And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
To be spiritual is to be mature in the Christian life, while to be carnal is to remain immature, like infants in Christ who cannot yet receive and practice higher truths. Milk is the plainest, most simple truths suited to young converts, while meat is solid, nourishing, spiritual food for those who have advanced in knowledge of divine things. The Corinthians had fallen short of their privileges, leaving them weak and unable to grasp deeper truth, and their carnal state was proved by envying and strife and divisions in walking as mere men and saying I am of Paul and I am of Apollos. Therefore they could not be addressed as mature people but only as babes, fed with milk and not with meat because they were not able then to bear it, and were still not able. Growth toward maturity comes by feeding on Christ in the Word and abiding in Him, by being set to work for others instead of remaining always needing milk, and by being educated to unity from one great Source rather than tying up in separate bundles around men.
Meaning of Key Terms
To be spiritual is to be mature in Christian life, while to be carnal is to remain immature, like infants in Christ who cannot yet receive and practice higher truths. Their spiritual growth had lagged behind their privileges and opportunities, leaving them weak and unable to grasp deeper truths. Jealousy, strife, division, accusation and other cherished tendencies of the natural heart reveal this carnal condition, obstruct spiritual discernment and hinder the work of the Holy Spirit. Paul therefore had to address them not as spiritual people but as carnal babes, giving simpler teaching suited to what they could bear rather than deeper instruction they were not ready to receive or might misuse. This distinction between spiritual maturity and a carnal condition also bears on defiling practices that cloud spiritual discernment, such as the use of tobacco.
Milk means the plainest, most simple truths suitable for converts young in the faith, while meat means solid, nourishing, spiritual food suited to those who have made progress in knowledge of divine things. Those who had not been feeding on Christ had therefore not advanced in spiritual knowledge but were living on a low level. Their state was dwelling on surface truth that calls for no thought and no deep research, proved carnal by envying and strife and divisions. The instruction in the first, second and third chapters is of great importance for a special work at this time and must be carefully studied, understood and practiced.
Although wise in worldly knowledge, they were only babes in the knowledge of Christ with no experimental knowledge of the way of salvation. Their carnal minds could not discern the sacred revealings of God, comprehend the mysteries of salvation, or understand the operations of divine power upon the heart, for spiritual things must be spiritually discerned. Many were proud believers in human theories and false systems of theology, and had no experience in spiritual life and the mystery of godliness. Therefore truth had to be presented in its simplest form, teaching the first rudiments of Christian faith and doctrine, even the very alphabet. The seed was sown for another to water and for those following to carry the work forward with spiritual light and knowledge as the church could bear, since only the illuminating influence of the gospel and the sanctifying grace of God can transform the carnal mind into harmony with spiritual things in the ever-progressing religion of Christianity.
Corinthian Condition and Causes
Their spiritual growth was dwarfed and had fallen short of their privileges and opportunities, leaving them weak and unable to grasp and practice deeper truths. They ought to have been able to bear the plain Word of God and to comprehend its higher truths, but their advancement had not been proportionate to what they had received. They had not been feeding on Christ and therefore had not advanced in spiritual knowledge, living on a low level and dwelling on surface truth that calls for no thought and no deep research. They had not labored to place themselves in right relation to truth to obtain a right experience that would bring them into close connection with God.
Their carnal state was proved by envying and strife and divisions and by walking as mere men. It showed itself in saying I am of Paul and I am of Apollos, in factional allegiance to human ministers instead of recognizing that ministers serve under God. The division centered especially on the relative merits of different ministers teaching Christ, although all do not have the same work, with one planting and another watering but God giving the increase. Such strife and division mark believers as spiritually immature, like babes in Christ, and not living as spiritual people.
They stood apart as independent atoms and linked themselves to the one man under whose labors they received light, placing themselves on his side and refusing to be in harmony with their brethren. They withdrew from some for reasons existing only in the imagination and bound up with others, allowing prejudice to enter the heart. Instead of love and harmonious action with each strengthening the other, they lacked meekness and humility and wholehearted kindness. That course separates brethren from one another and thus separates them from God.
