Irenaeus Against Heresies Book IV And on this account does Paul declare to the Corinthians, "I have fed you with milk, not with meat, for hitherto ye were not able to bear it."[620] Clement of Alexandria The Instructor Book I And we have still to explain what is said by the apostle: "I have fed you with milk (as children in Christ), not with meat; for ye were not able, neither yet are ye now able."[75] And since the Word is the gushing fountain of life, and has been called a river of olive oil, Paul, using appropriate figurative language, and calling Him milk, adds: "I have given you to drink; "[93] Wherefore the Holy Spirit in the apostle, using the voice of the Lord, says mystically, "I have given you milk to drink."[100] Tertullian On Monogamy What was the subject-matter which led the apostle to write such (words)? The inexperience of a new and just rising Church, which he was rearing, to wit, "with milk," not yet with the "solid food"[90] Origen Against Celsus Book II which is the same as saying, "Hitherto ye were not able, neither yet now are ye able, for ye are still carnal."[171] Origen Against Celsus Book III For the word is used by our Paul in writing to the Corinthians, who were Greeks, and not yet purified in their morals: "I have fed you with milk, not with meat; for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able, for ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying and strife, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? "[162] Origen Commentary on Matthew Book XII to whom Paul says, "I have fed you with milk, not with meat,"[204]