1 Corinthians 3:3

for ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you jealousy and strife, are ye not carnal, and do ye not walk after the manner of men?

'carnal' -4559. sarkikos sar-kee-kos'; from 4561; pertaining to flesh, i.e. (by extension) bodily, temporal, or (by implication) animal, unregenerate: -carnal, fleshly. 'Means adapted to, fitted for the flesh, one who lives according to the flesh.' (Robertson p. 93)

Most commentators see. distinction between this Greek word rendered "carnal", and the one rendered "carnal" in verse 1. Barclay says that the word rendered "carnal" in the first verse, means, "made of flesh". While this word in verse. means, "dominated by the flesh". Hence, the condition in verse. is that of being "unspiritual".. condition that time, study, prayer, etc..could take care of.. condition that Paul hoped the Corinthians would grow out of. But verse 3, is describing. condition that is "anti-spiritual",. condition that they could "help",. condition that they had allowed to happen since their conversion. Verse. isn't describing. state of spiritual immaturity or ignorance, rather,. state in which one has allowed worldly attitudes and appetites to dominate their lives.

'for' -the proof of the last statement. Paul might be anticipating. defiant, 'Prove it Paul'. 'The proof of this immature, undeveloped, worldly state was found in their envying and strife and divisions.' [Note:. Erdman p. 44]

'whereas there is among you jealousy and strife' -'these are included in the "works of the flesh" in Galatians 5:20 (cf. 2 Corinthians 12:20); men of the Spirit ought to have got rid of such things.' [Note:. F.F. Bruce p. 42] And the Corinthians cannot deny it! (James 3:16)

'Jealousy' -zeal that has turned into something bad.

'There is something of the tragedy of the human situation here..."zelos" could denote. great thing which had degenerated into. sin. Maybe it is true to say that there is no better test of. man that his reaction to the greatness and to the success of some one else. If it moves him to the "zelos" which is noble ambition to goodness, that is the work of the Spirit, but, if it moves him to. bitter and envious resentment, that is the work of the flesh, and what ought to be. spur to goodness has become. persuasion to sin.' [Note:. Flesh and Spirit. William Barclay p. 49]

'Strife' -2054. eris er'-is; of uncertain affinity;. quarrel, i.e. (by implication) wrangling: -contention, debate, strife, variance.

This seems to be the natural outcome of the state of mind that includes the aforementioned jealousy.

'But the really significant fact about Paul's use of the word "eris" is that four out of its six occurrences are connected with life in the Church. (1 Corinthians 1:11; 1 Corinthians 3:3; 2 Corinthians 12:20; 1 Peter 1:15)..."Eris" invades the church and becomes characteristic of the church, when the leaders and the members of the church think more about people and about parties and about slogans and about personal issues than they do about Jesus Christ. Here is our warning. Whenever in. church Jesus Christ is dethroned from the central place, all personal relationships go wrong...when. man begins to argue to demolish his opponent rather than to win him, then "eris" comes in.' [Note:. Flesh and Spirit. p. 44]

'and do ye not walk after the manner of men?' -'are you not walking like mere men?' (NASV); 'living on the purely human level.' (NEB); 'are you not worldly-minded and do you not behave like the unconverted' (Ber); 'and are acting merely as other men do.' (TCNT)

Points to Note:

1. Whatever the Corinthians were "saying" about their behaviour, their "actions" denied it.

2. "Walk after"-indicates. norm or standard of conduct. Far from acting like "spiritual men", the Corinthians were "acting" like the world. Hence spiritual growth won't happen, without the cooperation of the individual. (2 Peter 1:5)