1 Corinthians 3:3

3 for yet ye be fleshly. For while envy and strife is among you, whether ye be not fleshly, and ye go after man?

1 Corinthians 3:3 Meaning and Commentary

1 Corinthians 3:3

For ye are yet carnal
The Syriac reads it, (Nwtna robb) , "ye are in the flesh": a phrase the apostle elsewhere uses of men in an unregenerate state; but this is not his meaning here, as before explained, but that carnality still prevailed among them, of which he gives proof and evidence:

for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions,
are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
They envied each other's gifts and knowledge, strove about words to no profit, entered into warm debates and contentions about their ministers, and went into factions and parties, which were distinguished by the names they were most affected to; in all which they gave too clear evidence of their prevailing carnality, that they too much walked as other men, who make no profession of religion; that they were led by the judgment of men, and were carried away with human passions and inflections; and in their conduct could scarcely be distinguished from the rest of the world. The things that are here mentioned, and with which they are charged, are reckoned by the apostle among the works of the flesh, ( Galatians 5:19 Galatians 5:20 ) the phrase, "and divisions", is omitted in the Alexandrian copy, and in some others, and in the Vulgate Latin and Ethiopic versions.

1 Corinthians 3:3 In-Context

1 And I, brethren, might not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to fleshly men [but as to fleshly]; as to little children in Christ,
2 I gave to you milk to drink, not meat; for ye might not yet understand, neither ye be able to now [but neither now soothly ye be able],
3 for yet ye be fleshly. For while envy and strife is among you, whether ye be not fleshly, and ye go after man?
4 For when some saith, I am of Paul, and another, But I am of Apollos [another forsooth, I am of Apollos], whether ye be not [fleshly] men?
5 What therefore is Apollos, and what Paul? They be ministers of him, to whom ye have believed; and to each man as God hath given.
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.