1 Corinthians 3:2 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Paul gave them only the simplest teaching, because they were not ready for deeper truths, and still are not.
What Does 1 Corinthians 3:2 Mean?
Drawing on the image of an infant, Paul says he fed the Corinthians milk rather than solid food. A nursing mother gives what the child can receive; he had matched his teaching to their capacity.
The gentle rebuke is that they should have moved on to meat by now. Spiritual growth is meant to continue, so that what once had to be simplified can later be received in fullness. The word invites every reader to ask what kind of nourishment they are now ready to take in.
1 Corinthians 3:2 in the Original Language
gala (γάλα), 'milk' -- the first and simplest nourishment, fitting for the newborn but not the whole diet.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Corinthians 3:2
What does 1 Corinthians 3:2 mean?
Paul gave them only the simplest teaching, because they were not ready for deeper truths, and still are not.