Who were the Corinthians Paul addressed in 1 Corinthians 3:1?
Paul addressed the Corinthians as carnal or fleshly, even as babes in Christ. He could not speak to them as spiritual, and he fed them milk rather than meat because they were not yet able to bear deeper truth.
Les explains that these Corinthians were the kind of people receiving heavy, deep material, but the Holy Spirit would not have prompted writing it to a carnal church if it were too much for them to handle. It is for every believer, even babes in Christ. In 1 Corinthians 3:1, Paul says he could not speak unto them as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, or fleshly, even as unto babes in Christ. In verse 2 he says he fed them with milk, not meat, because they were not able to bear it; they were carnal, fleshly, and could not get excited about the deep things. Les applies this by saying God does not want people to be fleshly and carnal; He wants them spiritual and enjoying the knowledge of God.
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.
What does Paul say to the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians 3:1?
In 1 Corinthians 3:1, Paul says he has to write to the Corinthians as carnal babes who are not ready for the meat of the word.