In the New Testament, the metaphor of "babes" is often used to describe Christians who are immature in their faith. This imagery highlights the need for spiritual growth and maturity among believers. The Apostle Paul and the author of Hebrews both address this concept, emphasizing the importance of moving beyond the elementary teachings of the faith.

Scriptural References

1. 1 Corinthians 3:1-2 : "Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual, but as worldly—as infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for solid food. In fact, you are still not ready." Here, Paul rebukes the Corinthian church for their lack of spiritual maturity. Despite being believers, they are still behaving in a worldly manner, akin to infants who can only digest milk rather than solid food. This passage underscores the expectation that Christians should grow in their understanding and practice of the faith.

2. Hebrews 5:12-14 : "Although by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to reteach you the basic principles of God’s word. You need milk, not solid food! For everyone who lives on milk is still an infant, inexperienced in the message of righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained their senses to distinguish good from evil." The author of Hebrews expresses concern that the recipients of the letter have not progressed in their spiritual journey. They are still reliant on basic teachings and are not yet capable of deeper understanding or teaching others.

Characteristics of Spiritual Infancy

· Lack of Discernment: As noted in Hebrews 5:14, babes in Christ lack the ability to distinguish between good and evil. This discernment is a mark of maturity that comes from constant practice and engagement with the Word of God.

· Dependency on Basic Teachings: Spiritual infants are dependent on the foundational teachings of the faith, much like infants rely on milk. They have not yet moved on to the "solid food" of more complex doctrines and applications of Scripture.

· Worldly Behavior: In 1 Corinthians 3:1-3, Paul associates spiritual infancy with worldly behavior, such as jealousy and quarreling. These behaviors indicate a lack of spiritual growth and understanding.

Encouragement for Growth

The New Testament encourages believers to grow in their faith and move beyond spiritual infancy. This growth involves deepening one's understanding of Scripture, developing discernment, and living out the principles of the faith in daily life.

· Ephesians 4:14-15 : "Then we will no longer be infants, tossed about by the waves and carried around by every wind of teaching and by the clever cunning of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Christ Himself, who is the head." Paul urges believers to mature in their faith, becoming stable and grounded in truth.

· 1 Peter 2:2 : "Like newborn infants, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation." While Peter acknowledges the need for spiritual milk, he emphasizes that it is a means to growth, not an end in itself.

Role of the Church

The church plays a crucial role in nurturing spiritual growth among its members. Through teaching, discipleship, and community, the church provides the environment and resources necessary for believers to mature in their faith. Leaders are tasked with guiding and equipping the saints for works of service, as outlined in Ephesians 4:11-13.

In summary, the metaphor of "babes" in the New Testament serves as a call to spiritual maturity. Believers are encouraged to grow in their understanding and practice of the faith, moving beyond the basics to a deeper, more discerning walk with Christ.Romans 2:20
An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which have the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law.
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1 Corinthians 3:1
And I, brothers, could not speak to you as to spiritual, but as to carnal, even as to babes in Christ.
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Hebrews 5:13
For every one that uses milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
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1 Peter 2:2
As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that you may grow thereby:
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Weak Hands and Feeble Knees
... Some Christians have weak hands and feeble knees because they ... They are young Christians,
they have not been converted ... promise for those who are babes in Christ ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 5 1859/weak hands and feeble knees.htm

John Bunyan on the Terms of Communion and Fellowship of Christians ...
... Practice in the Worship of God'; by which, although it be brief, candid Christians
may, I ... 4). 'For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/john bunyan on the terms.htm

Characters and Names of Messiah
... deem them weak and ignorant as babes (and He ... Shepherd to lead millions of weak, helpless
creatures to ... Though real Christians, who are enlightened and taught by ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/newton/messiah vol 1/sermon ix characters and names.htm

Preface. And as to Christ Thy Lord
... respect to the spiritual advantage of serious Christians, and that ... to the ignorant,
milk to babes in Christ ... for the strong, strength to the weak, quickening and ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/preface and as to christ.htm

V. ...
... But the breasts which yield this milk, and which the babes suck, are the preachers ...
as if he had said, preach gently to the young and weak Christians; let them ...
/.../the epistles of st peter and st jude preached and explained/chapter ii v .htm

And Then that Further Device of Theirs, if Words Can Express It...
... fullness of Christ; that we be no longer babes, tossed and ... essay to make the minds
of the weak which cohere ... For wedded Christians also who do this work, are of ...
/.../augustine/of the work of monks /section 40 and then that.htm

Our Father in Heaven
... who will tell you that those words mean merely "weak believers," "babes in grace ...
children and young people, for he was writing only to Christians. ...
/.../kingsley/twenty-five village sermons/sermon xiv our father in.htm

Messiah's Easy Yoke
... The general name of Christians, which was first assumed by the ... unto eternal life,
and reveals that knowledge to babes, to persons of weak and confined ...
//christianbookshelf.org/newton/messiah vol 1/sermon xv messiahs easy yoke.htm

Valerian and the Persecution under Him.
... to divide the bowels of new-born babes and to ... by inducing the Emperor Valerian to
persecute the Christians. ... The result was that by Macrianus' "weak or wicked ...
/.../pamphilius/church history/chapter x valerian and the persecution.htm

I May Briefly Reduce the Chief Persuading Motive to this So ...
... to all who are begotten of God, as fellow Christians. ... the wise and prudent, and revealed
them unto babes," Luke 10 ... And "God hath chosen the weak and foolish to ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/chapter iii i may briefly.htm

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