The Corinthians struggled because they were brand-new believers saved out of deep paganism and immorality, still immature, and under pressure from both Jewish and pagan elements.
They had been genuinely born again and placed into the Body of Christ, but they were still carnal babes in Christ who needed time and nurturing to grow. Their background in idolatry and gross immorality left them without a biblical moral foundation, and they were surrounded by pressures from the Jewish element and the pagan world. Paul expected them to grow, but he recognized that they could not become mature spiritual believers overnight.
1 Corinthians 3:1-3 — Paul directly identifies the Corinthians as carnal babes in Christ, showing that their struggle came from spiritual immaturity rather than from a lack of salvation.
1 Corinthians 6:9-11 — This passage reminds the Corinthians that before salvation they practiced unrighteousness, but now they are washed, sanctified, and justified — showing their struggle was rooted in the lifestyle they had just left.
In 1 Corinthians 3:1-3, Paul plainly states that the Corinthians were carnal and could only be spoken to as babes in Christ. He could not feed them with meat because they were not yet able to bear it. Their envy, strife, and divisions were evidence that they were still walking as men. The same letter makes clear that they were truly saved. In 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, Paul lists sins that would keep the unrighteous out of the kingdom of God, but then says "such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God." And in 1 Corinthians 1:8-9, Paul promises that God will confirm them blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Les Feldick teaches that the Corinthians' struggle came from their pre-conversion background. They were saved out of abject paganism, idolatry, mythology, and gross immorality, and they had no concept of biblical morality. They were not instantly transformed into spiritual giants; they came into salvation as babes in Christ, and just as physical life requires growth, so does spiritual life. They needed nurturing and time before they could mature. These early believers also faced pressure from both the Jewish element and the pagan element, and only a precious few had come into the liberty of Christianity. They were genuinely saved and in the Body of Christ, but they remained carnal, fleshly minded, and full of questions about marriage and meat offered to idols. Yet God did not give up on them; He kept them in a place of growing, and Paul was confident they could become trophies of God's grace.
Yes. Les Feldick emphasizes that Paul called the Corinthians believers. They were born again and placed into the Body of Christ, but they were still carnal and fleshly minded. They were not unbelievers; they were genuine believers with a long way to go in their spiritual walk.
The Corinthians came out of abject paganism, idolatry, mythology, and gross immorality. The city of Corinth was steeped in pagan worship of Greek gods and goddesses, and the people had no concept of biblical morality. They had recently converted out of that kind of lifestyle, which made their growth into Christian living a gradual process.
According to Les Feldick, the moment these early Christians professed faith in Christ they were under pressure. They were pressured by the Jewish element, pressured by the pagan element, and only a precious few were able to come into the liberty of Christianity. Paul would hear things in the church that made him sorry instead of joyful.
Les Feldick points out that Paul was confident the Corinthians could grow and become real trophies of God's grace, in spite of all the pressure. God expects growth from His children, and because the Corinthians were babes in Christ, there had to be a time of nurturing and growth — but only by the grace of God. God did not give up on them; He kept them in a place of growing until Paul was eventually proud of them.
Pressures From Jewish and Pagan Elements
Les explains that early Christians faced pressure from both the Jewish element and the pagan element, and only a precious few entered the liberty of Christianity — yet Paul still expected them to grow.
Babes in Christ
Les sets the stage: Corinth was saturated with immorality, and believers entered salvation as babes in Christ, not as mature spiritual people.
Nurturing and Growth From Paganism
Les says it is unreasonable to expect people saved out of abject paganism to become mature overnight; there must be a time of nurturing and growth by grace.
God Did Not Give Up
Les notes the Corinthian congregation was plagued with many sins, but God did not give up on them and kept them growing; Paul eventually took pride in them.
Carnal Questions
Les points out that the Corinthians' questions about marriage and meat offered to idols showed how carnal they still were, which is why Paul had to address them.
Genuine Believers With Failures
Les emphasizes that although the Corinthians had many failures, they were genuine believers; Paul teaches that if the Lord came, they would all go.
Recent Converts From Paganism
Les reminds readers that the city of Corinth was steeped in pagan idolatry and sexual immorality, and the believers had only recently converted out of that lifestyle.
Fleshly Minded but Born Again
Les states that God expects growth from His children, but the Corinthians were still fleshly minded even though they were born again and in the Body of Christ.
1 Corinthians 3:1-3: 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. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
These verses directly explain that the Corinthians' struggle came from spiritual immaturity — they were still babes in Christ, unable to handle strong teaching.
1 Corinthians 6:9-11: Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
Paul reminds the Corinthians that their former pagan lifestyle did not disqualify them because they had been washed, sanctified, and justified in Christ.
1 Corinthians 1:8-9: Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
This passage shows that despite the Corinthians' carnal struggles, God would confirm them blameless to the end because He is faithful.
Yes. Les Feldick is clear that Paul calls the Corinthians believers. They had been born again and placed into the Body of Christ, yet they were still carnal and fleshly minded. Their struggles did not mean they were lost.
Paul told them they were babes in Christ and could only take milk, not meat. Les Feldick explains that people saved out of abject paganism need a time of nurturing and growth before they mature.
No. Les Feldick says God did not give up on the Corinthians; He kept them growing, and Paul was eventually able to be proud of them. Scripture also promises that God would confirm them blameless to the end.
Watch the Teaching: What It Means to Be Sealed by the Holy Spirit — 2 Corinthians 1:21-22