Why couldn't the Corinthian believers begin to grow spiritually?
The Corinthian believers could not grow spiritually because they remained carnal—still controlled by the flesh rather than by the Holy Spirit. Having been fed only spiritual milk, they were unable to bear the strong meat of Scripture or its deeper doctrinal truths, so they stayed as babes in Christ.
Les explains that Paul had nurtured the Corinthians on spiritual milk, not meat, because they were not able to bear it, no more than an infant can handle solid food. Even a year or two after salvation, they had not gone further in their spiritual experience than at the beginning; they were still babes in Christ. The next verse gives the reason: they were still carnal. Les emphasizes that carnal here refers to believers still controlled by the flesh rather than by the Holy Spirit. Because they could not handle the strong meat of the Word, the deeper doctrinal things, they could not begin to grow. Les compares this to professing Christians today who remain on the milk of the Word, not ready for the meat of Scripture.
For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
More Questions
How did the Corinthian believers demonstrate their carnality?
The Corinthians showed their carnality by having divisions, because they had pet people they wanted to follow, which is the first thing Paul deals with in chapter 3, verse 3.
How did the Corinthian church show that they were carnal?
The first way the Corinthians showed their carnality was by having divisions -- envying and strife and pet people they wanted to follow -- which is the first thing Paul deals with in chapter 3, verse 3.