Simple words

Although the complaint could have been crushing in a culture where fine speaking was adored, Paul did not wither.

In 1 Cor 3, Paul explained what the church in Corinth had called "simple preaching." Although the church expected the golden-tongued eloquence of philosophers, Paul told the people why he spoke simply.

"I could not speak to you as spiritual people," he said, "but...as infants in Christ."

The church was not ready for anything but the simplest of teachings, so Paul fed them spiritual milk.

Newborns drink milk because their immature stomachs cannot yet digest more complex foods. There's nothing wrong with milk for an infant but we get worried when a two-year-old cannot eat anything besides milk. We expect the body to grow and mature.

In the same way, Paul said the believers in Corinth were not ready to digest more than the simplest of teachings, so that is what he gave them.

And he had evidence that they were not ready for more. "For as long as there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving according to human inclinations?"

As the believers in Corinth divided over which teacher to follow, they revealed their immaturity.

So, if Paul spoke simply to them, he said, it was because they could handle nothing more.