1 Corinthians 13 11

1 Corinthians 13:11 kjv

When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

1 Corinthians 13:11 nkjv

When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

1 Corinthians 13:11 niv

When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.

1 Corinthians 13:11 esv

When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.

1 Corinthians 13:11 nlt

When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things.

1 Corinthians 13 verses

1 Corinthians 13 11 Meaning

When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child. Now that I am a man, I have put away childish things. This verse describes the transition from a state of immaturity to spiritual maturity. The spiritual gifts (like prophecy, tongues, and knowledge) which were temporary and imperfect in the early church will cease when perfection (the return of Christ and the fullness of the Kingdom) arrives.

1 Corinthians 13 11 Context

This verse is part of a larger section in 1 Corinthians 12-14 where Paul addresses the disorder and misuse of spiritual gifts in the Corinthian church. The Corinthians were particularly enamored with the more spectacular, charismatic gifts, especially speaking in tongues. Paul, while affirming the value and existence of all gifts, is advocating for a more mature, loving, and ordered use of these gifts. He emphasizes that love (agape) is the indispensable "more excellent way" (1 Cor 12:31) that should characterize the exercise of all spiritual gifts. This thirteenth chapter is famously known as the "love chapter," which elevates love above even the most impressive spiritual gifts. In this specific verse, Paul transitions from discussing the cessation of gifts to describing the reality of spiritual maturity that will be fully realized in the future. The context is pastoral: guiding the Corinthians towards a more Christ-like maturity in their understanding and practice of spiritual life.

1 Corinthians 13 11 Word analysis

• When I was a child (Hēnik’a’ ge ōn paidion - ὅτε ἤμην παιδίον): This refers to a past state of immaturity, analogous to a child. It implies a limited understanding and a simpler perspective.

• I spoke as a child (Elalouson hōs paidion - ἐλάλουν ὡς παιδίον): This signifies speaking with childish speech patterns, potentially lacking depth or clear articulation of complex thoughts. It also likely alludes to the immature use of spiritual gifts.

• I understood as a child (Ephronoun hōs paidion - ἐφρόνουν ὡς παιδίον): This describes the limited capacity for understanding and comprehension characteristic of a child. Their reasoning is basic and undeveloped.

• I thought as a child (Ethymoumon hōs paidion - ἐθυμοῦμην ὡς παιδίον): This speaks to a childish mindset and disposition. It implies immature reasoning, emotional volatility, and a self-centered perspective.

• Now that I am a man (Nun de genomenou mōru - νῦν δὲ γενομένου ἀνθρώπου): This marks a transition to a state of adulthood and maturity. It denotes a developed understanding, reasoning, and character. "Man" (anthropos - ἄνθρωπος) here is used in the general sense of a human being or a mature person.

• I have put away childish things (Katērgēk’a - κατηργήκα): This verb signifies to render inactive, to annul, to put away, or to cease. It implies a deliberate and conscious decision to discard immature behaviors, perspectives, and ways of functioning. The perfect tense suggests a completed action that has lasting effect.

• Words Group Analysis:

  • Childish State vs. Adult State: The clear contrast between "when I was a child" and "now that I am a man" is central. This highlights the process of spiritual growth and development. The Corinthian church, in its current state of valuing sensational gifts over love, is seen as immature, needing to transition to spiritual adulthood.
  • Putting Away Childish Things: The action of "putting away" signifies intentionality. Spiritual maturity isn't passive; it involves actively discarding what is immature and adopting what is mature. This includes how one speaks, understands, and thinks about spiritual matters.

1 Corinthians 13 11 Bonus section

The concept of spiritual maturity described here is not about the absence of emotional experience, but about the proper regulation and understanding of spiritual gifts within a framework of love. While the temporary gifts would cease, love, faith, and hope would remain, and in fact, these eternal virtues would be perfected. The transition from "childish things" implies a shift in perspective, where the focus moves from the spectacular outward manifestations of gifts to the inward work of God's Spirit transforming character. It also points to the ultimate consummation of God's plan, where our knowledge of God and His ways will be complete, unlike the partial and often misunderstood insights obtained through spiritual gifts in this earthly life. The passage underscores that true spiritual growth is a process that moves towards a final state of perfection and complete understanding in God.

1 Corinthians 13 11 Commentary

Paul uses a relatable analogy of child development to illustrate the difference between the current immature state of understanding spiritual matters and the future mature state. The spectacular spiritual gifts prevalent in the early church were meant to function effectively during a transitional period when direct, perfect knowledge of God was not yet fully realized. These gifts, like speaking in tongues or even prophecy, served their purpose as signs and means of communication while the Church was growing. However, they were partial and temporary. The arrival of "the perfect" (which most scholars understand as the return of Christ and the fullness of God's Kingdom, or a perfect knowledge of God) will render these partial gifts obsolete. Just as a grown man no longer plays with baby toys or speaks with a toddler's vocabulary, mature believers will no longer rely on the cruder, less perfect spiritual tools of infancy. This maturity signifies a complete understanding and apprehension of God's truth, making the preliminary gifts unnecessary.