Paul’s teaching in this part of the letter is vivid and relatively straightforward. He begins by tying together what he has been saying since 1:17. The cardinal idea in these remarks is that the Corinthians are immature. Nevertheless, Paul does at least regard the Corinthians as “infants”; he does not deny they are persons of faith. The statements are insulting, as Paul repeatedly says the Corinthians are worldly (lit. “fleshly”). The Corinthians value wisdom and declare their status as mature believers or “spiritual ones,” but Paul contradicts their assertions.

Having brusquely denied the claims of the Corinthians, Paul takes up a series of metaphors in order to instruct the church. His aim is to correct the Corinthians’ misunderstandings and to move them in the direction of unity and mu…