1 Corinthians 3:1
<< 1 Corinthians 3:1 >>
New International Version (©1984)
Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly--mere infants in Christ.

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to infants in Christ.

International Standard Version (©2008)
Brothers, I couldn't talk to you as spiritual people but as worldly people, as mere infants in the Messiah.

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
Brothers and sisters, I couldn't talk to you as spiritual people but as people still influenced by your corrupt nature. You were infants in your faith in Christ.

King James Bible
And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.

American King James Version
And I, brothers, could not speak to you as to spiritual, but as to carnal, even as to babes in Christ.

American Standard Version
And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, as unto babes in Christ.

Bible in Basic English
And the teaching I gave you, my brothers, was such as I was able to give, not to those who have the Spirit, but to those who are still in the flesh, even to children in Christ.

Douay-Rheims Bible
AND I, brethren, could not speak to you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal. As unto little ones in Christ.

Darby Bible Translation
And I, brethren, have not been able to speak to you as to spiritual, but as to fleshly; as to babes in Christ.

English Revised Version
And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, as unto babes in Christ.

Webster's Bible Translation
And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual, but as to carnal, even as to babes in Christ.

Weymouth New Testament
And as for myself, brethren, I found it impossible to speak to you as spiritual men. It had to be as to worldlings--mere babes in Christ.

World English Bible
Brothers, I couldn't speak to you as to spiritual, but as to fleshly, as to babies in Christ.

Young's Literal Translation
And I, brethren, was not able to speak to you as to spiritual, but as to fleshly -- as to babes in Christ;

Geneva Study Bible

And {1} I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto {a} carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.

(1) Having declared the worthiness of heavenly wisdom, and of the Gospel, and having generally condemned the blindness of man's mind, now at length he applies it particularly to the Corinthians, calling them carnal, that is, those in whom the flesh still prevails against the Spirit. And he brings a twofold testimony of it: first, because he had proved them to be such, in so much that he dealt with them as he would with ignorant men, and those who are almost babes in the doctrine of godliness, and second, because they showed indeed by these dissensions, which sprang up by reason of the ignorance of the power of the Spirit, and heavenly wisdom, that they had profited very little or nothing.

(a) He calls them carnal, who are as yet ignorant, and therefore to express it better, he calls them babes.

People's New Testament

3:1 Carnal Divisions

SUMMARY OF I CORINTHIANS 3:

The Proofs That the Corinthians Were Yet Carnal. Not Able to Endure Strong Meat. The Work of Paul and Apollos. The Increase of God. The Church, God's Building. The One Foundation. Perishable Materials Built on This. The Sin of Dealing God's Temple. The Glorious Estate of the Christians.

And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual. See 1Co 2:6,14. The brethren at Corinth had not reached the state of spiritual men. They were

carnal, undeveloped like babes.

Wesley's Notes

3:1 And I, brethren - He spoke before, 1Cor 2:1, of his entrance, now of his progress, among them. Could not speak to you as unto spiritual - Adult, experienced Christians. But as unto men who were still in great measure carnal, as unto babes in Christ - Still weak in grace, though eminent in gifts, 1Cor 1:5.

Scofield Reference Notes

Margin carnel

See Scofield Note: "Rom 7:14".

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

CHAPTER 3

1Co 3:1-23. Paul Could Not Speak to Them of Deep Spiritual Truths, as They Were Carnal, Contending for Their Several Teachers; These Are Nothing but Workers for God, to Whom They Must Give Account in the Day of Fiery Judgment. The Hearers Are God's Temple, Which They Must Not Defile by Contentions for Teachers, Who, as Well as All Things, Are Theirs, Being Christ's.

1. And I-that is, as the natural (animal) man cannot receive, so I also could not speak unto you the deep things of God, as I would to the spiritual; but I was compelled to speak to you as I would to MEN OF FLESH. The oldest manuscripts read this for "carnal." The former (literally, "fleshy") implies men wholly of flesh, or natural. Carnal, or fleshly, implies not they were wholly natural or unregenerate (1Co 2:14), but that they had much of a carnal tendency; for example their divisions. Paul had to speak to them as he would to men wholly natural, inasmuch as they are still carnal (1Co 3:3) in many respects, notwithstanding their conversion (1Co 1:4-9).

babes-contrasted with the perfect (fully matured) in Christ (Col 1:28; compare Heb 5:13, 14). This implies they were not men wholly of flesh, though carnal in tendencies. They had life in Christ, but it was weak. He blames them for being still in a degree (not altogether, compare 1Co 1:5, 7; therefore he says as) babes in Christ, when by this time they ought to have "come unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ" (Eph 4:13). In Ro 7:14, also the oldest manuscripts read, "I am a man of flesh."

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

3:1-4 The most simple truths of the gospel, as to man's sinfulness and God's mercy, repentance towards God, and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, stated in the plainest language, suit the people better than deeper mysteries. Men may have much doctrinal knowledge, yet be mere beginners in the life of faith and experience. Contentions and quarrels about religion are sad evidences of carnality. True religion makes men peaceable, not contentious. But it is to be lamented, that many who should walk as Christians, live and act too much like other men. Many professors, and preachers also, show themselves to be yet carnal, by vain-glorious strife, eagerness for dispute, and readiness to despise and speak evil of others.


Romans 7:14 For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin.
1 Corinthians 2:6 Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away;
1 Corinthians 2:14 But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.
1 Corinthians 2:15 But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one.
1 Corinthians 14:37 If anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritual, let him recognize that the things which I write to you are the Lord's commandment.
Galatians 6:1 Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted.
Ephesians 4:14 As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming;
Hebrews 5:13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. (NASB ©1995)

Able Address Babes Babies Carnal Christ Couldn't Flesh Fleshly Found Impossible Infants Mere Speak Spirit Spiritual Teaching Worldly


And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.

1 Milk is fit for children.
3 Strife and division, arguments of a fleshly mind.
7 He that planteth and he that watereth, are nothing.
9 The ministers are God's fellow-workmen.
11 Christ the only foundation.
16 Men the temples of God, which must be kept holy.
19 The wisdom of this world is foolishness with God.

as unto spiritual. 2:6,15 Ga 6:1

as unto carnal. 3,4 2:14 Mt 16:23 Ro 7:14

babes. 14:20 Eph 4:13,14 1Jo 2:12

Bible Gateway: 1 Corinthians Chapter 3 Verse 1 NIV ESV NKJV NLT KJV Message Amplified

Alphabetical: address And as brethren Brothers but Christ could flesh I in infants men mere not of speak spiritual to worldly you

THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright ;© 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica®. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org.

International Standard Version Copyright © 1996-2008 by the ISV Foundation.

GOD'S WORD® is a copyrighted work of God's Word to the Nations. Quotations are used by permission. Copyright 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. All rights reserved.

NT Letters: 1 Corinthians 3:1 Brothers I couldn't speak to you as (1 Cor. 1C iC 1Cor i cor icor) Christian Bible Study Resources, Dictionary, Concordance and Search Tools

1 Corinthians 3:1 Bible Software
1 Corinthians 3:1 Biblia Paralela
1 Corinthians 3:1 Chinese Bible
1 Corinthians 3:1 French Bible
1 Corinthians 3:1 German Bible
1 Corinthians 3:1 Danish Bible
1 Corinthians 3:1 Swedish Bible
1 Corinthians 3:1 Norwegian Bible
1 Corinthians 3:1 Multilingual Bible

Online Bible