Carnal in Envy, Strife and Divisions 1 Corinthians 3:3

Paul the apostle declared how he “fed” the Corinthian church members “with milk, and not with meat” because at this time they were “not able to bear it” neither yet now” were they “able”. Paul continued his letter by sharing how the Corinthians were “carnal” in “envying, strife and divisions” where we read:

For you are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying,

and strife, and divisions, are you not carnal, and walk as men?

The verse begins, “For you are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying,...” Paul began with the words, “For” which means “even as, indeed, no doubt, seeing then, verily and therefore” “you are yet” or “the Corinthian church members doing a thing which went on formerly and continues at the present time” “carnal” which means “fleshly, having the nature of flesh or under the control of the animal appetites, governed by mere human nature and not by the Spirit of God”: “for whereas” or “even as, indeed, no doubt, seeing then, verily and therefore in place and where” “there is among you” or “by and with the Corinthians” “envying” which means “heat, punitive zeal, emulation, fervent mind, fierceness of indignation, pursuing and ardor in an unfavorable one”. Because there was “envy” or “contentious rivalry and jealousy” against one another, Paul considered the Corinthians “carnal” or “fleshly minded”.

The verse goes on to say, “and strife, and divisions, are you not carnal, and walk as men?” Paul continued with the words, “and strife” which means “debate, contention, variance and wrangling”, “and divisions” which means “dissension, disunion and sedition” “are you not carnal” or “fleshly, having the nature of flesh or under the control of the animal appetites, governed by mere human nature and not by the Spirit of God”, “and walk” which means “make progress and due of opportunities, regulate your lives and conduct yourselves” “as men” or “down from, through out, according to and toward human beings whether male or female”? Paul's idea was that the church members, because of the “contention” and “dissension” among them, lived their lives as ordinary people who had not received the “gospel” of Jesus Christ.

When we think through these words from Paul, we recognize some of the characteristics of people who are “carnal” or “fleshly” minded. Though they have received Jesus as their personal “Savior”, they govern their lives like any other person who lives. “Carnal” minded people live according to their “bodily appetites” i.e, What do I eat? What do I drink? What makes the body feel good? What's the next pleasurable experience, etc.? Paul desired to speak to the church members in Corinth concerning “spiritual and eternal” things, but they were so caught up in “temporarily pleasing” their bodies, they could not hear what the Spirit of God was saying to them. If we desire to know whether we are “carnally” or “spiritually” minded, we should examine ourselves and see what we think about and to what dedicate our lives. Do we think about and dedicate ourselves to “carnal” things like “envy, strife or divisions” or “spiritual” things like those which Jesus constantly displayed? Let the “spiritual mindedness” of our Lord Jesus be our example, and may we put away “carnal” living.

Next time Paul describes the carnality of the Corinthians as they were saying, “I am of Paul, and another, I am of Apollos”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.