# 10: 11-14-14 E

First Corinthians 3:1-8

Paul has created a contrast between two men, in his letter to the Corinthian assembly. There is the natural
man - the soul-man. This is a member of the creation in Adam, who considers things taken in from the
world by his senses, just within his soul.
The soul-man examines all that he takes in through his intellect - through his dark mind, which has always
shut out the light that God offered, through the gospel. The soul-man has refused to let that light penetrate
to his spirit, for understanding. With his darkened thinking, the soul-man considers the wisdom of God to
be foolishness - and the wisdom of this world to be very wise, indeed.
Then Paul wrote of he who is spiritual - a man who has allowed the light of the gospel to enlighten the
eyes of his understanding, in the very being of his spirit. This man has obeyed the truth of the gospel by
believing it, to be born again (1 Pet 1:22), born of the Spirit (Jn 3:5), a son of God.
The spiritual man can receive the things of the Spirit of God, for the Spirit of God now dwells within him,
revealing to the believer the deep things of God - all of the ways by which God is preparing his son, for his
kingdom.
Paul ended this contrast between the soul-man and the spiritual man with a reflection on their very different
minds. The soul man is so puffed up in his worldly wisdom that he presumes to inform God, as to how
things should be done.
The creature - teaching the Creator how to do things? Paul intended this to sound like the ludicrous
proposition that it is - that anyone would have the audacity to instruct the LORD. Yet that is exactly what the
philosophers of the day were doing, in effect - as were those who bought into their thinking.
Paul contrasts this with the mind of the spiritual man - the believer. The believer has the mind of Christ - a
mind that subordinates itself to the mind of God. Jesus said of Himself that the Son can do nothing of
Himself, but what He sees the Father do; what the Father shows Him (Jn 5:19-20).
Likewise, he who is spiritual seeks to know Gods mind on things, which God reveals to him, through His
Spirit. He who is spiritual examines everything by the light of the Holy Spirit, within him, so that he can
have understanding of the things of God.
This means that he who is spiritual is willing to depend completely on God, to show him how to think.
That doesnt come naturally, does it? In fact, its not natural at all. The natural man has a mind of his
own, as they say; an independent mind.
We tend to believe that an independent mind is a good thing. Consider the expressions we use: God gave
you a mind, use it; think for yourself.
The natural man does just that. And his mind is therefore filled with his own selfish thinking, which directs
all of his self-serving ways. But the believer learns to think Gods thoughts after Him; and as he does, his
ways become Gods ways.
Now Paul will further develop this contrast in a slightly new way, and use it like a mirror to show the
Corinthians what they look like. Well be beginning in chapter 3 and read through verse 9, but well only
talk about the first eight verses today.

# 10: 11-14-14 E

[Read First Corinthians 3:1-9]

You can hear the tenor of what Paul is saying by what he has written. He is using strong language to
address the assembly here, and there is feeling behind it.
Remember that Paul is on familiar terms with the assembly in Corinth, having taught them for over a year
and a half. He knows them; they know him. And although his words have bite, they are nonetheless
intended as a loving correction, for this assembly - stern, but loving.
Paul continues to speak of those who are spiritual, in verse one - but only to go so far as to say that he was
unable to address the assembly in Corinth as if they were spiritual - as if they had the Holy Spirit.
Does Paul mean to say that theyre not believers? No, apparently not - he addresses them as brethren (v. 1);
and notice in verse 5, Paul speaks of ministers through whom you believed . He is writing to the
assembly as a whole, and is definitely addressing the believers, here.
But hes saying that he was unable to speak to these believers as to spiritual people. How did Paul have to
speak to them, in verse 1? As to carnal. He spoke to them as he would to carnal people. The word
carnal means of flesh; fleshly. Paul is saying that he spoke to them as he would to men who are still in
the flesh; as flesh men.
Now, back in chapter 2, Paul had contrasted the spiritual man with the natural man; the soul man. But here,
the contrast is between the spiritual man and the carnal man; the flesh man. Both the soul man and the
flesh man refer to the same man; a son of Adam. But Paul changes his terms, because now he will be
focusing on, not the thinking, but the conduct of the Corinthian believers; their walk, their way of life, in
their bodies of flesh.
Paul additionally qualifies the way he spoke to them as to babes in Christ. This term is what has generated
the thinking that there are baby Christians; just like there are mature Christians.
We encountered that word mature back in chapter 2 of verse 6. The word actually means complete;
and that which has reached the goal. Paul was speaking of men who are complete, who have reached the
goal, who can have understanding of the wisdom of God.
Who are these completed men? The sons of God. This is true for any and all believers. The idea of a less
mature or a more mature Christian is not present in the Scriptures; when we believe, we are a new creation,
full-grown sons of God. And we are becoming fully enlightened as to who we truly are, in Christ.
In Scripture, a babe provides the contrast to this. In the Greek, the word literally means no word. It is
one who cannot speak; an infant or baby. It is used in a metaphorical sense for one who is unenlightened;
one who has no understanding. Used in this way, it is a derogatory term.
Paul is including it here as a different way of expressing the idea, carnal. So used here in the
metaphorical sense, babes would refer to men in the flesh; a babe in Christ is unenlightened in Christ.
Were going to take a look at a few other cases where the word babe is used this way, so that we can be
certain of what Paul means. Turn to Romans chapter 2. Paul had been issuing his indictment of both the
Jew and the Gentile; all have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Rm 3:23).

