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The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

1 Corinthians 3:1-3

1 CORINTHIANS—NOTE ON 1 Corinthians 3:1 Flesh can mean different things in Scripture. In Paul’s letters it often refers to unredeemed human nature, along with its desires and typical behaviors.

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See also 1 Corinthians 3:1-3 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    CHAPTER III. _Because of the carnal, divided state of the people at Corinth,_ _the apostle was obliged to treat them as children in the_ _knowledge of sacred things_, 1-3. _Some were for setting u...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    AND I, BRETHREN - See 1 Corinthians 2:1. This is designed to meet an implied objection. He had said 1 Corinthians 2:14 that Christians were able to understand all things. Yet, they would recollect tha...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    CHAPTER 3 _ 1. The Carnal state of the Corinthians. (1 Corinthians 3:1)._ 2. The Workmen and their Work. (1 Corinthians 3:10). 3. The Church the Temple of God. (1 Corinthians

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    RENEWED CONDEMNATION OF PARTY SPIRIT. Paul has now reached a point where he can effect an easy return to the divisions at Corinth. He has been speaking of the spiritual man who is capable of receiving...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    And I, brothers, could not talk to you as I would to spiritual men, but I had to talk to you as to those who had not yet got beyond merely human things, as to infants in Christ. I gave you milk to dri...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    THE SUPREME IMPORTANCE OF GOD (1 Corinthians 3:1-9)...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    COULD NOT. was not able to. SPEAK. App-121. UNTO. to. SPIRITUAL. Greek. _pneumatikos._ See 1 Corinthians 12:1. CARNAL. Greek. _sarkikos,_ as in Romans 7:14, but the texts read _sarkines._ See...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    1 Corinthians 3:1-4. The partizanship of the Corinthians a hindrance to spiritual progress 1. _And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual_ The Apostle has said much of the superiority...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    THE PARTIZANSHIP OF THE CORINTHIANS A HINDRANCE TO SPIRITUAL PROGRESS ΚἈΓΏ, ἈΔΕΛΦΟΊ, ΟΥ̓Κ ἨΔΥΝΉΘΗΝ ΛΑΛΗ͂ΣΑΙ ὙΜΙ͂Ν. The Apostle has said much of the superiority of the wisdom which is the result of sp...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    ΣΑΡΚΊΝΟΙΣ. So אABCD. The internal evidence is about equally divided. For we may fairly set the probability that a writer seeing πνευματικοῖς before him would alter σαρκίνοις into σαρκικοῖς, against th...

  • Charles Box Commentaries

    _THE BRETHREN WERE CARNAL 1 CORINTHIANS 3:1-4:_ When Paul wrote this epistle the brethren were acting like people of this world. They were acting like babies as far as their faith is Christ was concer...

  • Charles Rose Commentaries

    ΚΆΓΏ = ΚΑΙ ΈΓ (G2504) и я; эмфатическое, с легким противопоставлением предыдущему (Grosheide). ΉΔΥΝΉΘΗΝ _aor. ind. pass. (dep.) от_ ΔΎΝΑΜΑΙ (G1410) быть способным, с _inf._ ΛΑΛΉΣΑΙ _aor. act. inf. о...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    AND I, BRETHREN, &C.— The next matter of boasting, which the faction made use of to give the pre-eminence and preference to their leader above St. Paul, seems to have been this, That their new teacher...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    BUTLER'S COMMENTS SECTION 1 Commence With Spiritual Feeding (1 Corinthians 3:1-4) 3 But I, brethren, could not address you as spiritual men, but as men of the flesh, as babes in Christ. 2I fed you w...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. AND I - i:e., as the natural (animal) man cannot receive, so I also could not (was not...

  • Concordant Commentary on the New Testament by A. E. Knoch

    21 To this day the great, the noble, and the wise are a small minority among the true saints of God. It is a matter of extreme thankfulness that this is so. If high birth or wisdom or any other attain...

  • Darby's translation notes (1890)

    3:1 fleshly; (i-18) _ Sarkinos_ . as Romans 7:14 ; Hebrews 7:16 ; 2 Corinthians 3:3 . This word is said to mean properly the material -- the composition of a thing. 'Carnal,' twice in verse 3, is s...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    PARAPHRASE. 'Te yourselves, brethren, are an illustration of what I say. (2) I have treated you as beginners and given you elementary Christian teaching, for hitherto you have been unfit for any other...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    NOT.. AS UNTO SPIRITUAL] The hidden wisdom of which the Apostle has been writing is not for them. CARNAL] The Gk. means 'fleshy,' and points to the fact that they were mere infants, so to speak. It is...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    THE FAULT OF PARTY SPIRIT The immaturity of the Corinthian converts and their unfitness for anything but elementary instruction in the faith is proved by their mutual jealousies and their disagreemen...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    SERVANTS OF CHRIST 1 CORINTHIANS _HILDA BRIGHT_ CHAPTER 3 GOD’S WORKERS 3:1-9 V1 *Brothers and *sisters, I could not speak to you as if the *Holy Spirit was guiding you. I had to speak to you as...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    III. (1) AND I. — Again, as in 1 Corinthians 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....

