I think the Protestants when talking about “milk” and “meat” teachings are referring to 1st Corinthians 3:2.
The Corinthians were rejecting proper teaching authority and Paul was correcting that. And they were doing this possibly (falsely) in the name of various Churchmen, or in the name of others and Paul just inserted the names of Churchmen for his example of what they are doing.
That’s WHY Paul says “Chloe’s people” contacted him earlier in this same letter to the Corinthians. Because they were rejecting proper authority. Unfortunately this is the default position in Protestantism.
**1st CORINTHIANS 3:1-3 ** 1 But I, brethren, could not address you as spiritual men, but as men of the flesh, as babes in Christ. 2 I fed you with milk, not solid food; for you were not ready for it; and even yet you are not ready, 3 for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh, and behaving like ordinary men?
The Protestants then seem to dovetail Hebrews 6:1-2 onto that.
**HEBREWS 6:1-2 ** 1 Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of
repentance from dead works and
of faith toward God,
2 with instruction about ablutions,
the laying on of hands,
the resurrection of the dead,
and eternal judgment.
Notice St. Paul (the probable author of the book of Hebrews but that has been debated) says let’s not go through the foundation of basic or elementary doctrine again here.
Teachings that St. Paul teaches are “foundational” doctrines and basic or “elementary doctrines” that he shouldn’t have to re-teach or lay (the foundation for) again here ("Let US leave . . . ").
He doesn’t mean we should NOT teach these doctrines anymore, but rather we need to build on that foundation of correct teaching.
These very central or BASIC doctrines that he is going to build upon here include:
- Repentance from dead works (not ALL works incidentally are “DEAD” works).
- Faith toward God.
- Instruction about ablutions (ablutions are Baptismal washings).
- The Laying on of Hands (concerns Confirmation and The Priesthood which now in the New Testamant is not a mere flesh and blood Priesthood as in descendents of Aaron, but a share in the priesthood of Jesus Christ to varying degrees).
- The Resurrection of the Dead.
- Eternal Judgment.
Protestants get these basic teachings wrong and so the teachings they build upon are often wrong too. I think that’s the whole point of Tim Staples recent article: “
Error Begets Error” .
Unfortunately Protestants reject the proper order of authority. They carry out “private interpretation” which basically means everyone is there own pope (although they wouldn’t put it that way).
Protestants also conflate ALL works with what Hebrews talks about “dead works” which are the Old Covenant ritual works of law (such as circumcision) that cannot get you to Heaven. They lump “God at work IN YOU” (what Steve Wood calls “grace works” with mere circumcision). Grace works can be seen in Philippians 2:12-13, Galatians 2:20, 2nd Corinthians 4:11 and probably close to a dozen other verses in the New Testament.
Protestants also get it only partially correct on their teachings about “faith toward God” often asserting an incorrect doctrine of “justification by faith ALONE”.
Of course faith is absolutely necessary for salvation and that is correct. The ALONE part is incorrect.
Many Protestants deny Baptismal regeneration.
Many Protestants deny the share that we have in the New Testament in the Priesthood of Christ and how we have that share in differing degrees (priesthood of all believers for the laity and Ministerial Priesthood for the clergy).
Many Protestants deny Confirmation and incorrectly assert either nothing at all or that they themselves are confirming before the community their faith in Christ (which is a fine thing to do but it is not “Confirmation”).
Some of the offshoots of the Protestants seem to deny the Resurrection of the body. I think a JW was trying to assert that to me but it was so confusing I cannot say for sure.
Some Bible-only followers don’t know the difference between the “Particular Judgment” and the “General Judgment”.
They are very good at emphasizing “Christ crucified” though (1st Corinthians 1:23). This is commendable.
This has been my experience at least when dealing with Protestants.
3-30-13