Milk is a foundational level of biblical knowledge. Concepts don’t demand a lot of spiritual understanding and are plain and succinct. Although anybody can benefit from the milk of the Word, it is specifically designed to assist new Christians in developing and solidifying their faith. The new follower of Jesus must comprehend the core ideas of the Bible in order to start forming a sound spiritual mind, just as a baby needs clean, fresh milk to create a healthy physical body. The Bible states, “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the Word, that ye may grow thereby” (I Peter 2:2).
A person who is mature in their beliefs should provide basic introductory lessons. Paul, the apostle, was a loving spiritual father. “And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ,” wrote the apostle Paul, a loving spiritual father to the Corinthian church. I fed you milk instead of meat because you couldn’t handle it before and still can’t. Since there is jealousy, conflict, and division among you, are you not carnal and walk like men? (I Corinthians 3:1-3).
This passage makes it clear that Paul wanted his spiritual children to grow up in the faith and become more like the Lord Jesus Christ (see Galatians 4:19). Nevertheless, Paul was aware that these believers were not yet ready to move on to the rich, nourishing meat of the Word because they were not yet applying the milk that he had already taught them. “Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ [milk], let us go on unto perfection [meat]; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgement” (Hebrews 6:1-2).
