Matthew Poole and continuators on 1 Corinthians 3:1

ANd, I brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual , but as unto [illegible: 1 letter]arnal , even as unto babes i[illegible: 1 letter] Christ c.

The Apostle plainly returneth in this Chapter to reprove them for their divisions and factions, for which he had began to reprove them, Chap. 1. v. 11. and (as some think) here he anticipateth an objection, which they might have made against him, against his reproving and judging of them, when as he that is spiritual (as he had now said) is judged of no man. I (saith he) brethren, could not speak unto you as spiritual, that is, as to Christians, who had made any great proficiency in the ways of God, and had arrived to any just degrees of spiritual perfection.

But as unto carnal, that is, persons, who though you are not under the full conduct and government of your flesh and sensitive appetite, yet are far from being perfect, either in Faith or Holiness, in Christ, but not as grown men, but as babes, as the Apostle fully explaineth this term, Heb. 5.12, 13. Such as had need be taught again, which are the first principles of the Oracles of God, and have need of milk, and not of strong meat; for every one that useth milk, is unskilful in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe.