1 Corinthians 3:2
1 Corinthians 3:2 in Multiple Translations
I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for solid food. In fact, you are still not ready,
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.
I fed you with milk, not with meat; for ye were not yet able to bear it: nay, not even now are ye able;
I gave you milk and not meat, because you were, then, unable to take it, and even now you are not able;
I gave you milk—I couldn't give you solid food to eat, because you weren't ready for it.
I gaue you milke to drinke, and not meat: for yee were not yet able to beare it, neither yet nowe are yee able.
with milk I fed you, and not with meat, for ye were not yet able, but not even yet are ye now able,
I fed you with milk, not with solid food, for you weren’t yet ready. Indeed, you aren’t ready even now,
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.
I gave you milk to drink, not meat; for you were not able as yet. But neither indeed are you now able; for you are yet carnal.
I did not teach you things that were difficult for you to understand, just like a woman does not give her baby solid food that the baby cannot chew and digest. And just like a woman ◄gives her baby milk/breast-feeds her baby►, I taught you simple spiritual concepts, because at that time you were not able to understand difficult things. And you are still not able to understand difficult concepts,
You know, babies can’t eat hard food. They can only drink milk. Well, that is a picture of you mob. I couldn’t teach you hard things. You couldn’t understand them. And even now you are not ready to listen to me.
Berean Amplified Bible — 1 Corinthians 3:2
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1 Corinthians 3:2 Interlinear (Deep Study)
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Greek Word Reference — 1 Corinthians 3:2
Study Notes — 1 Corinthians 3:2
- Context
- Cross References
- 1 Corinthians 3:2 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on 1 Corinthians 3:2
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 1 Corinthians 3:2
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on 1 Corinthians 3:2
- Trapp's Commentary on 1 Corinthians 3:2
- Ellicott's Commentary on 1 Corinthians 3:2
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on 1 Corinthians 3:2
- Barnes' Notes on 1 Corinthians 3:2
- Whedon's Commentary on 1 Corinthians 3:2
- Sermons on 1 Corinthians 3:2
Context — God’s Fellow Workers
2I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for solid food. In fact, you are still not ready,
3for you are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and dissension among you, are you not worldly? Are you not walking in the way of man? 4For when one of you says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere men?Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hebrews 5:11–14 | We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain, because you are dull of hearing. 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. |
| 2 | John 16:12 | I still have much to tell you, but you cannot yet bear to hear it. |
| 3 | 1 Peter 2:2 | Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, |
1 Corinthians 3:2 Summary
[The Apostle Paul is saying that he had to teach the Corinthian believers basic, simple truths about God because they were not yet ready for more complex and deeper teachings. This is like a baby who can only drink milk at first, but as they grow, they can start eating solid food. As believers, we need to grow in our understanding of God's Word, just like a child grows and develops physically, as seen in 1 Peter 2:2. We should strive to move from 'milk' to 'solid food' in our spiritual journey, just as Jesus taught in Matthew 5:6.]
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Apostle Paul mean by 'milk' and 'solid food' in this verse?
The Apostle Paul uses the metaphor of 'milk' and 'solid food' to describe the spiritual nourishment he provided to the Corinthian believers, with 'milk' representing basic, foundational teachings and 'solid food' representing more mature, deeper truths, as seen in Hebrews 5:12-14.
Why did Paul say the Corinthian believers were 'not yet ready' for solid food?
Paul stated that the Corinthian believers were 'not yet ready' for solid food because they were still worldly and immature in their faith, as evidenced by the presence of jealousy and dissension among them, which is also warned against in James 3:14-16.
Is Paul implying that some believers will never be ready for 'solid food'?
No, Paul is not suggesting that some believers will never be ready for 'solid food', but rather that spiritual growth and maturity are necessary for believers to progress from 'milk' to 'solid food', as encouraged in 2 Peter 3:18.
How can we apply this verse to our own lives as believers?
We can apply this verse by recognizing our own spiritual maturity level and seeking to grow in our understanding of God's Word, as well as being patient with others who may not be at the same level of maturity, as seen in Romans 14:1-4.
Reflection Questions
- What are some areas in my life where I am still drinking 'milk' instead of eating 'solid food', and how can I pursue deeper spiritual growth?
- In what ways can I demonstrate patience and understanding towards fellow believers who may not be at the same level of spiritual maturity as myself?
- How can I discern whether I am ready for 'solid food' or if I still need 'milk' in my spiritual journey, and what role does prayer and self-reflection play in this process?
- What are some 'solid food' teachings that I have been neglecting or avoiding, and how can I make a conscious effort to pursue a deeper understanding of God's Word?
Gill's Exposition on 1 Corinthians 3:2
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 1 Corinthians 3:2
Matthew Poole's Commentary on 1 Corinthians 3:2
Trapp's Commentary on 1 Corinthians 3:2
Ellicott's Commentary on 1 Corinthians 3:2
Adam Clarke's Commentary on 1 Corinthians 3:2
Barnes' Notes on 1 Corinthians 3:2
Whedon's Commentary on 1 Corinthians 3:2
Sermons on 1 Corinthians 3:2
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
Preaching a Watered Down Gospel - Part 1 by Jeff Noblit | This sermon delves into the concept of the 'Milky Way' as an idol of shallow principles in Christianity, emphasizing the danger of glorifying shallowness doctrinally and condemning |
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(1 Corinthians) Overview to Chapter 4 by Brian Brodersen | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of understanding the larger argument and thought patterns in the Bible, rather than getting caught up in individual verses. He |
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Cmml Missionary Conference 1995-09 Marks of Spirituality by William MacDonald | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of being a spiritual person who looks at life through the eyes of faith. The spiritual man or woman has a passion for souls an |
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Four Characteristics of the Carnal Life. by F.B. Meyer | F.B. Meyer discusses the four characteristics of the carnal life, emphasizing that a carnal Christian remains in a state of spiritual infancy, relying on others for spiritual nouri |
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Liquid and Solid Food by G.D. Watson | G.D. Watson preaches on the concept of spiritual perfection as described in Hebrews 5, emphasizing the difference between feeding on liquid (milk) and solid (meat) food, symbolizin |
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Exposition on Psalm 131 by St. Augustine | St. Augustine preaches on the importance of humility and faithfulness in the Body of Christ, emphasizing the need to pray in the peace of the Church and unity of Christ's Body to b |
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Maturity by Norman Grubb | Norman Grubb emphasizes the importance of moving from mere mental understanding to experiential knowledge in our spiritual journey. He highlights the challenge of transitioning fro |







