What does Paul mean when he says he could not speak to the Corinthians as spiritual?
Paul meant the Corinthians were not yet ready for the deep spiritual truths because they remained carnal, having not moved beyond rudimentary teaching. Unlike the Thessalonians, who quickly learned the whole gamut from basics to deep things, the Corinthians had not gone into the deep things, so he had to address them as carnal.
Les explains that Paul could not speak to the Corinthians as spiritual because they hadn't gone into the deep things. He notes they hadn't had that long an opportunity yet, but contrasts them with the Thessalonians: Paul was with the Thessalonians only a very short time, yet they knew these things, because he had covered the whole gamut from the rudimentary to the very deep things. The Corinthians didn't. So Paul says he couldn't speak to them as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal. Les also points out this was the Corinthians' problem; Corinth was the church that had more problems than any other congregation Paul dealt with, which is why Paul deals with it as he enters 1 Corinthians 3. Les compares this to the secular realm: just as a child cannot function without being taught the rudimentary things he needs, the spiritual realm is no different.
And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
More Questions
How did Paul address the Corinthian believers in 1 Corinthians 3?
Paul said he could not speak to the Corinthians as spiritual people but had to speak to them as carnal, fleshly babes in Christ.