What does 1 Corinthians 3:1 say about how Paul had to write to the Corinthians?
First Corinthians 3:1 states that Paul had to write to the Corinthians as carnal, calling them babes who were not ready for the meat of the word. This fit his purpose of correcting a congregation of weak, fleshly believers rather than commending them.
Les explains that Paul was writing to the congregation in the wicked, immoral, pagan, idolatrous city of Corinth, not so much to commend them but to correct them. The whole theme of 1 Corinthians is to correct problems. In chapter 3, verse 1, Paul says, "I have to write unto you as carnal, you're babes, you're not ready for the meat of the word." So the letter must be read in that light: it is written to weak, carnal, fleshly believers, but they are still believers. Among their problems, they had picked personalities, some saying they followed Peter, Apollos, or Jesus rather than Paul, and Paul had to correct them. They were also going to pagan courts and suing each other, and he corrected that as well.
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.