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    CHAPTER 5 DIVINE WISDOM IN the preceding paragraph Paul has explained why he had proclaimed the bare facts regarding Christ and His crucifixion and trusted to the Cross itself to impress the Corinth...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    CHAPTER 6 GOD'S HUSBANDRY AND BUILDING PAUL having abundantly justified his method of preaching to the Corinthians, and having shown why he contented himself with the simple presentation of the Cross...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    to 1 Corinthians 3:2. § 8. THE REVEALING SPIRIT. The world's rulers committed the frightful crime of “crucifying the Lord of glory,” because in fact they have only “the spirit of the world,” whereas “...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    Κἀγώ, ἀδελφοί : The Ap. returns to the strain of 1 Corinthians 2:1-5, speaking now not in general terms of ἡμεῖς, οἱ τέλειοι, etc.; but definitely of the Cor [455] and himself. _They_ demonstrate, unh...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    § 12. CHRIST'S SERVANTS ANSWERABLE TO HIMSELF. The Ap. has shown his readers their own true position so high and yet so lowly (§ 11); Paul, Apollos, Cephas are but part of a universe of ministry that...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    PROSPERITY COMES FROM GOD 1 Corinthians 3:1 In all our relations with our fellow-men, Christ's followers must realize their obligations as members of one great family, with one God. A man may be _in...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    The reason for the schisms was that these people were carnal. "Jealousy and strife" are evidences of carnality. Proceeding, Paul declared the true value of the Christian ministry. "For we are God's fe...

  • Gary Hampton Commentaries

    Division Is Carnal The Corinthians had grown slowly in spiritual things. They still clung to carnal things like envy and strife (1 Corinthians 3:1). Like those at Ephesus, they needed not to be "child...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    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 h...

  • Godet's commentary on Luke, John, Romans, 1 Corinthians

    “And I also, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, as unto babes in Christ. 2. I have fed you with milk, not with meat: for hitherto ye were not strong enough, and...

  • Godet's commentary on Luke, John, Romans, 1 Corinthians

    3:1-4. After demonstrating that though the gospel is not a wisdom, yet it contains one, but one which cannot be expounded except to those who by their spiritual maturity are in a condition to understa...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    (1) And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. (2) I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bea...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    CONTENTS The Apostle is prosecuting the Subject of his Ministry in this Chapter. Under several sweet Similitude's, he describes the Manner he had used among them, for Instruction....

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    As usual, the introductory words (1 Corinthians 1:1-3) of the epistle give us no little intimation of that which is to follow. The apostle speaks of himself as such "called [to be] an apostle of Jesus...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    1._And I, brethren _He begins to apply to the Corinthians themselves, that he had said respecting carnal persons, that they may understand that the fault was their own — that the doctrine of the Cross...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    They were not natural men; but they were carnal (not spiritual) men, so that the apostle had to feed them with milk and not with meat which was only fit for those that were of full age. That with whic...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    AND I, BRETHREN, COULD NOT SPEAK UNTO YOU,.... Though the apostle was a spiritual man himself, had spiritual gifts, even the extraordinary gifts of the Spirit, could judge all things, had the mind of...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, _even_ as unto babes in Christ. Ver. 1. _Could not speak unto you_] Unless I would beat the air, and lose my sweet wor...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _And I, brethren_ The apostle having, in the latter part of the preceding chapter, observed that mere natural men, still unenlightened and unrenewed, receive not the things of the Spirit, begins this...

  • Justin Edwards' Family Bible New Testament (1851)

    SPIRITUAL; advanced in spiritual knowledge, and prepared to understand and profit by the higher and more difficult truths of the gospel. CARNAL; having little religious knowledge or spiritual discernm...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    AND I, BRETHREN, COULD NOT SPEAK UNTO YOU AS UNTO SPIRITUAL, BUT AS UNTO CARNAL, EVEN AS UNTO BABES IN CHRIST....

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    A REPROOF OF SPIRITUAL PRIDE. The marks of carnal men:...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    But in practical experience the Corinthians were not properly regarding, nor depending on, the wisdom of the Spirit of God, who had been given to them. Paul could not write to them as spiritual, but a...

