Fed with Milk not Meat 1 Corinthians 3:2

Paul the apostle told the Corinthian church members, he “could not speak unto” them “as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal” because they were “even as unto babes in Christ”, and in chapter three and verse two of First Corinthians, Paul shared how he “fed” the Corinthian church members “with milk, and not with meat” where we read:

I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto you were not able to bear it,

neither yet now are you able.

The verse begins, “I have fed you with milk, and not with meat:” Paul began with the words, “I have” which means “Paul had”, “fed you” or “given, furnished, imbued and saturated the Corinthians” “with milk” which means “the less difficult Christian truths” “not with meat” or “not with food or Christian truths that are more difficult”. Paul was only able to share the “basic or less difficult” Christian truths with the Corinthian church.

The verse goes on to say, “for hitherto you were not able to bear it, neither yet now are you able.”. Paul continued with the word, “for” which means “even as, indeed, no doubt, seeing then, verily and therefore “hitherto” which means “not as yet” “you were not able to bear it” which means “the Corinthian church members were incapable, to have power by their own virtue, ability, resources, circumstances or permission of law or custom”, “neither” or “nor or not” “yet now” which means “at this current time” “are you able” or “were the Corinthians capable or powerful by their own virtue”. Paul was not able to share the more advance “Christian truths” with the church members of Corinth before or at the time of this letter.

When we think through these words from Paul, we notice there are two divisions of “Christian truths” available to those who believe in Jesus Christ. The Corinthian church members were only able to hear, listen to and abide by “simple Christian principles” rather than knowing and following “advanced” ones. God desires for us not only to know Him through His Son Jesus Christ, but also to grow in our relationship with Him. We see the idea that Paul desired at this time to share more advanced “Christian truths” with the Corinthians, however, they could not handle them. So, instead of “the meat of God's truth”, they received only “the milk”. Let us determine whether we are growing in our faith and are able to be fed with the “milk” or “meat” of God's word.

Next time Paul shares what God has purposed for the“base things of the world, and things that are despised”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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