1 Corinthians 3:1

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

'And I, brethren' -(1 Corinthians 2:1)

'spiritual' -4152. pneumatikos pnyoo-mat-ik-os'; from 4151; non-carnal, i.e. (humanly) ethereal (as opposed to gross), or (daemoniacally). spirit (concretely), or (divinely) supernatural, regenerate, religious: -spiritual. Compare 5591.

-'as to spiritual men' (NASV); 'as men with spiritual insight' (TCNT)

"It was. sharp home thrust, for the Corinthians prided themselves on their spiritual gifts and attainments, and Paul's critics had sneered at the simplicity of his teaching. The apostle retorts that this simplicity was due to their immaturity. He had merely adapted himself to their incapacity." [Note:. Erdman p. 43]

'carnal' -4559. sarkikos sar-kee-kos'; from 4561; pertaining to flesh, i.e. (by extension) bodily, temporal, or (by implication) animal, unregenerate: -carnal, fleshly.

'babes in Christ' -'mere infants in the Faith of Christ.' (TCNT)

Points to Note:

1. The above verse simply reveals the condition of the Corinthians after their conversion. They had accepted the gospel, therefore they weren't "anti-spiritual", just "un-spiritual".

2. "Paul doesn't fault the Corinthians for this early condition of theirs, for he adds the apposition, "as babes in Christ". We must all be "babes" at first in the natural course of our spiritual development..While "babes", removes all blame, it still suggests an unsatisfactory condition of immaturity that ought soon to pass away." [Note:. Lenski pp. 120-121]