  • Mark Dunagan Commentaries

    AND I, BRETHREN, COULD NOT SPEAK UNTO YOU AS UNTO SPIRITUAL, BUT AS UNTO CARNAL, AS UNTO BABES IN CHRIST. 'And I, brethren' -(1 Corinthians 2:1) 'SPIRITUAL' -4152. pneumatikos pnyoo-mat-ik-os'; from...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    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 t...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    1 CORINTHIANS 3 1 CORINTHIANS 3:1,2 Paul showeth that he could not instruct the Corinthians in the higher doctrines of Christianity because of their carnal mind, 1 CORINTHIANS 3:3,4 which temper disco...

  • McGarvey and Pendleton Commentaries

    And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, as unto babes in Christ. [The simplicity of Paul's instruction had given occasion to the false apostles (2 Corinthians...

  • NT Verse References in the Ante-Nicene Fathers

    Irenaeus Against Heresies Book V For men of this stamp do indeed say that they believe in the Father and the Son, but they never meditate as they should upon the things of God, neither are they adorn...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    1 Corinthians 3:1 And G2532 I G1473 brethren G80 could G1410 (G5675) not G3756 speak G2980 (G5658) you...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    UNFORTUNATELY THEIR PRESENT BEHAVIOUR IS A SIGN OF THEIR IMMATURITY FOR THE OBJECTS OF THEIR DEVOTION ARE BUT INSTRUMENTS OF GOD. THEIR EYES ARE FIXED IN THE WRONG PLACE (3:1-7) ‘And I, brothers, coul...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    1 Corinthians 3:1. AND I, BRETHREN, COULD NOT SPEAK UNTO YOU AS UNTO SPIRITUAL, BUT AS UNTO CARNAL, EVEN AS UNTO BABES IN CHRIST those in whom the spiritual principles, like the higher faculties in a...

  • Robertson's Word Pictures of the New Testament

    BUT AS UNTO CARNAL (αλλ' ως σαρκινοις). Latin _carneus_. "As men o' flesh," Braid Scots; "as worldlings," Moffatt. This form in -ινος like λιθινος in 2 Corinthians 3:3 means the material of flesh, ...

  • Scofield's Bible Commentary

    CARNEL (_ See Scofield) - (Romans 7:14). _...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    1. _And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ._ Their spiritual part had not grown strong, their old carnal nature still had the pr...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    1. _And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ._ The church at Corinth consisted of persons of large education and great abilities....

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Hindrance of a carnal state to spiritual growth. Christian service and its reward. CHARACTERS: God, Christ, Holy Spirit, Paul, Apollos, Cephas. CONCLUSION: Our salvation rests solely upon t...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    1 Corinthians 3:1. _Babes in Christ,_ like children at the breast, requiring to be _fed with milk, and not with meat._ Our great tutor here addresses the Corinthians in a superior style of eloquence,...

  • The Bible Study New Testament

    I COULD NOT TALK TO YOU. Compare 1 Corinthians 2:6; 1 Corinthians 2:14_. MacKnight_ says: "From what is said in this chapter it appears, that the false teacher had represented St. Paul either as ignor...

  • The Great Commentary of Cornelius à Lapide

    CHAPTER III. SYNOPSIS OF THE CHAPTER He endeavours to put an end to the divisions among the Corinthians, by reminding them of their mutual subjection and union in Christ and God. I. He points out t...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    _CRITICAL NOTES_ 1 Corinthians 3:1. AND I.—_Q.d_. “As any other ‘spiritual’ teacher would have to do.” So Ellicott; but perhaps laying undue stress upon the “_and_,” which, if more than merely a half-...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION 1 CORINTHIANS 3:1 _The carnal conceit of the spiritually immature._ 1 CORINTHIANS 3:1 I… COULD NOT SPEAK UNTO YOU AS UNTO SPIRITUAL. Though softened by the word brethren, there was a cr...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Let's turn now to I Corinthians, chapter 3. Beginning with the fourteenth verse of chapter 2, Paul here separates men into three classifications. Starting in chapter 2 with the natural man, the unrege...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Corinthians 14:20; 1 Corinthians 2:14; 1 Corinthians 2:15; 1 Corinthians 2:6;...

  • Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament (4 Volume Set)

    Carnal [σ α ρ κ ι ν ο ι ς]. Made of flesh. See on Romans 7:14, and on flesh, Romans 7:5. Babes [ν η π ι ο ι ς]. From nh not, and epov a word. Strictly, non - speakers. Compare the Latin infans. Strong...

  • Wells of Living Water Commentary

    THE CARNAL AND SPIRITUAL CHRISTIAN 1 Corinthians 3:1 INTRODUCTORY WORDS In our last study, we were discussing two kinds of people. One, the unregenerate who had not the Spirit, and the other, the r...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    And I, brethren — He spoke before, 1 Corinthians 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 we...

  • William Burkitt's Expository Notes

    As if the apostle had said, "My brethren, although. speak the highest wisdom amongst them that are perfect, yet could not. speak the unto you as unto spiritual persons, but as unto carnal: because the...

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