SEV Biblia, Chapter 3:2
Os di a beber leche, y no vianda; porque an no podíais, ni an podis ahora ;
Clarke's Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 3:2
Verse 2. I have fed you with milk.] I have instructed you in the elements of Christianity-in its simplest and easiest truths; because from the low state of your minds in religious knowledge, you were incapable of comprehending the higher truths of the Gospel: and in this state you will still continue. The apostle thus exposes to them the absurdity of their conduct in pretending to judge between preacher and preacher, while they had but a very partial acquaintance even with the first principles of Christianity.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 2. I have fed you with milk , etc.] It is usual with the Jews to compare the law to milk, and they say f27 , that as milk strengthens and nourishes an infant, so the law strengthens and nourishes the soul; but the apostle does not here mean hrwt l blj , the milk of the law, as they call it, but the Gospel; comparable to milk, for its purity and wholesomeness, for the nourishing virtue there is in it, and because easy of digestion; for he designs by it, the more plain and easy doctrines of the Gospel, such as babes in Christ were capable of understanding and receiving: and not with meat; the more solid doctrines of the Gospel, and sublime mysteries of grace; the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom; such truths as were attended with difficulties, to which the carnal reason of men made many objections, and so were only fit to be brought before such who are of full age, young men, or rather fathers in Christ; who have had a large experience, and a long time of improvement in spiritual knowledge, and have their senses exercised to distinguish between truth and error. The reason he gives for this his conduct is, for hitherto ye were not able to bear it ; they could not receive, relish, and digest it; it was too strong meat for them, they being weak in faith, and but babes in Christ; wherefore he prudently adapted things to their capacities, and that in perfect consistence with that faithfulness and integrity, for which he was so remarkable: for the Gospel he preached to them, which he calls milk, was not another Gospel, or contrary to that which goes by the name of meat: only the one consisted of truths more easily to be understood, and was delivered in a manner more suited to their capacities than the other: he adds, neither yet now are ye able ; which carries in it a charge of dulness and negligence, that they had been so long learning, and were improved no more in the knowledge of the truth; were as yet only in the alphabet of the Gospel, and needed to be afresh instructed in the first principles of the oracles of God; for anything beyond these was too high for them. The apostle seems to allude to the manner and custom of the Jews, in training up their children to learning; as to their age when they admit them scholars, their rule is this f29 , they introduce children (into the school) to be taught when six or seven years of age, wpwg ynbw bh jk ypl , according to the childs strength, and the make of his body, and less than six years of age they do not take any in. But sooner than this, a father is obliged to teach his child at home, concerning which they say f30 , from what time is his father obliged to teach him the law? as soon as he begins to speak, he teaches him the law Moses commanded us, and hear O Israel, and after that he instructs him, yqwsp yqwsp f[m f[m , by little and little, here and there a verse, till he is six or seven years of age, and, wyrwb ypl lkh , all this according to the clearness of his understanding; i.e. as he is able to take things in; and even till twelve years he was to be used with a great deal of tenderness: says R. Isaac f31 , at Usha they made an order, that a man should use his son gently, until he is twelve years of age; the gloss upon it is, if his son refuses to learn, he shall use him ykw yrbdbw tjnb , with mildness and tender language. Ver. 3. For ye are yet carnal , etc.] The Syriac reads it, wtna rsbb , ye are in the flesh: a phrase the apostle elsewhere uses of men in an unregenerate state; but this is not his meaning here, as before explained, but that carnality still prevailed among them, of which he gives proof and evidence: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men ? They envied each others gifts and knowledge, strove about words to no profit, entered into warm debates and contentions about their ministers, and went into factions and parties, which were distinguished by the names they were most affected to; in all which they gave too clear evidence of their prevailing carnality, that they too much walked as other men, who make no profession of religion; that they were led by the judgment of men, and were carried away with human passions and inflections; and in their conduct could scarcely be distinguished from the rest of the world. The things that are here mentioned, and with which they are charged, are reckoned by the apostle among the works of the flesh, ( Galatians 5:19,20) the phrase, and divisions, is omitted in the Alexandrian copy, and in some others, and in the Vulgate Latin and Ethiopic versions.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-4 - The most simple truths of the gospel, as to man's sinfulness and God' mercy, repentance towards God, and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ stated in the plainest language, suit the people better than deepe mysteries. Men may have much doctrinal knowledge, yet be mere beginner in the life of faith and experience. Contentions and quarrels abou religion are sad evidences of carnality. True religion makes me peaceable, not contentious. But it is to be lamented, that many wh should walk as Christians, live and act too much like other men. Man professors, and preachers also, show themselves to be yet carnal, by vain-glorious strife, eagerness for dispute, and readiness to despis and speak evil of others.
Greek Textus Receptus
γαλα 1051 N-ASN υμας 5209 P-2AP εποτισα 4222 5656 V-AAI-1S και 2532 CONJ ου 3756 PRT-N βρωμα 1033 N-ASN ουπω 3768 ADV γαρ 1063 CONJ ηδυνασθε 1410 5711 V-INI-2P-ATT αλλ 235 CONJ ουτε 3777 CONJ ετι 2089 ADV νυν 3568 ADV δυνασθε 1410 5736 V-PNI-2P
Vincent's NT Word Studies
2. I fed (epotisa). Lit., I gave you to drink. An instance of the rhetorical figure zeugma, by which one verb is attached to two nouns, of which it only suits the meaning of one, but suggests a verb suitable for the other. Thus "gave to drink" is applied to meat as well as to milk. For another illustration see hindering (A.V. and Rev., forbidding), 1 Tim. iv. 3.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
3:2 {I fed you with milk, not with meat} (gala humas epotisa, ou brwma). Note two accusatives with the verb, epotisa, first aorist active indicative of potizw, as with other causative verbs, that of the person and of the thing. In the LXX and the papyri the verb often means to irrigate. brwma does not mean meat (flesh) as opposed to bread, but all solid food as in "meats and drinks" (#Heb 9:7). It is a zeugma to use epotisa with brwma. Paul did not glory in making his sermons thin and watery. Simplicity does not require lack of ideas or dulness. It is pathetic to think how the preacher has to clip the wings of thought and imagination because the hearers cannot go with him. But nothing hinders great preaching like the dulness caused by sin on the part of auditors who are impatient with the high demands of the gospel.
