Why did Paul feed the Corinthians milk and not meat?
Paul fed the Corinthians milk rather than meat because they were still carnal, fleshly, and babes in Christ. They were not able to bear the deeper truths, and even then remained unable, since their fleshly condition kept them from embracing the deep things of God.
Les explains that Paul was writing to a carnal church in I Corinthians chapter 3. Paul says he could not speak to them as spiritual, but as carnal, or fleshly, even as babes in Christ. He had fed them milk, not meat, because they were not able to bear it, nor were they yet able, for they were carnal. Les notes these are the kind of people receiving heavy things, but the Holy Spirit would not prompt Paul to write to a carnal church if it were too much for them to handle; it is for every believer, even the babes in Christ. Being fleshly, they could not get excited about the deep things. God does not want people to be fleshly and carnal, but spiritual, enjoying the knowledge of God.
I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
More Questions
What does Paul mean by milk and meat in 1 Corinthians 3?
In saying he fed them milk and not meat, Paul means literal meat (flesh, such as beef or mutton), the Greek implying strong meat, not food of any sort.
What is the 'strong meat' of the Word that Paul says the Corinthians couldn't bear?
The 'strong meat' Paul says the Corinthians could not bear refers to the deep doctrinal truths of the Word of God, which they were unable to handle then and were still unable to handle at the time Paul wrote.