1 Corinthians 3:1-4

The brethren were carnal 1 Corinthians 3:1-4: When Paul wrote this epistle the brethren were acting like people of this world. They were acting like babies as far as their faith is Christ was concerned. Division had caused them to be so weak spiritually that they were unable to receive the meat of God's word. Paul had to treat them like spiritual babies and give them milk and not strong spiritual food.

The focus of these brethren was on their own desires instead of on the spiritual plan of God for salvation and the church. The milk of the word is beautiful, but we need the meat of the word in order to have our spiritual armor. The carnal nature of these brethren led to envy, strife, and divisions, instead of to spiritual strength. Envy is "a feeling of discontent and resentment aroused by and in conjunction with desire for the possessions or qualities of another." Strife is "bitter conflict; heated often violent dissension." Division is "the state of having been divided." Some were saying they followed Paul. Others said they followed Apollos. The people of the word divide themselves and quarrel with one another. Christians should not act this way.