Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ. New Living Translation Dear brothers and sisters, when I was with you I couldn’t talk to you as I would to spiritual people. I had to talk as though you belonged to this world or as though you were infants in Christ. English Standard Version But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. Berean Standard Bible Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual, but as worldly—as infants in Christ. Berean Literal Bible And I, brothers, was not able to speak to you as to spiritual, but as fleshly--as to infants 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. New King James Version And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. New American Standard Bible And I, brothers and sisters, could not speak to you as spiritual people, but only as fleshly, as to infants in Christ. NASB 1995 And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to infants in Christ. NASB 1977 And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to babes in Christ. Legacy Standard Bible And I, brothers, was not able to speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to fleshly men, as to infants in Christ. Amplified Bible However, brothers and sisters, I could not talk to you as to spiritual people, but [only] as to worldly people [dominated by human nature], mere infants [in the new life] in Christ! Christian Standard Bible For my part, brothers and sisters, I was not able to speak to you as spiritual people but as people of the flesh, as babies in Christ. Holman Christian Standard Bible Brothers, I was not able to speak to you as spiritual people but as people of the flesh, as babies 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. Contemporary English Version My friends, you are acting like the people of this world. That's why I could not speak to you as spiritual people. You are like babies as far as your faith in Christ is concerned. English Revised Version And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, as unto babes in Christ. GOD'S WORD® Translation 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. Good News Translation As a matter of fact, my friends, I could not talk to you as I talk to people who have the Spirit; I had to talk to you as though you belonged to this world, as children in the Christian faith. International Standard Version Brothers, I couldn't talk to you as spiritual people but as worldly people, as mere infants in the Messiah. Majority Standard Bible Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual, but as worldly—as infants in Christ. NET Bible So, brothers and sisters, I could not speak to you as spiritual people, but instead as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. New Heart English Bible And I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual, but as fleshly, as infants 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. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd I, brothers, was not able to speak to you as to spiritual, but as to fleshly—as to babies in Christ; Berean Literal Bible And I, brothers, was not able to speak to you as to spiritual, but as fleshly--as to infants 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; Smith's Literal Translation And I, brethren, was not able to speak to you as spiritual, but as carnal, as babes in Christ. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAND I, brethren, could not speak to you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal. As unto little ones in Christ. Catholic Public Domain Version And so, brothers, I was not able to speak to you as if to those who are spiritual, but rather as if to those who are carnal. For you are like infants in Christ. New American Bible Brothers, I could not talk to you as spiritual people, but as fleshly people, as infants in Christ. New Revised Standard Version And so, brothers and sisters, I could not speak to you as spiritual people, but rather as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleSO I, my brethren, could not converse with you as with spiritual men, but as with worldly men and even as with little children in Christ. Aramaic Bible in Plain English And I, my brethren, have not been able to speak with you as with spiritual ones but as with the carnal and as to babies in The Messiah. NT Translations Anderson New TestamentAnd I, brethren, was not able to speak to you, as to spiritual men, but as to those who are carnal, as to babes in Christ. Godbey New Testament And I, brethren, was not able to speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even babes in Christ. Haweis New Testament AND I, brethren, have been unable to speak to you as unto spiritual men, but as to carnal, even as to babes in Christ. Mace New Testament However, I could not speak to you, my brethren, as to the spiritual, or as to the dispassionate, but as to novices in christianity. 