Jealousy, evil surmising, accusation, and discord close the heart to the working of the Holy Spirit and destroy spiritual discernment. They hinder His manifestation as Comforter and Strengthener until His people obey to be all of one mind, and these conditions bring a dearth of the Spirit of God in the church. They could not bear to hear the truth concerning themselves, so that a plain Thus saith the Lord offended them and reproof of wrongdoing offended them. Giving them the truth ranked the speaker as an accuser and faultfinder. Their contentions are not after the order of God but the manifestation of the attributes of the natural heart, for they forgot that they were purged from hereditary and cultivated tendencies to wrong and still cherish carnal attributes, and are not sanctified soul, body, and spirit.
Milk Before Meat
Paul could not speak to the Corinthians as spiritual, mature people but only as carnal, even as babes in Christ. He fed them with milk and not with meat because they were not able then to bear deeper truth, and were still not able. Their spiritual growth had fallen short of their privileges and opportunities, leaving them weak and unable to grasp and practice deeper truths. Their carnality was proved by envying and strife and divisions and walking as mere men, saying I am of Paul and I am of Apollos, especially in divisions over the relative merits of different ministers teaching Christ. Jealousy and accusation and other cherished tendencies of the natural heart reveal this immature condition and obstruct spiritual discernment and hinder the Holy Spirit's work as Comforter and Strengthener.
He therefore had to teach the first rudiments of Christian faith and doctrine, presenting truth in its simplest form, even the very alphabet. Although wise in worldly knowledge, they were only babes in the knowledge of Christ with no experimental knowledge of the way of salvation and of the mystery of godliness. Their carnal minds could not discern the sacred revealings of God, comprehend the mysteries of salvation, or understand the operations of divine power upon the heart, for spiritual things must be spiritually discerned, and many were proud believers in human theories and false systems of theology. He gave instruction suited to what they could bear, sowing the seed for another to water and for those following to carry the work forward with spiritual light and knowledge as the church could bear. Only the illuminating influence of the gospel and the sanctifying grace of God can transform the carnal mind into harmony with spiritual things in the ever-progressing religion of Christianity.
Gospel laborers must have discretion to adapt their work to babes, feeding beginners with the sincere milk of the word rather than strong meat. Feeding milk means giving the people the truth as it is in Jesus, without mingling their own spirit and ideas with the truth. It means not covering the precepts of God with traditions and suppositions and devices of self-devising, lest the presentation taste so strongly of self that it disgusts the hearers. Such laborers search the Scriptures so they can teach what is profitable publicly and from house to house, testifying repentance toward God and faith toward Christ, and declare all the counsel of God.
People who have not learned present truth and its first principles, including seekers and those without knowledge of the truth, are babes who cannot bear strong meat or strong, advanced doctrinal discourses suited only to those who have progressed step by step. Truth must be given to them gradually, line upon line and precept upon precept, here a little and there a little, in words easy to be understood. It begins with the love of God and the bread of life they hunger for, and with melting, heart-subduing teaching in the simplicity and meekness and lowliness of Christ about Jesus Christ crucified, the sanctification of soul, body, and spirit, and the love of God. Further truth such as the Sabbath is to be unfolded gradually only as they are able to bear it, and even though there is a special message for this age with many things to say, some things must be withheld for a time because they are not prepared to receive all the truth in its most striking character at the outset.
Ministers are only servants through whom people believe as the Lord gives to every man, and all do not have the same work to do in the cause of God. One plants and another waters, but God gives the increase, so that he that plants and he that waters are one as laborers together with God in God's husbandry and God's building. Each receives reward according to labor, building on Jesus Christ as the only foundation. That building with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, and stubble will be made manifest when the day declares it by fire trying every man's work, unto reward if it abides or loss if burned though himself saved, because believers are the temple of God where the Spirit of God dwells, which is holy and must not be defiled.
Growth Toward Maturity
Every Christian begins as a babe in Christ with immature understanding, yet is not to remain spiritually stagnant but to keep growing and learn all that should be learned. Growth is to advance step by step in keeping with opportunities and privileges toward fuller knowledge of Christ and a holier life. It brings the believer into right relation to truth and to God, into close connection with God where need is discerned and laid hold upon, with recognition of Christ, understanding of His will, and fear of offending Him.
