Ἀλλʼ οὐδὲ ἔτι νῦν δύνασθε : “Nay, but not even yet (after this further interval), at the present time, are you strong enough (immo ne nunc quidem adhuc potestis, Bz [466]), for you are yet carnal”. For ἔτι, cf. 1 Corinthians 15:17; Galatians 1:10; Galatians 5:11; for σαρκικοί, see note on σάρκινοι (1). The Cor [467] are weak (otherwise than in 1 Corinthians 10:28) just where they think themselves strong (1 Corinthians 8:1), viz., in spiritual apprehension; their gifts of “word and knowledge” are a source of weakness, through the conceit and strife they engender. The ἀλλʼ οὐδὲ clause, with its strong disjunctives, is better joined to 1 Corinthians 3:3 (Al [468], W.H [469], Sm [470]) than to 1 Corinthians 3:2. The foregoing οὔπω γὰρ ἐδύνασθε sufficiently explained the οὐκ ἠδυνήθην of Paul's previous ministry (1); οὐδὲ ἔτι νῦν δύνασθε describes the present condition of the Cor [471] (1 Corinthians 3:3 f.). It is reluctantly and with misgiving that the Apostle later in the Ep. enters into deep doctrine (βρῶμα, cf. note on 1 Corinthians 2:6). ὅπου γὰρ ἐν ὑμῖν κ. τ. λ., “for where (not when, nor whereas Vg [472] cum, Mr [473] quandoquidem) amongst you there is jealousy and strife”: this seems to limit the censure (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:12; 1 Corinthians 15:34); the use of party-names was universal (1 Corinthians 1:12), but not due in all cases to ζῆλος καὶ ἔρις. Otherwise the ὅπου clause must be read as a general principle applied to the Cor [474] = ὅπου γὰρ ζῆλος καὶ ἔρις, ὡς ἐν ὑμῖν a construction inconsistent with the position of ἐν ὑμῖν. So far as these evils exist, the readers are σαρκικοί, not πνευματικοί. For ἔρις, see note to 1 Corinthians 1:11; ζῆλος is the emulation, then envy, which is a chief cause of ἔρις. These are companion “works of the flesh” in Galatians 5:20 : for the honourable sense of ζῆλος, prevailing in cl [475] Gr [476], see 2 Corinthians 7:7, etc.; also Trench, Syn [477], § xxvi.; zealous and jealous reproduce the diff [478]

[466] Beza's Nov. Testamentum: Interpretatio et Annotationes (Cantab., 1642).

[467] Corinth, Corinthian or Corinthians.

[468] Alford's Greek Testament.

[469] Westcott and Hort's The New Testament in Greek: Critical Text and Notes.

[470] P. Schmiedel, in Handcommentar zum N.T. (1893).

[471] Corinth, Corinthian or Corinthians.

[472] Latin Vulgate Translation.

[473] Meyer's Critical and Exegetical Commentary (Eng. Trans.).

[474] Corinth, Corinthian or Corinthians.

[475] classical.

[476] Greek, or Grotius' Annotationes in N.T.

[477] synonym, synonymous.

[478] difference, different, differently.

Paul seems to hear the Cor [479] denying the allegation made in 3 a, Ἔτι σαρκικοί ἐστε, and so puts it to them again as a question prefaced by the reason (and limitation), ὅπου ἐν ὑμῖν ζῆλος, κ. τ. λ., and with the further challenge, οὐχί … καὶ κατὰ ἄνθρωπον περιπατεῖτε; To “walk according to man” (non secundum Deum, humano more, Bg [480]) is to behave as men are apt to do the σάρκινοι, the ψυχικοί. This Pauline phrase (confined to the epp. of this group) has κατὰ Θεὸν for its tacit antithesis (cf. 4 b); Mr [481] -Hn [482] quote the parl [483] καθʼ υἱοὺς τ. ἀνθρώπων εἶναι, Sir. 36:28 (Vg [484] 25; E.V [485] 23); also Soph., Ajax, 747, 764, κατʼ ἄνθρωπον φρονεῖν.

[479] Corinth, Corinthian or Corinthians.

[480] Bengel's Gnomon Novi Testamenti.

[481] Meyer's Critical and Exegetical Commentary (Eng. Trans.).

[482] C. F. G. Heinrici's Erklärung der Korintherbriefe (1880), or 1 Korinther in Meyer's krit.-exegetisches Kommentar (1896).

[483] parallel.

[484] Latin Vulgate Translation.

[485] English Version.

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Old Testament