The Corinthians were not growing spiritually because, though born again, they remained carnal and fleshly — still babes in Christ who could only receive spiritual milk, not strong meat.
Paul writes that he could not speak to them as spiritual but as carnal, even as unto babes in Christ (1 Cor 3:1). Les Feldick points out that after a year or two they had not advanced beyond their infant condition. Their ongoing carnality showed up in divisions and other practical problems, and Paul had to reprove them constantly.
1 Corinthians 3:1-2 — Paul explicitly states the Corinthians were carnal babes in Christ who could only receive milk, not strong meat — the direct biblical explanation for why they were not growing.
In 1 Corinthians 3:1-2, Paul gives the direct scriptural answer: "And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. 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." Paul does not call them unbelievers; he calls them babes in Christ. Their inability to receive deeper truth was not because they were lost but because they were still carnal. The milk-and-meat picture shows that they were spiritually undeveloped, unable to handle the strong spiritual food that maturity requires.
Les Feldick emphasizes that the Corinthians were genuine believers — born again and placed into the Body of Christ — yet they remained "so steeped in the flesh" and "fleshly minded" (Clip 2). He sees Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 3 as a sad commentary: after a year or two they had gone no further in their spiritual experience than at the beginning; they were still babes in Christ (Clip 1). Les points to the practical evidence of their carnality: divisions over whether believers followed Paul, Apollos, Peter, or Christ; believers suing one another in pagan courts; gross immorality in the church; and the disorderly tongues phenomenon. All of these, Les says, were problems because the Corinthians were still so carnal (Clips 4, 6, 7). Paul's first letter, Les says, was "just a constant upbraiding and a reproving them of much of their carnality" (Clip 7). Their failure to grow was the root issue, and for Les the same expectation still holds: "God expects growth from His children" (Clip 2).
In describing the Corinthians, Paul says he "could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal" (1 Cor 3:1). Les Feldick explains that this meant they had not "gone into the deep things" of the Word. Though they were believers, they were still "carnal" — fleshly-minded — and that is why Paul had to keep addressing their practical problems (Clips 2, 5).
Les Feldick notes several problems Paul had to confront: from chapter 1 there were divisions — some claimed Paul, some Apollos, some Peter, some Christ. Then there was the problem of believers going to pagan courts to sue one another, gross immorality in the church, and the tongues phenomenon that was causing disorder (Clip 4). In addition, the Corinthians had questions about marriage and about eating meat offered to idols — all hang-ups, Les says, because they were still so carnal (Clip 6).
Les Feldick stresses, "Don't ever lose sight of that. They are believers. They've been born again, and they've been placed into the Body of Christ." He says it is easy to assume they were not believers, but they were — they were just carnal and had "a long ways to go" (Clips 2, 6). The New Testament pictures every believer entering the family of God as a babe in Christ; the Corinthians were no exception, but they failed to move past that infancy (Clip 3).
Les Feldick says Paul was "torn up" that the Corinthians had not grown, and that this first letter was a continuous reproof of their carnality (Clips 1, 7). Les also contrasts them with the Thessalonians: Paul had only a short time in Thessalonica, yet those believers knew the deep things, while the Corinthians did not (Clip 5). The expectation, Les says, is that believers should become "more steeped in the Word" over time (Clip 2).
Why Christians Are Divided — 1 Corinthians 3 Explained Verse by Verse
again I guess I have to explain because we get so many of these questions, and the only way I can answer them is just put it out on the air. Why there aren't more young people? Well you see this is a working day. This is a Wednesday, and it's in the afternoon, and some of these young guys can make it if they can get off.
Babes in Christ Unable to Bear Meat
Les shows that the Corinthians, a year or two after salvation, had not advanced beyond spiritual infancy; Paul had to feed them milk because they could not yet handle strong spiritual truth.
Believers Still Steeped in the Flesh
Les stresses that the Corinthians were genuinely born-again believers in the Body of Christ, yet still so fleshly-minded — and that God expects growth from His children.
Spiritual Life Begins as Babes
Les explains that no one is born into God's family fully mature; every believer begins as a babe in Christ, which is where the Corinthians stayed.
Evidence of Their Lack of Growth
Les lists the Corinthians' actual problems — divisions, suing in pagan courts, immorality, and disorderly tongues — as evidence that they had not grown spiritually.
Paul Could Not Speak as Unto Spiritual
Les points to Paul's own words that he could not speak to the Corinthians as spiritual but as carnal, because they had not gone into the deep things of Scripture.
Carnal Hang-Ups
Les shows that the Corinthians' questions about marriage and meat offered to idols were hang-ups arising from their carnality, which is why Paul had to address them.
A Congregation That Had Not Grown
Les describes the Corinthians as a congregation that had not begun to grow and notes that Paul's first letter was a constant upbraiding of their carnality, especially their four-way division.
1 Corinthians 3:1: And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
This verse directly states that the Corinthians were carnal babes in Christ, explaining why they could not handle deeper spiritual teaching.
1 Corinthians 3:2: 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.
Paul uses the milk-and-meat picture to show that the Corinthians remained spiritually immature and still could not bear strong teaching.
No. Les Feldick repeatedly stresses that the Corinthians were believers — born again and placed into the Body of Christ — even though they remained carnal and fleshly. Their lack of growth was a serious problem, but they were still in the family of God.
Paul said they were carnal babes in Christ who were not able to bear strong spiritual food. Les Feldick notes that even after a year or two they still could not handle the deeper things of Paul's teaching.
They had divisions over which leader to follow, believers took one another to pagan courts, there was gross immorality in the church, and the tongues phenomenon was causing disorder. Les Feldick says these were all signs of their carnality.
Watch the Teaching: Why Christians Are Divided — 1 Corinthians 3 Explained Verse by Verse