⁶ He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited^(A) and fall under the same judgment^(B) as the devil.

⁵ In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves^(A) to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility^(B) toward one another, because,

² Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk,^(A) so that by it you may grow up^(B) in your salvation,

¹² In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths^(A) of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food!^{(B) 13} Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant,^(C) is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness.

⁴ they are conceited^(A) and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words^(B) that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions

⁷ or because of these surpassingly great revelations.^(A) Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh,^(B) a messenger of Satan,^(C) to torment me.

Concerning Food Sacrificed to Idols

8 Now about food sacrificed to idols:^(A) We know that “We all possess knowledge.”^(B) But knowledge puffs up while love builds up.

⁶ Now, brothers and sisters, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, “Do not go beyond what is written.”^(A) Then you will not be puffed up in being a follower of one of us over against the other.^{(B) 7} For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive?^(C) And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?

⁸ Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich!^(D) You have begun to reign—and that without us! How I wish that you really had begun to reign so that we also might reign with you!

The Church and Its Leaders

3 Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit^(A) but as people who are still worldly^(B)—mere infants^(C) in Christ.