What does the word carnal mean when Paul calls the Corinthians carnal?
Paul calls them carnal because they are believers still controlled by the flesh rather than by the Holy Spirit. Although saved, they remain babes in Christ, fed on milk and unable to bear the strong meat of the Word, the deeper doctrinal things.
Les teaches that the word carnal here refers to believers who are still controlled by the flesh rather than by the Holy Spirit. The Corinthians had been saved for a year or two, yet they had not gone any further in their spiritual experience; they were still babes in Christ. Paul had nurtured them on spiritual milk, not solid meat, because they could not handle the deeper doctrinal things. They were not ready for strong meat, and even now they were still unable to bear it. Les calls this a sad commentary and compares it to many professing Christians today who remain on the milk of the Word and cannot handle 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 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.
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.