1 Corinthians 3:1

1 Corinthians 3:1 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
• New International Version (NIV)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.
• English Standard Version (ESV)But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ.
• New King James Version (NKJV)And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ.

Context of 1 Corinthians 3:1

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. 2I gave you milk to drink. I didn’t give you solid food because you weren’t ready for it. Even now you aren’t ready for it 3because you’re still influenced by your corrupt nature. When you are jealous and quarrel among yourselves, aren’t you influenced by your corrupt nature and living by human standards?

1 Corinthians 3:1 word by word

Κἀγώ, ἀδελφοί, οὐκ ἠδυνήθην λαλῆσαι ὑμῖν ὡς πνευματικοῖς ἀλλ᾽ ὡς σαρκίνοις, ὡς νηπίοις ἐν Χριστῷ.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Andκαίkai · andG2532
• Iἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• brethrenἀδελφόςadelphos · brotherG80
• couldδύναμαιdunamai · be ableG1410
• notοὐou · noG3756
• speakλαλέωlaleō · to speakG2980
• unto youσύsu · youG4771
• asὡςhōs · as/whenG5613
• unto spiritualπνευματικόςpneumatikos · spiritualG4152
• butἀλλάalla · butG235
• carnalσαρκικόςsarkikos · fleshlyG4559
• unto babesνήπιοςnēpios · childG3516
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• ChristΧριστόςChristos · ChristG5547

Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 3:1

• 1 Corinthians 2:6However, we do use wisdom to speak to those who are mature. It is a wisdom that doesn’t belong to this world or to the rulers of this world who are in power today and gone tomorrow.
• Galatians 6:1Brothers and sisters, if a person gets trapped by wrongdoing, those of you who are spiritual should help that person turn away from doing wrong. Do it in a gentle way. At the same time watch yourself so that you also are not tempted.
• 1 Corinthians 3:3because you’re still influenced by your corrupt nature. When you are jealous and quarrel among yourselves, aren’t you influenced by your corrupt nature and living by human standards?
• 1 Corinthians 2:14A person who isn’t spiritual doesn’t accept the teachings of God’s Spirit. He thinks they’re nonsense. He can’t understand them because a person must be spiritual to evaluate them.
• Matthew 16:23But Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get out of my way, Satan! You are tempting me to sin. You aren’t thinking the way God thinks but the way humans think.”
• Romans 7:14I know that God’s standards in Moses’ Teachings are spiritual, but I have a corrupt nature, sold as a slave to sin.
• 1 Corinthians 14:20Brothers and sisters, don’t think like children. When it comes to evil, be like babies, but think like mature people.
• Ephesians 4:13This is to continue until all of us are united in our faith and in our knowledge about God’s Son, until we become mature, until we measure up to Christ, who is the standard.
• 1 John 2:12I’m writing to you, dear children, because your sins are forgiven through Christ.

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 3:1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual - This is a continuation of the preceding discourse. See the notes on 1 Corinthians 2:14, 1 Corinthians 2:15; (note), and 1 Corinthians 2:16; (note). But as unto carnal - , Persons under the influence of fleshly appetites; coveting and living for the things of this life. Babes in Christ - Just beginning to acquire some notion of the Christian religion, hut as yet very incapable of judging what is…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1And I, brethren - See 1 Corinthians 2:1. This is designed to meet an implied objection. He had said 1 Corinthians 2:14-16 that Christians were able to understand all things. Yet, they would recollect that he had not addressed them as such, but had confined himself to the more elementary parts of religion when he came among them. He had not entered upon the abstruse and difficult points of theology - the points of speculation in which the subtle Greeks so…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1Chapter Outline The Corinthians reproved for their contentions. (1-4) The true servants of Christ can do nothing without him. (5-9) He is the only foundation, and every one should take heed what he builds thereon. (10-15) The churches of Christ ought to be kept pure, and to be humble. (16-17) And they should not glory in men, because ministers and all things else are theirs through Christ. (18-23) Verses 1-4 The most simple truths of the gospel, as to…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1The Corinthians did not act like the spiritual people Paul described in 1 Corinthians 2:15. Instead, they behaved like unbelievers drawn to worldly wisdom and values. as infants in Christ: Although they converted, their lives and thoughts did not show maturity in Christ or the transformative perspective of his Spirit.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-231Co 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…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Corinthians 3:1

• Babes
• Doctrines
• Minister, Christian
• Neophytes
• Strife
• Zeal, Religious

In the dictionaries

• Christ
• Christ, Messiah
• Babe
• Corinthians, First Epistle to the
• Foundation
• Plant
• Carnal
• Catechist; Catechumen
• Corinthians, First Epistle to the
• Flesh

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings