1 COR 3:2 Parallel Verse View

Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.

Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)

Key: khaki:verbs, orange:accusative/object, red:negative.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT I gave you milk to drink, not solid food, for you were not yet able. Indeed, even now, you are not able.

UST I taught you about things that are simple. I did not teach about things that are complex. I did this because you were not ready for complex teachings. In fact, you are still not ready for complex teachings.

BSB I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready [for solid food]. In fact, you are still not ready,

BLB I gave you milk to drink, not solid food, for not yet were you able. In fact, now you are still not able,

AICNT I fed you with milk, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it. But even now you are {not}[fn] able,

3:2, not: Later manuscripts read “not yet” (BYZ) or “still not.” (TR)

OEB I fed you with milk, not with solid food, for you were not then able to take it.
¶ No, and even now you are not able; you are still worldly.

WEBBE I fed you with milk, not with solid food, for you weren’t yet ready. Indeed, you aren’t ready even now,

WMBB (Same as above)

NET I fed you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready. In fact, you are still not ready,

LSV with milk I fed you, and not with meat, for you were not yet able, but not even yet are you now able,

FBV I gave you milk—I couldn't give you solid food to eat, because you weren't ready for it.

TCNT I fed you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet able to receive it. Even now you are still not able,

T4T I did not teach you things that were difficult for you to understand, just like a woman does not give her baby solid food that the baby cannot chew and digest. And just like a woman ◄gives her baby milk/breast-feeds her baby►, I taught you simple spiritual concepts, because at that time you were not able to understand difficult things. And you are still not able to understand difficult concepts,

LEB I gave you milk to drink, not solid food, for you were not yet able to eat it. But now you are still not able,

BBE I gave you milk and not meat, because you were, then, unable to take it, and even now you are not able;

Moff I fed you with milk, not with solid food. You were not able for solid food, and you are not able even now;

Wymth I fed you with milk and not with solid food, since for this you were not yet strong enough. And even now you are not strong enough:

ASV I fed you with milk, not with meat; for ye were not yet able to bear it: nay, not even now are ye able;

DRA I gave you milk to drink, not meat; for you were not able as yet. But neither indeed are you now able; for you are yet carnal.

YLT with milk I fed you, and not with meat, for ye were not yet able, but not even yet are ye now able,

Drby I have given you milk to drink, not meat, for ye have not yet been able, nor indeed are ye yet able;

RV I fed you with milk, not with meat; for ye were not yet able to bear it: nay, not even now are ye able;
(I fed you with milk, not with meat; for ye/you_all were not yet able to bear it: nay, not even now are ye/you_all able; )

SLT I have given you milk to drink, and not food; for ye were not able, but neither now are ye yet able.

Wbstr 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.

KJB-1769 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.
(I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hither/hereto ye/you_all were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye/you_all able. )

KJB-1611 I haue fed you with milke, and not with meate: for hitherto yee were not able to beare it, neither yet now are ye able.
(Modernised spelling is same as from KJB-1769 above, apart from marking of added words (and possibly capitalisation and punctuation))

Bshps I gaue you mylke to drynke, and not meate: For ye then were not stronge, neither are ye as yet.
(I gave you milk to drink, and not meat: For ye/you_all then were not strong, neither are ye/you_all as yet.)

Gnva I gaue you milke to drinke, and not meat: for yee were not yet able to beare it, neither yet nowe are yee able.
(I gave you milk to drink, and not meat: for ye/you_all were not yet able to bear it, neither yet now are ye/you_all able. )

Cvdl I gaue you mylke to drynke, and not meate, for ye mighte not then awaye withall, nether maye ye yet euen now, in so moch as ye are yet fleshlye.
(I gave you milk to drink, and not meat, for ye/you_all might not then away also/fully, neither may ye/you_all yet even now, in so much as ye/you_all are yet fleshlye.)

TNT I gave you mylke to drinke and not meate. For ye then were not stronge no nether yet are.
(I gave you milk to drink and not meat. For ye/you_all then were not strong no neither yet are. )

Wycl as to litle children in Crist, Y yaf to you mylk drynke, not mete; for ye myyten not yit, nether ye moun now, for yit ye ben fleischli.
(as to little children in Christ, I gave to you milk drink, not mete; for ye/you_all might not yet, neither ye/you_all may/can now, for yet ye/you_all been fleshli.)

Luth Milch habe ich euch zu trinken gegeben und nicht Speise; denn ihr konntet noch nicht; auch könnt ihr noch jetzt nicht,
(milk have I you to/for drink(v) given and not food; because/than you(pl)/their/her couldt still not; also can you(pl)/their/her still now/currently not,)

ClVg lac vobis potum dedi, non escam: nondum enim poteratis: sed nec nunc quidem potestis: adhuc enim carnales estis.[fn]
(milk to_you(pl) drink I_gave, not/no food: not_yet because he_couldis: but but_not now indeed can_you: still because carnal you_are. )

3.2 Adhuc enim carnales. Arguit eos qui querebantur se dudum non audisse spiritualia, cum adhuc indigni essent audire. Ministri ejus. AUG. Homo exterius ministrat quasi servus, etc., usque ad quia Deus operatur velle et perficere.

3.2 Still because carnal. Arguit them who/which querebantur himself long_time_ago not/no audisse spiritual_(things), when/with still indigni they_would_be to_hear. Ministers his. AUG. Man outside serves as_if servant, etc., until to because God works to_want and to_complete.

UGNT γάλα ὑμᾶς ἐπότισα, οὐ βρῶμα; οὔπω γὰρ ἐδύνασθε. ἀλλ’ οὐδὲ νῦν δύνασθε;
(gala humas epotisa, ou brōma; oupō gar edunasthe. all’ oude nun dunasthe;)

SBL-GNT γάλα ὑμᾶς ἐπότισα, ⸀οὐ βρῶμα, οὔπω γὰρ ἐδύνασθε. ἀλλʼ ⸀οὐδὲ ἔτι νῦν δύνασθε,
(gala humas epotisa, ⸀ou brōma, oupō gar edunasthe. allʼ ⸀oude eti nun dunasthe,)

RP-GNT Γάλα ὑμᾶς ἐπότισα, καὶ οὐ βρῶμα· οὔπω γὰρ ἐδύνασθε, ἀλλ' οὔτε ἔτι νῦν δύνασθε·
(Gala humas epotisa, kai ou brōma; oupō gar edunasthe, all' oute eti nun dunasthe;)

TC-GNT Γάλα ὑμᾶς ἐπότισα, [fn]καὶ οὐ βρῶμα· οὔπω γὰρ [fn]ἐδύνασθε, ἀλλ᾽ [fn]οὔτε ἔτι νῦν δύνασθε·
(Gala humas epotisa, kai ou brōma; oupō gar edunasthe, all oute eti nun dunasthe; )

3:2 και ¦ — CT

3:2 εδυνασθε ¦ ηδυνασθε ANT PCK TR

3:2 ουτε ¦ ουδε CT

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 3:1–23: Christian workers serve the Lord by building his church together

In this section Paul told the believers in Corinth that they had not become spiritually mature. That was why they were dividing into separate groups and arguing with one another about teachers. They needed to learn about God’s plan for Christian workers and leaders. Christian workers and leaders all belong to God and are all building God’s church together.

Other possible section headings include:

Paul and all the other apostles were the Lord’s servants

All believers belong to the Lord and should remain united

Paragraph 3:1–4

Paul introduced the problem by pointing out to the Corinthians that they were not acting like people controlled by God’s Holy Spirit. They were quarreling among themselves and being jealous of one another. They were behaving just like unbelievers.

3:2a

I gave you milk,

I gave you only milk to drink.
At that time I taught you only the beginning things from God’s message, because you were like a baby that can only nurse/breastfeed.
At that time I taught you only the simple things from God’s message, as a mother gives babies only milk to drink.

I gave you milk: The Greek clause that the BSB translates as I gave you milk is a metaphor. Paul was comparing himself to a mother who nurses or breastfeeds her baby. He was like a mother who gives milk to her child in the sense that he gave or taught the new believers in Corinthian simple things that they were able to receive and absorb. He was comparing the beginning teachings from God’s message to milk. In some languages it may be necessary to make some of this information explicit. For example:

So I had to treat you like babies and feed you milk. (CEV)

The teaching I gave you was like milk. (NCV)

I taught you simply, as a mother gives only milk to her baby.

3:2b

not solid food,

I did not give/feed you solid/adult food,
I did not talk to you about things that are difficult to understand. Such teachings are like food for adults.

not solid food: Paul contrasted the solid food that adults eat with milk, which is the only food babies are able to eat. The phrase not solid food is a short way of saying “I did not give you solid food to eat.” This is also a metaphor. Paul was saying that some teachings about God are like solid food. They are like solid food in the sense that only mature people can receive them and benefit from them. Other ways to translate this include:

I did not give you anything solid to eat.