Growth comes by feeding on the bread of life and heavenly manna from the Word through searching its pages, and by abiding in Christ in faithful dependence. Such feeding and abiding nourish the mind and produce a Christlike spirit and character. It keeps Christ revealing Himself day by day to those who seek Him, trims the lamp and supplies the oil of grace in the heart instead of napping like the foolish virgins, refuses to let earthly temporal things absorb time and attention, and so gains a right to the tree of life and makes the preparation essential to be translated.
Young converts remain at the ABC in divine things when they are not set to work for others at home, in the neighborhood, and in the church. Because that work is left undone their experience never advances, and they stay always babies, always needing to be fed milk and never able to partake of true gospel meat. Those still fed with milk remain spiritually immature and weak like babies and need to be encouraged to exercise their spiritual abilities and take part in advancing the work, for ministers cannot make them strong or work out their salvation for them by continually tending them.
Babes in Christ are souls newly come to the faith, those who have just had the moral courage to decide to obey the truth and stand loyal to all the commandments. Though intelligent and excellent, having lifted the cross in separating from opposing friends and relatives under the bloodstained banner of Christ, they still need faithful, Christlike guidance. They are to be taught and led step by step into faith and assurance and educated and trained to do the work of soldiers in the Lord's army, bearing trials and oppositions, contempt and scorn as good soldiers of Jesus Christ. That care requires those who seek the Lord with all the heart, die to self, and are united as God's people beginning in the heart and home, showing the power of grace in character at home and wisdom in the church, and babes must not be trusted to unfaithful guidance marked by contentions and fault-finding nor left without a place to assemble to worship God lest labor for them prove in vain.
Babes who turn with earnestness and reverence to the Scriptures receive light and life which Christ alone can give. To them light from heaven plainly reveals wondrous things out of the exalted law, great truths long obscured by superstition and false doctrine, and the living oracles pour forth treasures new and old bringing light and joy to all who will receive them. These truths prove an overmatch for giant intellects yet are understood by babes, while clouding the spiritual perception of the most learned expositors who, like the Sadducees of old, are ignorant of the Scriptures and of the power of God. The contrast therefore calls believers to stop being babes and become bold, firm soldiers of the cross, steadfast even while rejoicing in suffering according to God's will.
Unity Ministry and Application
The verse lays bare the cause of trouble in the church, with the first and second chapters leading up to it, and it stands as a lesson for every church and as a reproof to ministers of the gospel wherever they are found. It exposes remaining as carnal babes unable to receive spiritual speech, and it calls for humbling the heart before God and seeking truth for the soul's sake, for without this the name will not be placed in the book of life. The whole third chapter together with the first two is full of instruction that must be received and read and searched in every church.
The instruction in the first, second, and third chapters is of great importance for a special work at this time, giving clear instruction for Christian conduct and service. Ministers are servants through whom people believe as the Lord gives to each, one planting and another watering while God gives the increase, laborers together with God in His husbandry and His building upon Jesus Christ as the only foundation. The chapters must be carefully studied, understood, and practiced, and read with much prayer, so that faith and practice will be energized by the Holy Spirit. They also show why those given to worldly pursuits and sharp business traits seldom come into the truth and count the preaching of the cross as foolishness. God has called not many wise after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, but has chosen the foolish, weak, base, and despised things of the world to confound the wise and mighty, so that no flesh should glory in His presence but Christ is made wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption.
Instruction in righteousness requires the Holy Spirit and forbids acting in an unconverted, natural spirit to control God's workers. No one is authorized to put yokes on others or to make fallible human judgment the rule of duty, but each servant is to seek God, be taught by His Spirit, and use God-given freedom to develop gifts and win souls. Turning minds to lean on human wisdom and human authority, and compelling obedience to the dictates of the finite mind, places a veil between God and man so that He who is invisible is not seen. Such reliance on human wisdom obstructs a clear view of God and calls for dependence on the Holy Spirit rather than on human authority.
