Paul had necessarily adapted his manner to teaching to the condition of the church. "I, brethren could not speak unto you as unto spiritual," he afterward explained to them, "but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. 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." 1 Corinthians 3:1, 2. Many of the Corinthian believers had been slow to learn the lessons that he was endeavoring to teach them. Their advancement in spiritual knowledge had not been proportionate to their privileges and opportunities. When they should have been far advanced in Christian experience, and able to comprehend and to practice the deeper truths of the word, they were standing where the disciples stood when Christ said to them, "I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now." John 16:12. Jealousy, evil surmising, and accusation had closed the hearts of many of the Corinthian believers against the full working of the Holy Spirit, which "searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God." 1 Corinthians 2:10. However wise they might be in worldly knowledge, they were but babes in the knowledge of Christ.

Paulus havde af nødvendighedshensyn indstillet sin forkyndelsesmåde efter menighedens behov. "Og brødre, jeg kunne ikke tale til jer som til åndelige," forklarede han dem senere, "men kun som til kødeligsindede, som til spæde børn i Kristus. Mælk gav jeg jer at drikke, ikke fast føde, thi I kunne endnu ikke tåle den." 1Kor. 3,1-2. Mange af de korintiske kristne havde haft svært ved at forstå den lære, han prøvede at indprente dem. Deres fremgang i åndelige kundskaber havde ikke stået i forhold til deres forrettigheder og muligheder. Når de burde være nået vidt frem i kristne erfaringer og have kunnet forstå og udøve ordets dybere sandheder, var de endnu på det samme standpunkt, hvor disciplene var, da Kristus sagde til dem: "Jeg har endnu meget at sige jer, men I kan ikke bære det nu." Joh. 16,12. Skinsyge, mistænksomhed og beskyldninger havde tillukket mange af de korintiske troendes hjerter for Helligåndens fuldkomne gerning, når den "ransager alt, endog Guds dybder." 1Kor. 2,10. Hvor kloge de end var i verdens visdom, så var de som spæde børn i deres viden om Kristus.