1 Corinthians 14:20 kjv
Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.
1 Corinthians 14:20 nkjv
Brethren, do not be children in understanding; however, in malice be babes, but in understanding be mature.
1 Corinthians 14:20 niv
Brothers and sisters, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults.
1 Corinthians 14:20 esv
Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature.
1 Corinthians 14:20 nlt
Dear brothers and sisters, don't be childish in your understanding of these things. Be innocent as babies when it comes to evil, but be mature in understanding matters of this kind.
1 Corinthians 14 20 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Cor 14:1 | Desire spiritual gifts, especially that ye may prophesy. | Call to seek valuable gifts |
| 1 Cor 14:3 | But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification and exhortation and comfort. | Purpose of prophecy |
| 1 Cor 14:5 | I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying. | Priority of prophecy |
| 1 Cor 14:12 | Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church. | Aim for church edification |
| 1 Cor 14:15 | ... I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also. | Importance of understanding |
| 1 Cor 14:19 | Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue. | Preference for intelligible speech |
| 1 Cor 14:26 | How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying. | Order in worship |
| 1 Cor 14:33 | For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. | God of peace and order |
| Eph 4:14 | That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the cunning craftiness of men, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; | Danger of spiritual immaturity |
| Heb 5:13-14 | For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. | Distinction between babe and mature |
| Col 1:9-10 | ... That ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; | Growing in spiritual wisdom |
| Phil 1:10 | That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; | Discerning discernment |
| Matt 18:3 | And hath said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. | Childlike vs. Childish |
| Rom 12:2 | And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. | Renewing the mind |
| Gal 5:22-23 | But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. | Maturity in the Spirit |
| 1 Pet 2:2 | As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: | Growth through the Word |
| 2 Tim 3:16-17 | All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the perfect man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. | Scripture for maturity |
| Eph 4:11-13 | And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: | Purpose of spiritual gifts |
| Prov 3:5-6 | Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. | Direction through Godly wisdom |
1 Corinthians 14 verses
1 Corinthians 14 20 Meaning
Beloved brothers, do not become children in your thinking; but in evil, be like infants, yet in your thinking be mature. This verse is a call to spiritual maturity. It urges believers to shed childish, emotional, or easily swayed ways of thinking, especially regarding spiritual gifts. Instead, they should embrace a reasoned, adult understanding of faith and doctrine. While being innocent of malice and evil like infants, they should possess a developed, mature mind regarding spiritual matters and church order.
1 Corinthians 14 20 Context
This verse is found in 1 Corinthians chapter 14, a chapter focused on the proper use of spiritual gifts in public worship, particularly contrasting prophecy and speaking in tongues. Paul is addressing issues of order and edification within the Corinthian church, which was prone to disorder and self-centeredness in its gatherings. The Corinthian believers had a particular fascination with the spectacular manifestation of speaking in tongues, but their practice lacked intelligible communication that benefited the entire congregation. Paul’s overall aim in this chapter is to guide them towards a more mature and edifying exercise of spiritual gifts, ensuring that their worship is orderly and builds up the body of Christ. He wants them to move beyond a childish fascination with the ecstatic to a mature understanding of gifts that foster understanding and spiritual growth.
1 Corinthians 14 20 Word Analysis
- γίνεσθε (ginesthe): Imperative mood, second person plural, present tense of "ginomai" (to become, to be). It signifies a continuous state of becoming or a command to adopt a certain state of being. Here, it's a command: "become" or "do not be."
- παιδία (paidia): Children, young children. It implies immaturity, lack of understanding, and susceptibility to error or confusion.
- τῇ φρονήσει (tē phronei): In understanding, in mind, in disposition. "Phronesis" refers to practical wisdom, thoughtful consideration, and the faculty of understanding. The dative case indicates the sphere in which they should not be like children.
- ἀλλ’ (all’): But. A strong adversative conjunction introducing a contrast.
- ἀνὰ (ana): Preposition often meaning "up," "according to," or "through." Here, it’s used distributively, "each according to," or signifying a disposition "in respect to."
- τοῖς κακοῖς (tois kakois): Evil things, evil, malice. The dative plural of "kakos," meaning evil or bad. It refers to wickedness or sin.
- νηπιάζοντες (nēpiázontes): Being infants, acting like infants. Present active participle of "nēpiázō," which means to be a babe, to be infantile. It carries the connotation of childishness and dependence.
- τῇ δὲ φρονήσει (tē de phronei): But in understanding. The dative case reiterates the sphere of maturity. "De" is a common particle linking clauses, often with a slight adversative or progressive sense.
- τελειοι (teleioi): Mature, complete, perfect. The adjective implies having reached full development, sound judgment, and moral completeness. This is contrasted with "paidia" and "nēpiázontes."
Group Analysis:
- "μὴ γίνεσθε παιδία τῇ φρονήσει": This phrase translates to "do not become children in your thinking/understanding." The command is specifically against immaturity of mind or intellectual understanding regarding spiritual matters, contrasting with the potential for childlike innocence in other areas.
- "ἀλλ’ ἀνὰ τοῖς κακοῖς νηπιάζοντες, τῇ δὲ φρονήσει τέλειοι": This contrasting clause means "but in evil, be like infants; but in understanding, be mature." It sets up a dual imperative: adopt the innocence of infants regarding evil, but cultivate maturity in intellectual and spiritual comprehension. It's a plea for spiritual discernment and reasoned understanding, not for an overall childlike mentality.
1 Corinthians 14 20 Bonus Section
The passage subtly rebukes the Corinthians for prioritizing spectacular, unintelligible gifts over comprehensible teaching. The call to be "children in evil" emphasizes innocence and purity, while being "mature in understanding" calls for a developed, reasoned grasp of truth, learned through experience and Scripture. This echoes the New Testament emphasis on growing "unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ" (Eph 4:13), highlighting that true spiritual giftedness should lead to overall maturity and edification of the body. The word "phronesis" is important; it’s about the disposition and reasoning capacity of the mind, a faculty that needs to be trained and mature.
1 Corinthians 14 20 Commentary
Paul provides a crucial distinction: we are to be innocent of evil like infants are naturally innocent of malice, but we must not be intellectually infantile or immature. This means growing in understanding, discernment, and wisdom concerning God’s Word and the operations of the Spirit. A mature Christian possesses both blamelessness (like an infant towards evil) and intellectual grasp of spiritual truths. The focus here is on valuing intelligible communication and reasoned faith over uninterpreted ecstatic utterances that lead to confusion. Maturity in faith involves growth in understanding God’s will and purposes.
Practical Application:
- Seek to understand God’s Word through study and reflection.
- Develop discernment to distinguish between true and false teachings.
- Approach spiritual matters with a mature mind, not an easily swayed or emotional one.
- Be innocent of malice but wise in spiritual knowledge.