The verse plainly states the difficulty of party division to warn all believers off dangerous ground. Those who suppose they are cemented to the man who brought them truth and tie up in separate bundles need a reconversion as soon as possible, or their claimed conversion is a stumbling block to sinners. Standing apart as independent atoms, linking to the one under whose labors light was received, placing self on his side and refusing harmony with brethren, withdrawing from some for reasons existing only in the imagination and binding up with others, is walking as mere men in envying and strife and divisions, saying I am of Paul and I am of Apollos. That course separates brethren from one another and thus from God until His people obey to be all of one mind, and it greatly hinders the manifestation of the Spirit as Comforter and Strengthener and brings a dearth of the Spirit in the church.
Yet such ones are not given up as irreclaimable but are to be educated to unity from one great Source, each strengthening the other. Each is to take diligent heed to the course and make straight paths for the feet lest the lame be turned out of the way, so that truly converted proclaimers present unity and not division to the world. Christian work is individual, so believers should improve themselves and grow through dependence on Christ rather than find fault with another person's work. The verse is to be thought over at home and personally applied with God's help to the understanding, for many who think they are prepared for the Lord's coming are not prepared.
Applied, it leads to bearing testimony, separating from all hindrances, knowing the will of God and traveling in that pathway, becoming free and all light in the Lord, and confessing Christ in passing out of darkness into His marvelous light. Carnality also includes being imprisoned with dangerous sentimentalism and spiritualistic affection with the mind worked by the enemy. It is shown when affection belonging to marriage is given to one who is not the spouse, the spouse is left in second place, and there is impurity abiding in mind or heart with failure to respect, cherish, and love the spouse and to be as true as steel to marriage vows in thought, word, and deed. Defiling practices such as tobacco use likewise cloud spiritual discernment. Such carnality is one of the signs of the last days showing need of repentance and conversion by stopping where one is, turning wholly to God as obedient little children, and letting Christ take charge of the affections and center them upon proper objects so truth triumphs in the life.
To be spiritual is to be mature in the Christian life, while to be carnal is to remain immature, like infants in Christ who cannot yet receive and practice higher truths. Milk is the plainest, most simple truths suited to young converts, while meat is solid, nourishing, spiritual food for those who have advanced in knowledge of divine things. The Corinthians had fallen short of their privileges, leaving them weak and unable to grasp deeper truth, and their carnal state was proved by envying and strife and divisions in walking as mere men and saying I am of Paul and I am of Apollos. Therefore they could not be addressed as mature people but only as babes, fed with milk and not with meat because they were not able then to bear it, and were still not able. Growth toward maturity comes by feeding on Christ in the Word and abiding in Him, by being set to work for others instead of remaining always needing milk, and by being educated to unity from one great Source rather than tying up in separate bundles around men.
Meaning of Key Terms
To be spiritual is to be mature in Christian life, while to be carnal is to remain immature, like infants in Christ who cannot yet receive and practice higher truths. Their spiritual growth had lagged behind their privileges and opportunities, leaving them weak and unable to grasp deeper truths. Jealousy, strife, division, accusation and other cherished tendencies of the natural heart reveal this carnal condition, obstruct spiritual discernment and hinder the work of the Holy Spirit. Paul therefore had to address them not as spiritual people but as carnal babes, giving simpler teaching suited to what they could bear rather than deeper instruction they were not ready to receive or might misuse. This distinction between spiritual maturity and a carnal condition also bears on defiling practices that cloud spiritual discernment, such as the use of tobacco.
Milk means the plainest, most simple truths suitable for converts young in the faith, while meat means solid, nourishing, spiritual food suited to those who have made progress in knowledge of divine things. Those who had not been feeding on Christ had therefore not advanced in spiritual knowledge but were living on a low level. Their state was dwelling on surface truth that calls for no thought and no deep research, proved carnal by envying and strife and divisions. The instruction in the first, second and third chapters is of great importance for a special work at this time and must be carefully studied, understood and practiced.
