- WEB I fed you with milk, not with meat; for you weren’t yet ready. Indeed, not even now are you ready,
- KJV I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
- NKJV I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able;
- NASB I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to consume it. But even now you are not yet able,
- NLT I had to feed you with milk, not with solid food, because you weren’t ready for anything stronger. And you still aren’t ready,
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 fed them spiritual milk because they were not ready for solid food, and still were not. Their persistent immaturity hindered deeper teaching.
Overview
Using the image of milk versus meat, Paul notes the Corinthians remained spiritual infants, unable to receive weightier instruction. This was not a failure of Paul's teaching but of their growth, evidenced by their ongoing strife. The verse warns that spiritual immaturity, if uncorrected, stalls a believer's progress in understanding and obedience.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 3
- Heb 5:11–14We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain, because you are dull of hearing.
- 1 Pet 2:2Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,
- John 16:12I still have much to tell you, but you cannot yet bear to hear it.
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 3:2 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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