As a matter of fact, my friends, I could not talk to you as I talk to people who have the Spirit; I had to talk to you as though you belonged to this world, as children in the Christian faith.

I had to feed you milk, not solid food, because you were not ready for it. And even now you are not ready for it,

When I was a child, my speech, feelings, and thinking were all those of a child; now that I am an adult, I have no more use for childish ways.

I understand more than all my teachers, because I meditate on your instructions.

and find pleasure in obeying him. He will not judge by appearance or hearsay;

Everyone has heard of your loyalty to the gospel, and for this reason I am happy about you. I want you to be wise about what is good, but innocent in what is evil.

Then we shall no longer be children, carried by the waves and blown about by every shifting wind of the teaching of deceitful people, who lead others into error by the tricks they invent.

Instead, by speaking the truth in a spirit of love, we must grow up in every way to Christ, who is the head.

I pray that your love will keep on growing more and more, together with true knowledge and perfect judgment,

There has been enough time for you to be teachers---yet you still need someone to teach you the first lessons of God's message. Instead of eating solid food, you still have to drink milk.

Anyone who has to drink milk is still a child, without any experience in the matter of right and wrong.

Let us go forward, then, to mature teaching and leave behind us the first lessons of the Christian message. We should not lay again the foundation of turning away from useless works and believing in God;

Let us go forward! And this is what we will do, if God allows.

But continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory, now and forever! Amen.

LORD, I have given up my pride and turned away from my arrogance. I am not concerned with great matters or with subjects too difficult for me.

Instead, I am content and at peace. As a child lies quietly in its mother's arms, so my heart is quiet within me.

At that time Jesus said, "Father, Lord of heaven and earth! I thank you because you have shown to the unlearned what you have hidden from the wise and learned.

and said, "I assure you that unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the Kingdom of heaven.

Jesus answered, "Haven't you read the scripture that says that in the beginning the Creator made people male and female?

I assure you that whoever does not receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it."

Be like newborn babies, always thirsty for the pure spiritual milk, so that by drinking it you may grow up and be saved.

I understand more than all my teachers, because I meditate on your instructions.

Yet I do proclaim a message of wisdom to those who are spiritually mature. But it is not the wisdom that belongs to this world or to the powers that rule this world---powers that are losing their power.

All of us who are spiritually mature should have this same attitude. But if some of you have a different attitude, God will make this clear to you.