I did not teach you things that are only appropriate for people who have strong/adult faith.

General Comment on 3:2a-b

The Greek text uses the same verb for both verse parts. However, in some languages this may not be natural or possible, and you may need to use separate verbs. For example:

^2aI caused you to drink milk. ^2bI did not cause you to eat solid food.

3:2c

for you were not yet ready for solid food.

because you were not yet able to receive/accept such food/teaching.
And at that time you were not ready to learn/understand them.

for you were not yet ready for solid food: Paul gave the reason why he had not given them solid food. Just as a baby is not yet ready for solid food, so when the Corinthians first became believers, they were not ready to understand difficult teaching. Paul was not blaming them for this or criticizing them at this point. Another way to translate this is:

for you were not yet ready for it at that time

because you were not able to take solid food (NCV)

General Comment on 3:2a-c

In some languages it may be natural to follow the CEV and combine 3:2b-c:

[^2aSo I had to treat you like babies and feed you milk.] ^2b-cYou could not take solid food. (CEV)

3:2d

In fact, you are still not ready,

But even now, you are still not ready/able to receive/understand such food/teaching.
But what is bad is, even after all this time, you still are not ready to learn about those things which are for mature believers.

In fact: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as In fact emphasizes what Paul was saying. Other ways to translate this include:

even now (GNT)

even yet (RSV)

you are still not ready: Here Paul began to rebuke/criticize the believers. After being believers for a few years, they were still thinking and acting like babies. They were not yet mature enough in their faith to understand and benefit from the full teaching of the gospel.

not ready: Here, the phrase not ready implies that the Corinthians were not ready for “solid food;” that is, for more difficult or in-depth teaching. In some languages it may be natural to supply this implied information. For example:

not ready for solid food

not ready to eat solid food

In some languages you may be able to suggest something of the meaning of the metaphor by using words that can refer to either food or teaching. For example:

mature enough to absorb/digest anything more substantial

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

γάλα ὑμᾶς ἐπότισα, οὐ βρῶμα

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Γάλα ὑμᾶς ἐπότισα οὒ βρῶμα οὔπω γάρ ἐδύνασθε Ἀλλʼ οὐδέ ἔτι νῦν δύνασθε)

Paul is using milk, the food of “infants” (See: [3:1](../03/01.md)), which is easy to digest, to represent things that are easy to understand. Paul is using solid food, which is harder to digest, to represent things that are harder to understand. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express this figure of speech with a comparable metaphor or express the idea plainly. Alternate translation: [I had to let you crawl, not walk] or [I taught you things that are easy to understand, not things that are hard to understand]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis

οὐ βρῶμα

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Γάλα ὑμᾶς ἐπότισα οὒ βρῶμα οὔπω γάρ ἐδύνασθε Ἀλλʼ οὐδέ ἔτι νῦν δύνασθε)

Here Paul has omitted some words that may be necessary to make a complete thought in your language. If your language needs these words, you could add a phrase such as “to eat.” Alternate translation: [not solid food to eat]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis

οὔπω & ἐδύνασθε & οὐδὲ νῦν δύνασθε

not_yet & ˱you_all˲_˓were˒_able & (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Γάλα ὑμᾶς ἐπότισα οὒ βρῶμα οὔπω γάρ ἐδύνασθε Ἀλλʼ οὐδέ ἔτι νῦν δύνασθε)

Here Paul has omitted some words that may be necessary to make a complete thought in your language. If your language needs these words, you could add them here, supplying the idea from earlier in the verse. Alternate translation: [you were not yet able to eat solid food … even now, you are not able to eat solid food]

Note 4 topic: grammar-connect-logic-contrast

ἀλλ’

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Γάλα ὑμᾶς ἐπότισα οὒ βρῶμα οὔπω γάρ ἐδύνασθε Ἀλλʼ οὐδέ ἔτι νῦν δύνασθε)

Here, Indeed functions to contrast the time when Paul visited the Corinthians with the time when Paul is writing this letter. He speaks of these two different times to say that the Corinthians could not to eat the solid food at either time. If it would be helpful in your language, you could express Indeed with a word or phrase that contrasts two times or a word that introduces additional information. Alternate translation: [In fact]

Parallel 1 COR 3:2

Section 3:1–23: Christian workers serve the Lord by building his church together

Paragraph 3:1–4

3:2a

3:2b

General Comment on 3:2a-b

3:2c

General Comment on 3:2a-c

3:2d

Parallel 1 COR 3:2