Although wise in worldly knowledge, they were only babes in the knowledge of Christ with no experimental knowledge of the way of salvation. Their carnal minds could not discern the sacred revealings of God, comprehend the mysteries of salvation, or understand the operations of divine power upon the heart, for spiritual things must be spiritually discerned. Many were proud believers in human theories and false systems of theology, and had no experience in spiritual life and the mystery of godliness. Therefore truth had to be presented in its simplest form, teaching the first rudiments of Christian faith and doctrine, even the very alphabet. The seed was sown for another to water and for those following to carry the work forward with spiritual light and knowledge as the church could bear, since only the illuminating influence of the gospel and the sanctifying grace of God can transform the carnal mind into harmony with spiritual things in the ever-progressing religion of Christianity.
Corinthian Condition and Causes
Their spiritual growth was dwarfed and had fallen short of their privileges and opportunities, leaving them weak and unable to grasp and practice deeper truths. They ought to have been able to bear the plain Word of God and to comprehend its higher truths, but their advancement had not been proportionate to what they had received. They had not been feeding on Christ and therefore had not advanced in spiritual knowledge, living on a low level and dwelling on surface truth that calls for no thought and no deep research. They had not labored to place themselves in right relation to truth to obtain a right experience that would bring them into close connection with God.
Their carnal state was proved by envying and strife and divisions and by walking as mere men. It showed itself in saying I am of Paul and I am of Apollos, in factional allegiance to human ministers instead of recognizing that ministers serve under God. The division centered especially on the relative merits of different ministers teaching Christ, although all do not have the same work, with one planting and another watering but God giving the increase. Such strife and division mark believers as spiritually immature, like babes in Christ, and not living as spiritual people.
They stood apart as independent atoms and linked themselves to the one man under whose labors they received light, placing themselves on his side and refusing to be in harmony with their brethren. They withdrew from some for reasons existing only in the imagination and bound up with others, allowing prejudice to enter the heart. Instead of love and harmonious action with each strengthening the other, they lacked meekness and humility and wholehearted kindness. That course separates brethren from one another and thus separates them from God.
Jealousy, evil surmising, accusation, and discord close the heart to the working of the Holy Spirit and destroy spiritual discernment. They hinder His manifestation as Comforter and Strengthener until His people obey to be all of one mind, and these conditions bring a dearth of the Spirit of God in the church. They could not bear to hear the truth concerning themselves, so that a plain Thus saith the Lord offended them and reproof of wrongdoing offended them. Giving them the truth ranked the speaker as an accuser and faultfinder. Their contentions are not after the order of God but the manifestation of the attributes of the natural heart, for they forgot that they were purged from hereditary and cultivated tendencies to wrong and still cherish carnal attributes, and are not sanctified soul, body, and spirit.
Milk Before Meat
Paul could not speak to the Corinthians as spiritual, mature people but only as carnal, even as babes in Christ. He fed them with milk and not with meat because they were not able then to bear deeper truth, and were still not able. Their spiritual growth had fallen short of their privileges and opportunities, leaving them weak and unable to grasp and practice deeper truths. Their carnality was proved by envying and strife and divisions and walking as mere men, saying I am of Paul and I am of Apollos, especially in divisions over the relative merits of different ministers teaching Christ. Jealousy and accusation and other cherished tendencies of the natural heart reveal this immature condition and obstruct spiritual discernment and hinder the Holy Spirit's work as Comforter and Strengthener.
He therefore had to teach the first rudiments of Christian faith and doctrine, presenting truth in its simplest form, even the very alphabet. Although wise in worldly knowledge, they were only babes in the knowledge of Christ with no experimental knowledge of the way of salvation and of the mystery of godliness. Their carnal minds could not discern the sacred revealings of God, comprehend the mysteries of salvation, or understand the operations of divine power upon the heart, for spiritual things must be spiritually discerned, and many were proud believers in human theories and false systems of theology. He gave instruction suited to what they could bear, sowing the seed for another to water and for those following to carry the work forward with spiritual light and knowledge as the church could bear. Only the illuminating influence of the gospel and the sanctifying grace of God can transform the carnal mind into harmony with spiritual things in the ever-progressing religion of Christianity.
