1 Corinthians 3:2

Contextual Overview

¹ Brothers and sisters, when I was there, I could not talk to you the way I talk to people who are led by the Spirit. I had to talk to you like ordinary people of the world. You were like babies in Christ. ¹ But I, brethren, could not address you as spiritual men, but as men of the flesh, as babes in Christ. ¹ And I coulde not speake vnto you brethre as vnto spretuall: but as vnto carnall even as it were vnto babes in Christ. ¹ Brothers, I couldn't speak to you as to spiritual, but as to fleshly, as to babies in Messiah. ¹ Brothers, I couldn't talk to you as spiritual people but as worldly people, as mere infants in Christ.1 Corinthians 2:14-15; Hebrews 5:13;">[xr] ¹ And I, brothers and sisters, could not speak to you as spiritual people, but only as fleshly, as to infants in Christ. ¹ Brothers and sisters, in the past I could not talk to you as I talk to spiritual people. I had to talk to you as I would to people without the Spirit—babies in Christ. ¹ And I, brothers, could not speak to you as to spiritual, but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. ¹ And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual, but as to carnal, [even] as to babes in Christ. ¹ But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

fed: Hebrews 5:12-14, 1 Peter 2:2

for: John 16:12, Hebrews 5:11, Hebrews 5:12

Reciprocal: Genesis 33:14 - be able 2 Kings 5:19 - he said Isaiah 40:11 - he shall gather Isaiah 55:1 - milk Jeremiah 3:15 - which shall Matthew 9:16 - for Matthew 11:14 - if Matthew 24:45 - to give Mark 4:13 - Know Mark 4:33 - as Mark 7:18 - General John 3:12 - earthly Romans 14:1 - weak 1 Corinthians 4:8 - ye are full 1 Corinthians 4:10 - but ye 1 Corinthians 13:11 - I spake 1 Corinthians 14:20 - not Ephesians 4:14 - no more 2 Timothy 2:15 - rightly 1 Peter 2:1 - envies

Cross-References

Psalms 58:4
They spit venom like deadly snakes; they are like cobras that refuse to listen,

Psalms 58:4
Their poison is like the poison of a serpent: they are like the deaf adder that stoppeth her ear;

Psalms 58:4
Their poison is like the poison of a serpent: [They are] like the deaf cobra that stops her ear,

Psalms 58:4
They are like poisonous snakes, like deaf cobras that stop up their ears

Psalms 58:4
Their venom is like that of a snake, like a deaf serpent that does not hear,

Psalms 58:4
Their poison [is] like the poison of a serpent: [they are] like the deaf adder [that] stoppeth her ear;

Psalms 58:4
Their poison is like the poison of a snake; Like a deaf cobra that stops its ear,

Psalms 58:4
Their poison is like the venom of a serpent; They are like the deaf horned viper that stops up its ear,

Psalms 58:4
They have venom like the venom of a serpent, like the deaf adder that stops its ear,

Psalms 58:4
Woodnesse is to hem, bi the licnesse of a serpent; as of a deef snake, and stoppynge hise eeris.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

I have fed you with milk,.... It is usual with the Jews to compare the law to milk, and they say c, 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 d call it, but the Gospel; comparable to milk, for its purity and wholesomeness, for the nourishing virtue there is in it, and because easy of digestion; for he designs by it, the more plain and easy doctrines of the Gospel, such as babes in Christ were capable of understanding and receiving: and not with meat; the more solid doctrines of the Gospel, and sublime mysteries of grace; the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom; such truths as were attended with difficulties, to which the carnal reason of men made many objections, and so were only fit to be brought before such who are of full age, young men, or rather fathers in Christ; who have had a large experience, and a long time of improvement in spiritual knowledge, and have their senses exercised to distinguish between truth and error. The reason he gives for this his conduct is,

for hitherto ye were not able to bear it; they could not receive, relish, and digest it; it was too strong meat for them, they being weak in faith, and but babes in Christ; wherefore he prudently adapted things to their capacities, and that in perfect consistence with that faithfulness and integrity, for which he was so remarkable: for the Gospel he preached to them, which he calls "milk", was not another Gospel, or contrary to that which goes by the name of "meat": only the one consisted of truths more easily to be understood, and was delivered in a manner more suited to their capacities than the other: he adds,

neither yet now are ye able; which carries in it a charge of dulness and negligence, that they had been so long learning, and were improved no more in the knowledge of the truth; were as yet only in the alphabet of the Gospel, and needed to be afresh instructed in the first principles of the oracles of God; for anything beyond these was too high for them. The apostle seems to allude to the manner and custom of the Jews, in training up their children to learning; as to their age when they admit them scholars, their rule is this e,

"they introduce children (into the school) to be taught when six or seven years of age, לפי כח הבן ובנין גופו, "according to the child's strength, and the make of his body, and less than six years of age they do not take any in."''

But sooner than this, a father is obliged to teach his child at home, concerning which they say f,

"from what time is his father obliged to teach him the law? as soon as he begins to speak, he teaches him the law Moses commanded us, and "hear O Israel", and after that he instructs him, מעט מעט פסוקים פסוקים, "by little and little, here and there a verse", till he is six or seven years of age, and, הכל לפי בוריו, "all this according to the clearness of his understanding";''

i.e. as he is able to take things in; and even till twelve years he was to be used with a great deal of tenderness:

"says R. Isaac g, at Usha they made an order, that a man should "use his son gently", until he is twelve years of age; the gloss upon it is, if his son refuses to learn, he shall use him בנחת ובדברים רכים, "with mildness and tender language."''

c Kimchi in Isa. lv. 1. Abarbinel, Mashamia Jeshua, fol. 26. 1. d Jarchi in Cant. v. 12. e Maimom. Talmud Tora, c. 2. sect. 2. f Ib. c. 1. sect. 6. g T. Bab. Cetubot, fol. 50. 1.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

I have fed you with milk - Paul here continues the metaphor, which is derived from the custom of feeding infants with the lightest food. Milk here evidently denotes the more simple and elementary doctrines of Christianity - the doctrines of the new birth, of repentance, faith, etc. The same figure occurs in Hebrews 5:11-14; and also in Classical writers. See Wetstein.

And not with meat - “Meat” here denotes the more sublime and mysterious doctrines of religion.

For hitherto - Formerly, when I came among you, and laid the foundations of the church.

Not able to bear it - You were not sufficiently advanced in Christian knowledge to comprehend the higher mysteries of the gospel.

Neither yet now ... - The reason why they were not then able he proceeds immediately to state.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 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 Christianity.