Thread: A question on Christian Scripture.

I would like to spare you all from some apologizing introduction. We all know why difficult questions are brought here rather than some topic specific realm. My reading of the Guidelines suggest all topics may be broached. Let me make clear my only agenda is to further my understanding.

The question arises from the metaphor of the following King James scripture: 1Corinthians 3:1
¹And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. ²I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
³For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

Following the babe and the milk, I am unfamiliar with the specifics or scriptures that tell; what is the meat.

Do you know what practices are considered the meat?

I might further suggest to guide your thoughts consider this, which sounds to be a direct command* requiring a well balanced meal of solid food :John 18:11

¹¹She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: *go, and sin no more.


Please, if you have no inkling for spiritual matters, or only wish to entertain with smarty quips, please save yourself the effort of replying.

I am no expert by any means but I think what Jesus is saying partly is that Mankind is immature spiritually and could not understand many things about the spiritual realm (the meat). So he has told us the parts that we can understand (the milk). Thats what I get from reading it at least. I could email the question to My friend hew is a pastor if you would like a more accurate interpretation though. Remember that almost all scriptures can have many meanings or at least interpretations may very.
The reference about eating a well balanced meal from the other scripture could be referring to something altogether different.

Babes= new believers that have a very basic understanding of salvation, but because of their envy, strife and quarrels(childish behavior) they are not ready for the deeper teachings(the meat) of Christian spirituality.

The woman was caught red handed committing adultery and was brought before Jesus to see what he would say in the hopes that they could catch him in some violation or negation of Mosaic law. They brought up the fact that the law demanded that she be stoned to death(not the 420 way), but Jesus told them to let the one without sin cast the first stone, one by one they walked away, each of them knowing that they were sinners the same as she. He asked her where were her accusers and then told her that he did not judge or condemn her either, but did ask that she sin no more. Jesus says in another verse elsewhere that "I did not come into the world to judge the world, but to save it." Meaning that he would rather forgive than condemn.

I hope this helps, I hope others will chime in and I hope this does not become a BS festival.Amen.

Meat has reference to the deep understanding of scriptures, not just "first principles"

Hebrews 5:12-14 "12For 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.

13For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.

14But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil."

In the first example Paul the Apostle is speaking to the members of the newly founded church at Corinth. Note in the first chapter of that epistle Paul tells them that some of them are engaging in behavior that not even pagans practice. So he is dealing with 'babes in Christ' and therefore giving them, metaphorically speaking milk because they cannot yet comprehend the more advanced spiritual principles. the meat. He is pointing out to them that they have not yet 'put off the old man, behold all things become new', evidenced by their continuing to engage in envying, strifes and divisions.

Paul's epistles were letters to the early Christian groups giving them exhortation and correction. The 13th chapter of that book deals with people who were demonstrative of 'gifts of the spirit' in church but didn't demonstrate the fruits of the spirit once they walked out the door. So Paul tell them 'if I speak with the tongues of men or of angels and have not charity (love) I am as a tinkling cymbal or a clanging brass.' We see the same things today as we did then because times change but people aren't much different.

I once heard the great Presbyterian pastor Donald Barnhouse say, "If you want to know what a born again Christian is capable of doing read the epistles and see what he is told not to do. It say let him who stole steal no more, lie not to one another seeing ye have put off the old man." And he goes on but I can't remember the rest.

Personally, I think Paul is basically saying "you are noobs. Wake up to yourselves and have a bit of humility."

But I could be wrong.

James.

Sorry I thought it was Jesus speaking in the quoted scripture Thanks Jimmy for pointing out it was Paul.

It looks like you guys have a good idea of what's what. I agree with all that has been said so far.
I just had to add that I appreciate the respect of this thread so far. This group seems to understand when to offer respect. And it is nice to see people educated beyond our education system.

Originally Posted by Jimbo

Personally, I think Paul is basically saying "you are noobs. Wake up to yourselves and have a bit of humility."

But I could be wrong.

James.

So much said with so few words, good sir I tip my hat to you!

Thank you fellas.
I understand the context. Paul could not share the spiritual truths with them, being yet carnal they would not understand. In razor speak-you have just honed your first edge with N4/8 you might not yet be able to max out that big$ nakayama.

What he is describing with their quarrels and boasting etc is the ego-that constantly babbling mind we have that wants to analyze, label, compare, project, sin, etc. 1Cor is just a jumping off point that gives us a nice metaphor of the suckling babe.

so somewhere in the text must be the information, practice, knowledge, wisdom allowing us to act upon the command of Jesus to; "Go, and sin no more"
That's what I'm looking for, so yes ask anyone you feel might be able to make a list