1 Corinthians 3:1

Κἀγώ, ἀδελφοί : The Ap. returns to the strain of 1 Corinthians 2:1-5, speaking now not in general terms of ἡμεῖς, οἱ τέλειοι, etc.; but definitely of the Cor [455] and himself. They demonstrate, unhappily, the incapacity of the unspiritual for spiritual things. The καὶ carries us back to 1 Corinthians 2:14 : “A natural man does not receive the things of God …, and I (accordingly) could not utter (them) to you as to spiritual (men), but as to men of flesh”. Yet the Cor [456] were not ψυχικοί (see note, 1 Corinthians 2:14). For λαλῆσαι, see 1 Corinthians 2:6; and on the receptivity of the πνευματικός, 1 Corinthians 2:13 ff. Cf. Romans 8:5-9 : οἱ κατὰ πνεῦμα ὄντες τὰ τοῦ Πνεύματος φρονοῦσιν. (οὐκ … ὡς πνευματικοῖς), ἀλλʼ ὡς σαρκίνοις : “on the contrary, (I was obliged to speak to you) as to men of flesh” grammatical zeugma, as well as breviloquence: the affirmative “I was able,” carried over from the negative clause οὐκ ἠδυνήθην, passes into the kindred “I was obliged,” that is necessarily understood (cf. Ephesians 4:29); 1 Corinthians 3:7 1 Corinthians 7:19, 1 Corinthians 10:24, are similarly expressed, without the zeugma. Σάρκινος (see parls.) differs from σαρκικός (1 Corinthians 3:3; 1 Corinthians 9:11, etc.) as carneus from carnalis, fleischern from fleischlich (as leathern from leathery) - ινος implying nature and constitution (ἐν σαρκὶ εἶναι), - ικὸς tendency or character (κατὰ σάρκα εἶναι). So σάρκινος is associated with νηπιότης, σαρκικὸς with ζῆλος καὶ ἔρις : see Trench, Syn [457], § lxx. The distinction is one of standpoint, not of degree: in the σάρκινος the original “flesh” remains (a sort of excuse, as in Romans 7:14); the σαρκικὸς manifests its disposition. Both words may, or may not (1 Corinthians 9:11; 2 Corinthians 3:3), connote the sinful, according to the σὰρξ in question.

[455] Corinth, Corinthian or Corinthians.

[456] Corinth, Corinthian or Corinthians.

[457] synonym, synonymous.

The apposed ὡς νηπίοις ἐν Χριστῷ softens, almost tenderly, the censure: the Cor [458] are “ in Christ”; they possess, in a measure, His Spirit; but they are “ babes in Christ,” not fairly grown out of “the flesh” (cf. Galatians 5:13-18); the new nature in them is still confronted with the old. The νήπιοι are the opp [459] of the τέλειοι (1 Corinthians 2:6; see other parls.). “I could not” suggests that Paul had attempted to carry his Cor [460] converts further, but had failed.

[458] Corinth, Corinthian or Corinthians.

[459] opposite, opposition.

[460] Corinth, Corinthian or Corinthians.