1 Corinthians 3:1-2 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Corinthians 3:1-4

Here, I. Paul blames the Corinthians for their weakness and nonproficiency. Those who are sanctified are so only in part: there is still room for growth and increase both in grace and knowledge, 2 Pet. 3:18. Those who through divine grace are renewed to a spiritual life may yet in many things be defective. The apostle tells them he could not speak to them as unto spiritual men, but as unto carnal men, as to babes in Christ, 1 Cor. 3:1. They were so far from forming their maxims and measures... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 Corinthians 3:1-9

3:1-9 And I, brothers, could not talk to you as I would to spiritual men, but I had to talk to you as to those who had not yet got beyond merely human things, as to infants in Christ. I gave you milk to drink, not solid food. But now not even yet can you digest solid food, because you are still under the sway of human passions. Where there is envy and strife among you, are you not under the sway of human passions and is not your behaviour on a purely human level? For when anyone says, "I... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 3:1

And I, brethren, could not speak unto you ,.... Though the apostle was a spiritual man himself, had spiritual gifts, even the extraordinary gifts of the Spirit, could judge all things, had the mind of Christ, and was able to speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, yet could not speak it to them, as unto spiritual ; not but that they had the Spirit of God in them, and a work of grace upon them; for they were, as the apostle afterwards says, the temple of God, and the Spirit of God dwelt in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 3:2

I have fed you with milk ,.... It is usual with the Jews to compare the law to milk, and they say F3 Kimchi in Isa. lv. 1. Abarbinel, Mashamia Jeshua, fol. 26. 1. , that "as milk strengthens and nourishes an infant, so the law strengthens and nourishes the soul;' but the apostle does not here mean חלב של תורה , "the milk of the law", as they F4 Jarchi in Cant. v. 12. call it, but the Gospel; comparable to milk, for its purity and wholesomeness, for the nourishing virtue... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 3:1

I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual - This is a continuation of the preceding discourse. See the notes on 1 Corinthians 2:14 , 1 Corinthians 2:15 ; (note), and 1 Corinthians 2:16 ; (note). But as unto carnal - Σαρκικοις , Persons under the influence of fleshly appetites; coveting and living for the things of this life. Babes in Christ - Just beginning to acquire some notion of the Christian religion, hut as yet very incapable of judging what is most... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 3:2

I have fed you with milk - I have instructed you in the elements of Christianity - in its simplest and easiest truths; because from the low state of your minds in religious knowledge, you were incapable of comprehending the higher truths of the Gospel: and in this state you will still continue. The apostle thus exposes to them the absurdity of their conduct in pretending to judge between preacher and preacher, while they had but a very partial acquaintance even with the first principles of... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 3:1

Verse 1 1.And I, brethren He begins to apply to the Corinthians themselves, that he had said respecting carnal persons, that they may understand that the fault was their own — that the doctrine of the Cross had not more charms for them. It is probable, that in mercantile minds like theirs there was too much confidence and arrogance still lingering, so that it was not without much ado and great difficulty that they could bring themselves to embrace the simplicity of the gospel. Hence it was,... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 3:2

Verse 2 2.I have fed you with milk Here it is asked, whether Paul transformed Christ to suit the diversity of his hearers. I answer, that this refers to the manner and form of his instructions, rather than to the substance of the doctrine. For Christ is at once milk to babes, and strong meat to those that are of full age, (Hebrews 5:13,) the same truth of the gospel is administered to both, but so as to suit their capacity. Hence it is the part of a wise teacher to accommodate himself to the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 3:1

I… could not speak unto you as unto spiritual. Though softened by the word brethren, there was a crushing irony of reproof in these words: "You thought yourselves quite above the need of my simple teaching. You were looking down on me from the whole height of your inferiority. The elementary character of my doctrine was after all the necessary consequence of your own incapacity for anything more profound." As unto carnal. The true reading here is sarkinois, fleshen, not sarkikois, ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 3:1

Carnal Christians. I. MANY SUCH ARE FOUND IS THE CHURCH . Christians in whom Christianity is not dominant. They have a portion of the Spirit, but a very large portion of the flesh. They allow Satan to hinder them. The world has still much power over them and much attraction for them. They love Christ, but not enough to lead them to live very near to him. They are conspicuous chiefly for fault and failure. They reach the verge of Christianity and stay there. They desire... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Corinthians 3:1-4

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 Corinthians 3:1-9

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 3:1

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 3:2

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 3:1

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 3:2

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 3:1

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Corinthians 3:2

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 3:1

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Corinthians 3:1

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