1 Corinthians 3:3 directly explains why Paul cannot call them spiritual — their jealousy and strife prove they are still fleshly.

1 Corinthians 3:4 provides specific evidence of fleshly behavior: divisions over Paul and Apollos.

1 Corinthians 2:6 speaks of imparting wisdom to the mature — here Paul contrasts that by calling his readers infants, not ready for such wisdom.

1 Corinthians 2:14 describes the natural person who cannot understand spiritual things — the same condition Paul accuses his readers of here.

1 Corinthians 2:15 defines the spiritual person — the very category Paul says his readers are not, highlighting their deficiency.

In 1 Corinthians 14:20, Paul redefines being a 'babe' (nepios) positively in malice but negatively in understanding — contrasting with the rebuke here.

1 Corinthians 4:8 sarcastically rebukes Corinthians for thinking they've arrived — the opposite of the infancy described in 3:1.

1 Corinthians 13:11 uses same child/man contrast — 'when I was a child' — illustrating the growth from infancy the Corinthians lack.

In Romans 7:14, Paul uses the same 'carnal' (sarkinos) to describe his own struggle — showing it's a universal human condition, not just Corinthian.

In Ephesians 4:14, being 'children' (nepios) is linked to instability and deception — a parallel warning to the Corinthians' immaturity.

John 16:12 echoes the same reason for withholding truth: 'you cannot bear them now' — exactly why Paul couldn't speak spiritual things to the Corinthians.

Hebrews 5:12 uses the identical milk/meat metaphor to rebuke those who should be teachers but still need elementary principles.

John 3:12 presents a similar limitation: inability to grasp heavenly things without believing earthly — matching Paul's inability to speak spiritual things to the carnal.

1 Peter 2:2 urges craving spiritual milk as newborn babes to grow—contrasting with Paul's rebuke of those still babes.

Ephesians 4:13 describes the goal of maturing into a 'perfect man' — the opposite of the baby state Paul rebukes here.

In Galatians 6:1, Paul addresses 'you who are spiritual' — a term he denies to the Corinthians here, showing their immaturity by contrast.

Mark 4:33 shows Jesus speaking in parables 'as they were able to hear' — the same principle of teaching according to capacity Paul applies to the Corinthians.

1 Timothy 3:6 warns against appointing a 'novice' — a recent convert like babes in Christ — because pride can lead to downfall.

In 1 John 2:12, 'little children' (teknia) is an affectionate address for believers — a positive contrast to Paul's negative use of 'babes'.