# 10: 11-14-14 E

Here Paul specifically addresses the Jew, who had a knowledge of the Law, and thought that would provide
him with some protection, from the judgment of God for sin. Paul has been showing that instead, it makes
the Jew more blameworthy. Notice how Paul is contrasting the Jew with the Gentile, here.
[Romans 2:17-21a]
You can see that Paul was speaking of the Jew as he would think of himself. The Jews were Gods people;
they had been given Gods Law. The Jews were to be a light to the Gentiles.
And thats how the Jew thought of himself; he was the guide, the light, the instructor, the teacher. And
those lawless Gentile sinners, what were they? The blind, in darkness, the foolish, the babes. Clearly the
Jews saw themselves as sons of the kingdom, by birth, while the Gentiles were sons of Adam, destined for
destruction - unless the Jew enlightened them to Gods Law. But Paul indicates that the Jews are in the
same boat!
Of course, we are visiting this passage to see how the word babe is used - and we see that Paul uses it as
one of many terms to describe sinners; men in the flesh. They are blind to the truth; in the dark to God;
foolish, disobedient, deceived (Titus 3:3).
Now turn to Galatians chapter 4. Paul is indicating that both Jews and Gentiles can become full and equal
heirs of the kingdom of God, as sons of God. But neither of them starts out that way. Paul illustrates this
with the Roman custom of inheritance, of his day.
In the illustration, the Jew is the child - its our word for babe, in Corinthians. As a babe, an unenlightened
one, he is no different from a slave. The slave represents the Gentiles, whom the Jews viewed as slaves of
sin. So again, in the illustration, the heir = son of the kingdom, the child (babe) = Jew, the slave = Gentile.
[Galatians 4:1-3]
v. 1-2 a child - a babe; in this case, a minor. In a Roman household, the heir of the Father - the future
master of the estate - while a minor, is subject to guardians, who teach him, and stewards, who handle his
property.
Until the heir is of age, he has none of his inheritance, and he cannot govern his own actions. In this
respect, the heir is no better off than a slave, who owns nothing, and has no power over his life. In this
way, Paul shows that both Jew and Gentile are in the same position, as sons of Adam; powerless outsiders
to the kingdom of God.
v. 3 we - we Jews; children - babes. Before the Jew became enlightened to Christ, he was an
unenlightened Jew - a babe. He didnt see that the Law was a picture of his Messiah, and His work of
redemption.
Instead, the Jew just carried out the ceremonial aspect of the Law as a religious ritual - what Paul calls here
the elements of the world, referring to the religion of Judaism. And that was bondage, for the Jew; in
addition to the bondage of sin, that he had. You can see that in this passage also, a babe pictures a man the
flesh, who is in the dark to God.
You can look at the rest of the illustration on your own, to see how it aptly describes the situation of both
the Jews and the Gentiles.

