Who were the Corinthian believers Paul was writing to, and what was their spiritual condition?
The believers Paul was writing to were mostly pagan Gentiles recently converted out of mythology and idolatry, though some Jews were among them. Spiritually they were not growing but stagnated in infancy, remaining carnal, fleshly, and babes in Christ, unable to bear strong meat, with division as their major problem.
Les explains that these believers were for the most part pagan Gentiles, recently converted out of their mythology and idolatry, but they were not growing; they had stagnated in spiritual infancy. Some Jews were among them as well. Paul said he could not speak to them as spiritual but had to speak as to carnal, fleshly babes in Christ. He fed them with milk, not strong meat, because they were not able to bear it. Their major problem was division, with some saying, “I am of Paul,” since Paul had come into that idolatrous city, preached the Gospel, and had a nucleus of believers. Paul had gotten many congregations off the ground, and God used other men.
And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.