Gospel laborers must have discretion to adapt their work to babes, feeding beginners with the sincere milk of the word rather than strong meat. Feeding milk means giving the people the truth as it is in Jesus, without mingling their own spirit and ideas with the truth. It means not covering the precepts of God with traditions and suppositions and devices of self-devising, lest the presentation taste so strongly of self that it disgusts the hearers. Such laborers search the Scriptures so they can teach what is profitable publicly and from house to house, testifying repentance toward God and faith toward Christ, and declare all the counsel of God.
People who have not learned present truth and its first principles, including seekers and those without knowledge of the truth, are babes who cannot bear strong meat or strong, advanced doctrinal discourses suited only to those who have progressed step by step. Truth must be given to them gradually, line upon line and precept upon precept, here a little and there a little, in words easy to be understood. It begins with the love of God and the bread of life they hunger for, and with melting, heart-subduing teaching in the simplicity and meekness and lowliness of Christ about Jesus Christ crucified, the sanctification of soul, body, and spirit, and the love of God. Further truth such as the Sabbath is to be unfolded gradually only as they are able to bear it, and even though there is a special message for this age with many things to say, some things must be withheld for a time because they are not prepared to receive all the truth in its most striking character at the outset.
Ministers are only servants through whom people believe as the Lord gives to every man, and all do not have the same work to do in the cause of God. One plants and another waters, but God gives the increase, so that he that plants and he that waters are one as laborers together with God in God's husbandry and God's building. Each receives reward according to labor, building on Jesus Christ as the only foundation. That building with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, and stubble will be made manifest when the day declares it by fire trying every man's work, unto reward if it abides or loss if burned though himself saved, because believers are the temple of God where the Spirit of God dwells, which is holy and must not be defiled.
Growth Toward Maturity
Every Christian begins as a babe in Christ with immature understanding, yet is not to remain spiritually stagnant but to keep growing and learn all that should be learned. Growth is to advance step by step in keeping with opportunities and privileges toward fuller knowledge of Christ and a holier life. It brings the believer into right relation to truth and to God, into close connection with God where need is discerned and laid hold upon, with recognition of Christ, understanding of His will, and fear of offending Him.
Growth comes by feeding on the bread of life and heavenly manna from the Word through searching its pages, and by abiding in Christ in faithful dependence. Such feeding and abiding nourish the mind and produce a Christlike spirit and character. It keeps Christ revealing Himself day by day to those who seek Him, trims the lamp and supplies the oil of grace in the heart instead of napping like the foolish virgins, refuses to let earthly temporal things absorb time and attention, and so gains a right to the tree of life and makes the preparation essential to be translated.
Young converts remain at the ABC in divine things when they are not set to work for others at home, in the neighborhood, and in the church. Because that work is left undone their experience never advances, and they stay always babies, always needing to be fed milk and never able to partake of true gospel meat. Those still fed with milk remain spiritually immature and weak like babies and need to be encouraged to exercise their spiritual abilities and take part in advancing the work, for ministers cannot make them strong or work out their salvation for them by continually tending them.
Babes in Christ are souls newly come to the faith, those who have just had the moral courage to decide to obey the truth and stand loyal to all the commandments. Though intelligent and excellent, having lifted the cross in separating from opposing friends and relatives under the bloodstained banner of Christ, they still need faithful, Christlike guidance. They are to be taught and led step by step into faith and assurance and educated and trained to do the work of soldiers in the Lord's army, bearing trials and oppositions, contempt and scorn as good soldiers of Jesus Christ. That care requires those who seek the Lord with all the heart, die to self, and are united as God's people beginning in the heart and home, showing the power of grace in character at home and wisdom in the church, and babes must not be trusted to unfaithful guidance marked by contentions and fault-finding nor left without a place to assemble to worship God lest labor for them prove in vain.