# 10: 11-14-14 E

[Return to First Corinthians]

Now, you might think, why are we belaboring this point? And the reason for that is twofold. First of all,
we need to rid our minds of that concept of a baby Christian; there is no such thing. Likewise, theres no
such thing as a carnal Christian. You are either in Adam, an unenlightened babe, a flesh man, or youre in
Christ - a full-grown son of God; a spiritual man. Thinking of ourselves or others as baby Christians, or
carnal Christians, allows us to shirk the responsibility of what it is to be a son - and we certainly wouldnt
want to do that, would we?
The second reason we are belaboring this point is because it would be very easy to confuse what Paul is
saying here, unless we clearly define his terms. And now that we have done that, we can go on!
So Paul spoke - in the past - to the Corinthian believers as if they were men in the flesh; as if they were
unbelievers. Paul qualifies what he means by this in verse two: I fed you with milk and not with solid
food.
Carrying out his imagery, you dont give a baby solid food. Why not? He cant chew it, and he cant digest
it. You must give a baby milk; thats the only nourishment he is capable of taking in - easily swallowed,
easily digested.
The writer to the Hebrews also used this illustration, and clarifies the meaning for us. Turn to Hebrews
chapter 5.
The assembly in Jerusalem was experiencing severe persecution, which was causing some of them to
consider abandoning the faith - something they would only do if they had never really believed, in the first
place. The author is warning them that to turn back to Judaism will incur the Lords judgment.
In this passage, the author has begun to write of one of the deep things of God - of how Jesus was a type of
Melchizedek, as both our High Priest and King - but then the author breaks off to address those in the
assembly who are wavering.
[Hebrews 5:12-6:3]
v. 12 The author is saying that this assembly has been taught much; but some have not learned even the
basics, because they havent yet placed their faith in Jesus as their Messiah. Theyre still on milk; theyre
not ready for solid food. He goes on to explain his meaning.
v. 13 the word of righteousness is the gospel; the righteousness of God through faith in Christ (Rm 3:22).
Unskilled means ignorant; the author is saying they dont know the gospel. Theyve heard it many times,
but they dont really know it. Theyre babes; still seeking to be nourished by the milk.
v. 14 full age is the same as the word mature in First Corinthians - a full-grown, completed son of
God; a believer. The senses that are being exercised are the spiritual senses; the eyes of the
understanding. The believer makes a practice of examining everything in the light of the Holy Spirit,
within him - and by that light, he understands the things that are of God, and the things that are not.
As a full-grown son of God, the believer can take in solid food. He chews on the deep things of God,
meditating and meditating on them, allowing the Spirit to break them down for him, until he understands
them. And as he swallows them by faith, they become a part of him - strong nourishment, in the spirit of
his being.

# 10: 11-14-14 E

As the author continues, he mentions some of the foundational truths that they have been taught - the
milk.
6:1-2 the author is indicating that these are some of the things which were already taught to them. It
reflects many of the things that a Jew would need to believe, in order to be saved.
They cannot be saved through the works of the Law, but by faith alone; their baptisms, that is, their
washings, can never purify their hearts; their animal sacrifices, upon which they laid their hands, only
picture the true Substitute for their sin; there will be a resurrection from the dead, both of the righteous and
the unrighteous; and the unrighteous will be judged for their sins, and cast into the Lake of Fire - forever.
In the case of this assembly in Jerusalem, there were many who were still babes; still trying to swallow
these fundamentals of the gospel, in order to be saved.
[Return to First Corinthians 3]
Although Paul is using the same illustration, its important to grasp that he is NOT saying the Corinthian
believers were babes; he had to speak to them, as babes.
When he was with them, he preached the gospel, and many had believed, to be saved. But for a year and a
half, Paul had to keep going over and over fundamental doctrine; the Corinthian believers werent ready for
anything deeper; and in fact, Paul says, theyre still not.
How does Paul know that, when he isnt even there, anymore? Because if they had become fully
established in the truth, they would never be trying to add worldly wisdom to it!
Now consider this from the perspective of the assembly in Corinth. They had grown tired of going over the
same learning - even though they werent learning it. They felt like all Paul ever taught them was the
basics - even though they didnt master them. They were restless to move on - to learn something more .
more stimulating.
Lately, some of their leading members had begun to combine what they had supposedly learned from their
teachers with some of the best that Greek philosophy had to offer - and the others in the assembly were
enamored with the various results. Theyre thinking of themselves as really wise, now, with all this
wisdom; they even see themselves as having achieved a higher spiritual level.
But Paul informs them that theyve put themselves back on the level of men in the flesh, with their
darkened thinking - and the evidence of that could be seen by their conduct, in the assembly - which had
been reported to Paul.
Lets read verse 3 again.
v. 3 Paul is determined that the Corinthians stop and consider what they are doing. Notice his question in
verse 3, repeated in verse 4: Are you not carnal? - and his statement - You are still carnal. We might
think from this that he is saying that they had never believed - if he didnt indicate in the very next verse
that they did believe (v. 5)!
So what is Pauls intent? His intent is to provoke the Corinthian believers to examine themselves; to take a
good hard look at themselves - because they look like men in the flesh.

