2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
2 I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready.
2 I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready,
2 capable of nothing much more than nursing at the breast. Well, then, I'll nurse you since you don't seem capable of anything more.
2 I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able;
2 I had to feed you with milk, not with solid food, because you weren't ready for anything stronger. And you still aren't ready,
12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
12 In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food!
12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food,
12 By this time you ought to be teachers yourselves, yet here I find you need someone to sit down with you and go over the basics on God again, starting from square one - baby's milk, when you should have been on solid food long ago!
12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food.
12 You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God's word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food.
(Read Hebrews 5:11-14)
Dull hearers make the preaching of the gospel difficult, and even those who have some faith may be dull hearers, and slow to believe. Much is looked for from those to whom much is given. To be unskilful, denotes want of experience in the things of the gospel. Christian experience is a spiritual sense, taste, or relish of the goodness, sweetness, and excellence of the truths of the gospel. And no tongue can express the satisfaction which the soul receives, from a sense of Divine goodness, grace, and love to it in Christ.
13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness.
13 for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child.
13 Milk is for beginners, inexperienced in God's ways;
13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe.
13 For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn't know how to do what is right.
(Read Hebrews 5:11-14)
Dull hearers make the preaching of the gospel difficult, and even those who have some faith may be dull hearers, and slow to believe. Much is looked for from those to whom much is given. To be unskilful, denotes want of experience in the things of the gospel. Christian experience is a spiritual sense, taste, or relish of the goodness, sweetness, and excellence of the truths of the gospel. And no tongue can express the satisfaction which the soul receives, from a sense of Divine goodness, grace, and love to it in Christ.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Corinthians 3:2
Commentary on 1 Corinthians 3:1-4
(Read 1 Corinthians 3:1-4)
The most simple truths of the gospel, as to man's sinfulness and God's mercy, repentance towards God, and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, stated in the plainest language, suit the people better than deeper mysteries. Men may have much doctrinal knowledge, yet be mere beginners in the life of faith and experience. Contentions and quarrels about religion are sad evidences of carnality. True religion makes men peaceable, not contentious. But it is to be lamented, that many who should walk as Christians, live and act too much like other men. Many professors, and preachers also, show themselves to be yet carnal, by vain-glorious strife, eagerness for dispute, and readiness to despise and speak evil of others.