What kind of people were the Corinthians when Paul wrote to them?
The Corinthians were believers in Christ, yet Paul addressed them as carnal or fleshly babes, not spiritual. They were in the Body of Christ but had a long way to go. They also had questions about marriage and meat offered to idols, largely because they remained carnal.
Les explains that when Paul wrote to the Corinthians, most were not spiritual but carnal, fleshly, even as babes. They were genuinely in Christ and in the Body of Christ, not unbelievers, but they were immature and had a long way to go. Paul wrote these two letters because the Corinthian people had questions, including how to handle the marriage relationship and how to handle meat offered to idols. These were hang-ups among the people, mostly because they were still so carnal, which is why Paul had to address them.
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.