1 Corinthians 3:2

1 Corinthians 3:2 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)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.
• New International Version (NIV)I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready.
• English Standard Version (ESV)I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready,
• New King James Version (NKJV)I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able;

Context of 1 Corinthians 3:2

1Brothers 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. I 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? 4When some of you say, “I follow Paul” and others say, “I follow Apollos,” aren’t you acting like ⌞sinful⌟ humans?

1 Corinthians 3:2 word by word

γάλα ὑμᾶς ἐπότισα, οὐ βρῶμα· οὔπω γὰρ ἐδύνασθε, ἀλλ᾽ οὐδὲ ἔτι νῦν δύνασθε·Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• I have fedποτίζωpotizō · to waterG4222
• youσύsu · youG4771
• with milkγάλαgala · milkG1051
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• notοὐou · noG3756
• with meatβρῶμαbrōma · foodG1033
• forγάρgar · forG1063
• hithertoοὔπωoupō · not yetG3768
• ye were not ableδύναμαιdunamai · be ableG1410
• ·ἀλλάalla · butG235
• neitherοὔτεoute · neitherG3777
• yetἔτιeti · stillG2089
• nowνῦνnun · nowG3568

Cross-references for 1 Corinthians 3:2

• Hebrews 5:12By now you should be teachers. Instead, you still need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word. You need milk, not solid food.
• 1 Peter 2:2Desire God’s pure word as newborn babies desire milk. Then you will grow in your salvation.
• John 16:12“I have a lot more to tell you, but that would be too much for you now.
• Hebrews 5:11We have a lot to explain about this. But since you have become too lazy to pay attention, explaining it to you is hard.

Commentaries on 1 Corinthians 3:2

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2I have fed you with milk - I have instructed you in the elements of Christianity - in its simplest and easiest truths; because from the low state of your minds in religious knowledge, you were incapable of comprehending the higher truths of the Gospel: and in this state you will still continue. The apostle thus exposes to them the absurdity of their conduct in pretending to judge between preacher and preacher, while they had but a very partial…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 2I have fed you with milk - Paul here continues the metaphor, which is derived from the custom of feeding infants with the lightest food. Milk here evidently denotes the more simple and elementary doctrines of Christianity - the doctrines of the new birth, of repentance, faith, etc. The same figure occurs in Hebrews 5:11-14; and also in Classical writers. See Wetstein. And not with meat - “Meat” here denotes the more sublime and mysterious doctrines of…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 2Because the Corinthian Christians were not spiritually mature, Paul could not discuss the deeper truths of life in Christ, which are like solid food (see 1 Corinthians 2:6–7) meant for mature Christians. Instead, he had to focus on milk, the basic teachings of the good news about Jesus (compare Hebrews 5:12–14; 6:1–3; 1 Peter 2:2).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 22. (He 5:12). milk--the elementary "principles of the doctrine of Christ."Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Corinthians 3:2

• Doctrines
• Milk
• Minister, Christian
• Neophytes
• Zeal, Religious

In the dictionaries

• Corinthians, First Epistle to the
• Foundation
• Milk
• Plant
• Catechist; Catechumen
• Corinthians, First Epistle to the
• Hitherto
• Paul, the Apostle
• Sanctification
• Spiritual Meat

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