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

This verse employs a simple, universal human analogy to illustrate spiritual progression. It highlights the natural and appropriate transition from the limited perceptions, expressions, and reasoning abilities characteristic of childhood to the fuller understanding and developed conduct expected of an adult. Spiritually, it signifies the process of maturing from an immature, partial grasp of divine truths and the temporary function of certain spiritual gifts, towards a more complete and profound apprehension of God's realities, culminating in a future, perfect state where current limitations are shed. It underlines that what is fitting for an early stage of development must be consciously set aside for advanced growth.

1 Corinthians 13 11 Context

First Corinthians Chapter 13, famously known as the "love chapter," is nestled between discussions of spiritual gifts in Chapters 12 and 14. In this broader context, the Corinthian church was experiencing significant division and an immature emphasis on "showy" spiritual gifts like speaking in tongues and prophecy, often without proper love (agape). Paul argues that while gifts are temporary and partial, love is eternal and supreme, the way in which all gifts should be exercised. Verse 11 functions as an analogy to demonstrate that just as human development naturally moves from the immaturity of childhood to the understanding of adulthood, so too will current spiritual knowledge and the functioning of partial gifts be superseded when the "perfect" (verse 10), or full reality, comes. It's a call for the Corinthians to move past spiritual childishness, particularly their competitive spirit and lack of love, towards maturity.

1 Corinthians 13 11 Word analysis

• When I was a child (Ὅτε ἤμην νήπιος / Hote ēmēn nēpios): The Greek term for "child" (νήπιος - nēpios) here specifically denotes an infant or a very young child. This emphasizes a state of profound immaturity, characterized by limited speech, comprehension, and reasoning capacity. It highlights a phase of extreme dependence and developing capabilities, which, while appropriate for its stage, represents a starting point that must be transcended.

• I spoke like a child (ὡς νήπιος ἐλάλουν / hōs nēpios elaloun): "Spoke" (ἐλάλουν - elaloun) is in the imperfect tense, indicating a continuous, characteristic action in the past. It describes the rudimentary, simple, or perhaps incoherent form of speech typical of a young child, lacking the clarity, precision, and depth of adult communication. This metaphorically refers to the limitations of partial prophecy or speaking in tongues when divorced from mature understanding or love.

• I thought like a child (ὡς νήπιος ἐφρόνουν / hōs nēpios ephronoun): "Thought" (ἐφρόνουν - ephronoun) is also imperfect, reflecting a continuous, characteristic pattern of understanding or mindset. This points to a simplistic, often self-focused, and incomplete mental framework common in young children. Their perspective is limited by their experiences and cognitive development, a parallel to our current, imperfect spiritual perception.

• I reasoned like a child (ὡς νήπιος ἐλογιζόμην / hōs nēpios elogizomenēn): "Reasoned" (ἐλογιζόμην - elogizomenēn), also imperfect, indicates a continuous process of deduction or logical assessment. A child's reasoning is often superficial, lacking comprehensive insight or foresight, leading to simple or flawed conclusions. This describes how we, in our spiritual immaturity, analyze and interpret divine realities without the full, mature vision that is yet to come.

• When I became a man (ὅτε δὲ γεγόνα ἀνήρ / hote de gegona anēr): "Became" (γεγόνα - gegona) is in the perfect tense, signifying a completed transition to a new state that has ongoing effects. "Man" (ἀνήρ - anēr) denotes an adult male, symbolizing maturity, developed understanding, and the capacity for responsible, comprehensive action within society. This marks the decisive shift from immaturity to a state of completion.

• I gave up childish ways (κατήργηκα τὰ τοῦ νηπίου / katērgēka ta tou nēpiou): "Gave up" (κατήργηκα - katērgēka) is in the perfect tense, denoting a decisive, completed action with lasting results; it means to abolish, nullify, or put an end to something permanently. "Childish ways" (τὰ τοῦ νηπίου - ta tou nēpiou) refers to the collective behaviors, thoughts, and speech patterns associated with the state of immaturity—those very things that were described as characteristic of being a child. This signifies an intentional and definitive renunciation of the immature stage for the new, mature state.

• "When I was a child... like a child": This grouping emphasizes that while a certain way of operating is appropriate and natural for childhood, it is inherently limited. The repetition highlights a consistent pattern of behavior tied to that developmental stage, which applies equally to spiritual immaturity.

• "When I became a man, I gave up childish ways": This contrasting phrase demonstrates that the transition to maturity involves a definitive break. The act of "giving up" signifies not merely passively outgrowing, but an active, conscious decision and transformation, mirroring the spiritual necessity to set aside temporary and partial aspects for the enduring and complete.

1 Corinthians 13 11 Bonus section

The "child" (νήπιος - nēpios) here specifically signifies the immaturity that Paul also attributed to the factious and argumentative Corinthians in 1 Cor 3:1-3, calling them "infants in Christ" who were still on "milk" and acted like "worldly people." Thus, verse 11 is not merely a theoretical observation but a direct call to the Corinthian church to transcend their divisive, gift-focused immaturity. The "giving up" is a radical reorientation of values, moving from an over-reliance on limited, showy manifestations of the Spirit to the all-encompassing, eternal way of love, which alone endures. The verse thus serves as both a comfort that our current limited understanding is natural for now, and a challenge to actively grow into the spiritual maturity where such limitations are willingly shed in favor of God's perfect truth and enduring love. It's a shift from merely exercising gifts to being defined by love in all aspects.

1 Corinthians 13 11 Commentary

Paul's analogy in 1 Corinthians 13:11 provides a poignant illustration for the Corinthian church and for believers of all ages. It establishes that just as human development involves progressing from the inherent limitations of childhood to the fuller capacity of adulthood, so too does spiritual life require a movement from partial understanding and the temporary operation of spiritual gifts towards a complete, mature apprehension of divine truth, embodied most perfectly in Christ and realized in full when He returns. The emphasis is on "giving up" what is fitting for an earlier, limited stage, indicating an active, decisive transition rather than mere passive growth. This means actively pursuing love, which never ends, over the fleeting aspects of partial knowledge and gifts, thereby cultivating a mature, holistic Christian life rooted in Christlikeness rather than self-centered spiritual display.

For example, a new believer might enthusiastically embrace basic concepts of faith, speaking simply about God. But a mature believer delves deeper into doctrine, living out love through patient service, having consciously moved past seeking only personal spiritual experiences to living for Christ and others.