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. Worrell New Testament And I, brethren, could not speak to you, as to spiritual, but as to carnal—as to babes in Christ. Worsley New Testament And I, my brethren, could not speak to you, as to spiritual persons, but as to carnal ones, even as to babes in Christ. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context God's Fellow Workers1Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual, but as worldly— as infants in Christ. 2I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for solid food. In fact, you are still not ready,… Cross References Hebrews 5:12-14 Although by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to reteach you the basic principles of God’s word. You need milk, not solid food! / For everyone who lives on milk is still an infant, inexperienced in the message of righteousness. / But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained their senses to distinguish good from evil. 1 Peter 2:2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, Galatians 4:19 My children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you, Ephesians 4:14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed about by the waves and carried around by every wind of teaching and by the clever cunning of men in their deceitful scheming. Romans 7:14 We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. 1 Corinthians 2:14 The natural man does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God. For they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. 1 Corinthians 14:20 Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature. Philippians 3:15 All of us who are mature should embrace this point of view. And if you think differently about some issue, God will reveal this to you as well. Colossians 1:28 We proclaim Him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. James 3:13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good conduct, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. Isaiah 28:9-10 Whom is He trying to teach? To whom is He explaining His message? To infants just weaned from milk? To babies removed from the breast? / For they hear: “Order on order, order on order, line on line, line on line; a little here, a little there.” Jeremiah 4:22 “For My people are fools; they have not known Me. They are foolish children, without understanding. They are skilled in doing evil, but they know not how to do good.” Ezekiel 16:46-47 Your older sister was Samaria, who lived with her daughters to your north; and your younger sister was Sodom, who lived with her daughters to your south. / And you not only walked in their ways and practiced their abominations, but soon you were more depraved than they were. Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you as My priests. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children. Psalm 131:2 Surely I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with his mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me. Treasury of Scripture And I, brothers, could not speak to you as to spiritual, but as to carnal, even as to babes in Christ. as unto spiritual. 1 Corinthians 2:6,15 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: … Galatians 6:1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. as unto carnal. 1 Corinthians 3:3,4 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? … 1 Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. Matthew 16:23 But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men. babes. 1 Corinthians 14:20 Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men. Ephesians 4:13,14 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: … 1 John 2:12 I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake. Jump to Previous Able Address Babes Babies Carnal Christ Couldn't Flesh Fleshly Found Impossible Infants Mere Speak Spirit Spiritual Teaching WorldlyJump to Next Able Address Babes Babies Carnal Christ Couldn't Flesh Fleshly Found Impossible Infants Mere Speak Spirit Spiritual Teaching Worldly1 Corinthians 3 1. Milk is fit for children.3. Strife and division, arguments of a fleshly mind. 7. He who plants and He who waters are nothing. 9. The ministers are God's fellow workmen. 11. Christ the only foundation. 16. You are the temples of God, which must be kept holy. 19. The wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. Brothers The term "brothers" (Greek: ἀδελφοί, adelphoi) is a term of endearment and familial connection, indicating that Paul is addressing fellow believers in the Corinthian church. This word underscores the unity and equality among believers, as they are all part of the family of God. Historically, the early Christian communities were tightly knit, often facing external pressures, which made this familial bond even more significant. Paul’s use of "brothers" sets a tone of gentle correction rather than harsh rebuke. I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly as infants in Christ (1) And I.