Babes who turn with earnestness and reverence to the Scriptures receive light and life which Christ alone can give. To them light from heaven plainly reveals wondrous things out of the exalted law, great truths long obscured by superstition and false doctrine, and the living oracles pour forth treasures new and old bringing light and joy to all who will receive them. These truths prove an overmatch for giant intellects yet are understood by babes, while clouding the spiritual perception of the most learned expositors who, like the Sadducees of old, are ignorant of the Scriptures and of the power of God. The contrast therefore calls believers to stop being babes and become bold, firm soldiers of the cross, steadfast even while rejoicing in suffering according to God's will.
Unity Ministry and Application
The verse lays bare the cause of trouble in the church, with the first and second chapters leading up to it, and it stands as a lesson for every church and as a reproof to ministers of the gospel wherever they are found. It exposes remaining as carnal babes unable to receive spiritual speech, and it calls for humbling the heart before God and seeking truth for the soul's sake, for without this the name will not be placed in the book of life. The whole third chapter together with the first two is full of instruction that must be received and read and searched in every church.
The instruction in the first, second, and third chapters is of great importance for a special work at this time, giving clear instruction for Christian conduct and service. Ministers are servants through whom people believe as the Lord gives to each, one planting and another watering while God gives the increase, laborers together with God in His husbandry and His building upon Jesus Christ as the only foundation. The chapters must be carefully studied, understood, and practiced, and read with much prayer, so that faith and practice will be energized by the Holy Spirit. They also show why those given to worldly pursuits and sharp business traits seldom come into the truth and count the preaching of the cross as foolishness. God has called not many wise after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, but has chosen the foolish, weak, base, and despised things of the world to confound the wise and mighty, so that no flesh should glory in His presence but Christ is made wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption.
Instruction in righteousness requires the Holy Spirit and forbids acting in an unconverted, natural spirit to control God's workers. No one is authorized to put yokes on others or to make fallible human judgment the rule of duty, but each servant is to seek God, be taught by His Spirit, and use God-given freedom to develop gifts and win souls. Turning minds to lean on human wisdom and human authority, and compelling obedience to the dictates of the finite mind, places a veil between God and man so that He who is invisible is not seen. Such reliance on human wisdom obstructs a clear view of God and calls for dependence on the Holy Spirit rather than on human authority.
The verse plainly states the difficulty of party division to warn all believers off dangerous ground. Those who suppose they are cemented to the man who brought them truth and tie up in separate bundles need a reconversion as soon as possible, or their claimed conversion is a stumbling block to sinners. Standing apart as independent atoms, linking to the one under whose labors light was received, placing self on his side and refusing harmony with brethren, withdrawing from some for reasons existing only in the imagination and binding up with others, is walking as mere men in envying and strife and divisions, saying I am of Paul and I am of Apollos. That course separates brethren from one another and thus from God until His people obey to be all of one mind, and it greatly hinders the manifestation of the Spirit as Comforter and Strengthener and brings a dearth of the Spirit in the church.
Yet such ones are not given up as irreclaimable but are to be educated to unity from one great Source, each strengthening the other. Each is to take diligent heed to the course and make straight paths for the feet lest the lame be turned out of the way, so that truly converted proclaimers present unity and not division to the world. Christian work is individual, so believers should improve themselves and grow through dependence on Christ rather than find fault with another person's work. The verse is to be thought over at home and personally applied with God's help to the understanding, for many who think they are prepared for the Lord's coming are not prepared.
Applied, it leads to bearing testimony, separating from all hindrances, knowing the will of God and traveling in that pathway, becoming free and all light in the Lord, and confessing Christ in passing out of darkness into His marvelous light. Carnality also includes being imprisoned with dangerous sentimentalism and spiritualistic affection with the mind worked by the enemy. It is shown when affection belonging to marriage is given to one who is not the spouse, the spouse is left in second place, and there is impurity abiding in mind or heart with failure to respect, cherish, and love the spouse and to be as true as steel to marriage vows in thought, word, and deed. Defiling practices such as tobacco use likewise cloud spiritual discernment. Such carnality is one of the signs of the last days showing need of repentance and conversion by stopping where one is, turning wholly to God as obedient little children, and letting Christ take charge of the affections and center them upon proper objects so truth triumphs in the life.