# 10: 11-14-14 E

How so? Paul points out the petty rivalries that have developed, between members of the assembly - the
envy, of one for the other - no doubt over whose new philosophy is drawing the greatest attention.
Theyre quibbling, theyre arguing; and the whole assembly is breaking apart. Everywhere is manifested
their differences in thinking, and their lack of love for one another - so there is no unity. Everyone is out
for themselves.
Theyre behaving like men in the flesh. The word behave is actually the Greek word for walk, speaking
of their conduct. This is a red flag - they are not walking in the spirit of Life - the Life, that Christ died to
give them. And Paul is waving this red flag before their eyes, trying to get their attention.
So these Corinthians had believed, and received eternal Life - the spirit of Life for the body - but they were
not walking according to that new life they had received. Is such a thing possible? We know it is, from
personal experience.
And Paul experienced it, too. Were going to consider it, just for a moment, in Romans chapter 8. Paul
wrote about how the believer is delivered from sinning in his body of flesh - by living according to the new
Life he has received, from Christ. He is describing the sanctified walk.
[Romans 8:1-5]
v. 1 The oldest manuscripts end the verse after Christ Jesus; the remainder of the verse is rightly found at
the end of verse 4. Paul is saying that now - while we as believers are learning to live in sanctification there is no condemnation of us. Thats because all of our sin has already been taken away, in Christ.
v. 2 The spirit of life in Christ Jesus is the eternal Life that Jesus brought down from heaven for us, to
redeem our bodies from death - eternal Life for our bodies - spirit Life. We received that Life, the moment
we believed, and can live by it in the here and now. Paul describes it like a law because as we live by that
Life, sin is overruled in our body of flesh; we are freed from the power of sin, and live in sanctification.
Paul shows how this was accomplished by Jesus.
v. 3-4 the Law of Moses could never sanctify a man; but thats just what God did, through His Son. Jesus
came in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin - that is, in a mortal body, as the Sin Offering.
Through the cross, God judged the Master Sin in the flesh, rendering the Master Sin powerless over men,
breaking the shackles by which Sin held them, in its power. Therefore, those who believe now have the
power to not sin; to conduct themselves in righteousness; to live in sanctification.
Notice in verse 4 that Paul says the righteous requirements of the Law might be fulfilled in us - thats in the
subjunctive, meaning its conditional. What is it conditioned on? What follows? That the believer does
not walk according to the flesh, but according to the spirit - the spirit of life; the eternal life for the body
which Jesus has given the believer.
By this, we see it is indeed possible to possess that life - and not walk according to it; not to live it.
As Paul continues, he indicates how that can happen.

