Why did Paul say he could not speak to the Corinthians as spiritual?
The Corinthians were still carnal, fleshly babes in Christ, so Paul could not address them as spiritual people. They had not grown enough to bear solid spiritual truth; he fed them milk rather than meat, and their major problem was division.
Les explains that Paul had to speak to the Corinthians as carnal, or fleshly, even as babes in Christ, because they were not growing and had stagnated in spiritual infancy. Paul fed them with milk, not strong meat, because they could not handle it—no more than an infant can handle a T-bone steak or solid food. They were not able to bear it, and even then were still not able. They remained carnal and had not grown sufficiently to take advantage of spiritual truths above and beyond their carnality. Their major problem was division, as some said they were of Paul.
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.