In the scriptures, particularly in Paul’s letters, we often encounter the concept of comparison. But What Does It Mean To Compare, especially when discussing spiritual matters? The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians, provides a profound example of spiritual comparison, highlighting the difference between those mature in faith and those still considered spiritual infants. Understanding this comparison is crucial for grasping the path to deeper spiritual understanding.
Spiritual Comparison in the Bible: Paul’s Example
Paul expressed his disappointment that he couldn’t discuss profound spiritual truths with the Corinthian Christians. He explains this limitation by drawing a comparison: “I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly—mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans? For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere human beings?” (1 Corinthians 3:1-4).
Here, Paul is making a comparison between spiritual maturity and immaturity, or carnality. He compares the capacity to understand “solid food,” representing deep spiritual truths, with the need for “milk,” symbolizing basic spiritual nourishment. This comparison reveals that spiritual growth is a process. Just as a baby progresses from milk to solid food, Christians are expected to grow from basic faith to understanding profound spiritual concepts. The presence of “envying, and strife, and divisions” indicated their spiritual infancy; they were not yet equipped to handle deeper spiritual teachings.
Discerning Spiritual Things: The Role of the Holy Spirit
To further understand what it means to compare spiritually, we turn to 1 Corinthians chapter 2. Paul elaborates on how spiritual truths are discerned: “But the natural man does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgment, for, “Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 2:14-16).
This passage contrasts the “natural man” with the “spiritual man.” The “natural man,” lacking the Holy Spirit, cannot comprehend spiritual things; they appear as foolishness. Conversely, the “spiritual man,” indwelt by the Holy Spirit, possesses spiritual discernment. This discernment is not merely intellectual understanding but a comprehension granted by the Spirit of God. To “compare” spiritually, in this context, means to assess and understand matters through the lens of the Holy Spirit, recognizing that true spiritual knowledge is beyond the grasp of the unspiritual mind.
Avoiding Carnality: Growing in Spiritual Maturity
Paul’s comparison was not simply an observation but a call to action. He aimed to shock the Corinthians into recognizing their spiritual stagnation and their need for growth. They had received the Holy Spirit, the very Spirit that “searches all things, even the deep things of God” (1 Corinthians 2:10). Yet, their behavior indicated a lack of spiritual progress. They were focusing on human leaders – “I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos” – instead of focusing on Christ and the teachings of the apostles, guided by the Holy Spirit.
This inclination to follow personalities rather than the core message of Christ is identified as “carnal.” Paul emphasizes that true spiritual growth involves moving beyond this spiritual infancy, taking in the “word of God,” and grasping the complete doctrine of Christ. Therefore, to truly “compare” in a spiritual sense means to move beyond superficial understanding, facilitated by human figures, and to delve into the “deep things of God” revealed through the Holy Spirit. It is a journey from spiritual milk to solid food, from carnality to spiritual maturity, guided by the Spirit and focused on Christ.