# 10: 11-14-14 E

v. 5 Simply put, it all depends on where the believer sets his mind. Weve been completely, entirely,
forever delivered from our former manner of life. We are no longer men in the flesh; but we can still live
according to the flesh, if we choose to set our minds there.
But if instead we choose to set our mind on the things that the Holy Spirit shares with us, we will live
according to the spirit of Life that Christ has given us - and overrule sin, in our bodies of flesh.
Wasnt that just the issue, in Corinth? They had begun to set their minds on the things of the flesh - on
worldly philosophies, and other worldly pursuits, as we shall see. And that led to walking according to the
flesh - like men in the flesh - like unenlightened babes - even though they were really Christ Ones.
[Return to First Corinthians 3]
Now, Pauls point in this passage is not that it is possible to walk according to the flesh. His point is that
believers are not to walk that way, and the Corinthians were doing just that. His sharp tone is intended to
penetrate their inflated self-image, to humble them, to cause them to examine their hearts. Some would
find in his questions a challenge - had they truly believed?
And Paul continued to question their conduct.
v. 4-8 So here, Paul quotes again two of their own slogans that had been reported to him: I am of Paul;
and I am of Apollos. In the first chapter, he also mentions those who say I am of Cephas - Peter; and
even those who say I am of Christ.
The fact that there was a group who was of Christ suggests that the issue wasnt a matter of claiming
adherence to a teacher, but an attempt to commandeer authority, so as to promote their own take on the
gospel. Paul will now expose their ploy.
Paul only mentions himself and Apollos here, for thats all he needs to mention to make his point. You
remember that Apollos was a Hellenist Jew who was learned in the Scriptures and in Greek rhetoric. When
Apollos became a believer, he traveled to Corinth and apparently taught there for a time; this was after Paul
had left Corinth. Some of the Corinthian believers were claiming the authority of Apollos, as their teacher;
others were taking their stand on Pauls authority.
But look what Paul says, in verse 5. Both of them are just ministers. Do you know what that word means,
in the Greek? Servants. Servants have no authority; they are under the authority of another; their master.
And who would that be, in the case of Paul and Apollos? The Lord; Jesus.
Paul is saying, he and Apollos are just servants through whom the Corinthians believed; some through
Paul, some through Apollos. But both of them serve the Lord Jesus; the authority is the Lords. For the
Corinthians to try to stand on the authority of a servant is meaningless.
Notice Paul says that they are ministers - serving the Lord - as the Lord gave to each one. Pauls point is
that the Lord graced him and Apollos with their particular ministry; and in this, we recognize that Paul is
authenticating the ministry of both himself, and Apollos - as well as vindicating Apollos from any
involvement in the Corinthians squabbles.

# 10: 11-14-14 E

Paul uses agricultural terms to describe their particular roles. Paul planted. What do you plant? Seed.
What seed did Paul plant? The good seed of the Word of God; he planted it in the hearts of men. The Lord
had Paul preach the gospel where Christ was not named (Rm 15:19-20); where they had never heard of
Jesus, the Son who God sent as the Savior of the world. Pauls was the most foundational work.
Paul planted; Apollos watered. What does a seed need, after you put it in the ground? Water; it needs to be
irrigated, in order to germinate. The Lord had Apollos follow after Paul, watering the good seed of the
Word of God, that Paul had planted in the hearts of men in Corinth. With what did Apollos water? What
does the water represent? The Word of God.
Apollos used the Word of God to further explain the gospel, which opened up the Corinthians
understanding to it, and rendered the soil of their hearts receptive, causing the seed that Paul had planted to
penetrate deeply and burst forth into eternal Life.
Paul planted, Apollos watered - but God gave the increase. The preaching and teaching of Paul and Apollos
resulted in the Corinthians receiving eternal Life. But did Paul and Apollos give that life? Do farmers give
their seeds life? No; thats Gods doing, and Gods design: life comes from a seed.
The Father purposed to give men eternal Life through faith in Jesus Christ - the Incorruptible Seed, the
Word of God, contained in the word of the gospel. Paul and Apollos simply planted and watered that Seed;
and in the receptive heart, God brought forth eternal Life. Except for Gods saving purpose, the work of
Paul and Apollos would be meaningless; their ministries were nothing apart from Him.
In verse 8, Paul says that he who plants and he who waters are one. Paul and Apollos were one in the work,
to reconcile men to God; under the Lords authority, they operated together, to see that their Masters
purposes were realized. They were fellow workers, each with their part, planting and watering in Gods
field, in Corinth - and each would be rewarded individually for their part - which Paul will revisit later.
But note how their unity of purpose stands in stark contrast to the division which those in Corinth were
generating, in their names - which is Pauls intention. The Corinthians actions were in direct contradiction
to the purposes of God.
Notice how Paul is directing the minds of the Corinthians back to God. All is done under His authority, and
according to His purpose; its His Seed, Christ, His Life, given; His work, to share the gospel; His workers,
who do it; and the Corinthians are His field (v. 9).
The Corinthians had lost sight of the Lord, in view of their self-inflated images. Paul is striving to help
them to get their proper perspective back, so that they will stop walking according to the course of this
world - and start walking as the spiritual people that they really are.
Reading: Acts 4:8-12, 1 Pet 2:1-10, Eph 2:19-22,
Eph 3:14-21, 1 Cor 6:19-20, 2 Cor 6:11-18.