--Again, as in 1Corinthians 2:6, the Apostle shows how general principles which he has just explained were exemplified in his own conduct. In the closing verses of 1 Corinthians 2 St. Paul has enunciated the general method of teaching spiritual truth as being dependent upon the receptive powers of those who are being taught. He now proceeds to point out to them that their own character, as being wanting in spirituality, was the real hindrance to his teaching them the higher spiritual truth which may be called "the wisdom" of the gospel. As unto carnal.--Better, as being carnal. Our version may seem to imply that the Apostle spoke to them as if they were carnal, though they really were not so; but the force of the passage is that they were indeed carnal, and that the Apostle taught them not as if they were such, but as being such. "Carnal" is here the opposite of "spiritual," and does not involve any reference to what we would commonly speak of as carnal sin. Babes in Christ.--This is the opposite of the "full grown" in 1Corinthians 2:6, to whom the "wisdom" could be taught. (See also Colossians 1:28, "full grown in Christ.") It may be an interesting indication of the "manliness" of St. Paul's character and his high estimate of it in others, that he constantly uses the words "babe" and "childhood" in a depreciatory sense. (See Romans 2:20, Galatians 4:3, Ephesians 4:14.) . . . Verses 1-4. - The carnal conceit of the spiritually immature. Verse 1. - I... could not speak unto you as unto spiritual. Though softened by the word brethren, there was a crushing irony of reproof in these words: "You thought yourselves quite above the need of my simple teaching. You were looking down on me from the whole height of your inferiority. The elementary character of my doctrine was after all the necessary consequence of your own incapacity for anything more profound." As unto carnal. The true reading here is sarkinois, fleshen, not sarkikois, fleshly, or carnal; the later and severer word is perhaps first used in ver. 3. The word sarkinos (earneus), fleshen, implies earthliness and weakness and the absence of spirituality; but sarki-kos (carnalis) involves the dominance of the lower nature and antagonism to the spiritual. As mite babes in Christ. The word "babes" has a good and a bad sense. In its good sense it implies humility and teachableness, as in 1 Corinthians 14:20, "In malice be ye babes;" and in 1 Peter 2:2, "As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the Word;" and in Matthew 11:25. Here it is used in its bad sense of spiritual childishness.Parallel Commentaries ... Greek Brothers,ἀδελφοί (adelphoi) Noun - Vocative Masculine Plural Strong's 80: A brother, member of the same religious community, especially a fellow-Christian. A brother near or remote. I Κἀγώ (Kagō) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Singular Strong's 2504: To also, I too, but I. From kai and ego; so also the dative case kamoi, and accusative case kame and I, me. could not ἠδυνήθην (ēdynēthēn) Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 1st Person Singular Strong's 1410: (a) I am powerful, have (the) power, (b) I am able, I can. Of uncertain affinity; to be able or possible. address λαλῆσαι (lalēsai) Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active Strong's 2980: A prolonged form of an otherwise obsolete verb; to talk, i.e. Utter words. you ὑμῖν (hymin) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou. as ὡς (hōs) Adverb Strong's 5613: Probably adverb of comparative from hos; which how, i.e. In that manner. spiritual, πνευματικοῖς (pneumatikois) Adjective - Dative Masculine Plural Strong's 4152: Spiritual. From pneuma; non-carnal, i.e. ethereal, or a spirit, or supernatural, regenerate, religious. but ἀλλ’ (all’) Conjunction Strong's 235: But, except, however. Neuter plural of allos; properly, other things, i.e. contrariwise. as ὡς (hōs) Adverb Strong's 5613: Probably adverb of comparative from hos; which how, i.e. In that manner. worldly— σαρκίνοις (sarkinois) Adjective - Dative Masculine Plural Strong's 4560: Fleshly, consisting of flesh, carnal. From sarx; similar to flesh, i.e. soft. as ὡς (hōs) Adverb Strong's 5613: Probably adverb of comparative from hos; which how, i.e. In that manner. infants νηπίοις (nēpiois) Adjective - Dative Masculine Plural Strong's 3516: From an obsolete particle ne- and epos; not speaking, i.e. An infant; figuratively, a simple-minded person, an immature Christian. in ἐν (en) Preposition Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc. Christ. Χριστῷ (Christō) Noun - Dative Masculine Singular Strong's 5547: Anointed One; the Messiah, the Christ. From chrio; Anointed One, i.e. The Messiah, an epithet of Jesus. Links 1 Corinthians 3:1 NIV1 Corinthians 3:1 NLT 1 Corinthians 3:1 ESV 1 Corinthians 3:1 NASB 1 Corinthians 3:1 KJV 1 Corinthians 3:1 BibleApps.com 1 Corinthians 3:1 Biblia Paralela 1 Corinthians 3:1 Chinese Bible 1 Corinthians 3:1 French Bible 1 Corinthians 3:1 Catholic Bible NT Letters: 1 Corinthians 3:1 Brothers I couldn't speak to you as (1 Cor. 1C iC 1Cor i cor icor) |
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