1 Corinthians 3 · Verse 2

1 Corinthians 3:2

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.
1 Corinthians 3:2, King James Version

1 Corinthians 3:2 in other translations

BSBI gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for solid food. In fact, you are still not ready,
WEBI fed you with milk, not with solid food, for you weren’t yet ready. Indeed, you aren’t ready even now,
ASVI fed you with milk, not with meat; for ye were not yet able to bear it: nay, not even now are ye able;
YLTwith milk I fed you, and not with meat, for ye were not yet able, but not even yet are ye now able,
DARBYI have given you milk to drink, not meat, for ye have not yet been able, nor indeed are ye yet able;
BBEI gave you milk and not meat, because you were, then, unable to take it, and even now you are not able;
WebsterI have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.

What does 1 Corinthians 3:2 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
2. (He 5:12). milk--the elementary "principles of the doctrine of Christ."

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 2. I have fed you with milk. Paul here continues the metaphor, which is derived from the custom of feeding infants with the lightest food, Milk here evidently denotes the more simple and elementary doctrines of Christianity--the doctrines of the new birth, of repentance, faith, etc. The same figure occurs in Heb 5:11-14; and also in classical writers. See Wetstein.

And not with meat. Meat here denotes the more sublime and mysterious doctrines of religion.

For hitherto. Formerly, when I came among you, and laid the foundations of the church.

Not able to bear it. You were not sufficiently advanced in Christian knowledge to comprehend the higher mysteries of the gospel.

Neither yet now, etc. The reason why they were not then able he proceeds immediately to state.

(a) "hitherto" Jn 16:12

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
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.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Corinthians 3:1-4

Chapter Outline The Corinthians reproved for their contentions. (1-4) The true servants of Christ can do nothing without him. (5-9) He is the only foundation, and every one should take heed what he builds thereon. (10-15) The churches of Christ ought to be kept pure, and to be humble. (16-17) And they should not glory in men, because ministers and all things else are theirs through Christ. (18-23) Verses 1-4 The…

Read the full comment on 1 Corinthians 3:1-4 →

1 Corinthians 3:2 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

γάλαgalaMilkG1051
ὑμᾶςhumasyouG4771
ἐπότισα,epotisaI gave to drink,G4222
οὐounotG3756
βρῶμα·brōmasolid food;G1033
οὔπωoupōnot yetG3768
γὰρgarforG1063
ἐδύνασθε,edunasthewere you able,G1410
ἀλλ᾽all᾽In factG235
οὐδὲoudenotG3761
ἔτιetistillG2089
νῦνnunnowG3568
δύνασθε·dunastheare you able;G1410

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 1 Corinthians 3:2

  • Hebrews 5:11-14

    Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

  • 1 Peter 2:2

    As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

  • John 16:12

    I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
fed.
Heb 5:12-14; 1Pe 2:2
for.
Joh 16:12; Heb 5:11,12

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 1 Corinthians 3:1

    And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.

  • 1 Corinthians 3:2

    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.

  • 1 Corinthians 3:3

    For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

Read all of 1 Corinthians 3

1 Corinthians 3:2 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Os dí á beber leche, y no vianda: porque aun no podíais, ni aun podéis ahora;
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Je vous ai donné du lait à boire, non pas de la viande, car vous ne pouviez pas encore la supporter, et même maintenant encore vous ne le pouvez pas,
German
Elberfelder 1871		Ich habe euch Milch zu trinken gegeben, nicht Speise; denn ihr vermochtet es noch nicht; aber ihr vermöget es auch jetzt noch nicht,
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		lac vobis potum dedi, non escam: nondum enim poteratis: sed nec nunc quidem potestis: adhuc enim carnales estis.