the Week of Proper 23 / Ordinary 28
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1 Corinthians 14:20
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Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
not: 1 Corinthians 3:1, 1 Corinthians 3:2, 1 Corinthians 13:11, Psalms 119:99, Isaiah 11:3, Romans 16:19, Ephesians 4:14, Ephesians 4:15, Philippians 1:9, Hebrews 5:12, Hebrews 5:13, Hebrews 6:1-3, 2 Peter 3:18
malice: Psalms 131:1, Psalms 131:2, Matthew 11:25, Matthew 18:3, Matthew 19:4, Mark 10:15, 1 Peter 2:2
but: Psalms 119:99
men: Gr. perfect, or, of a ripe age, 1 Corinthians 2:6, Philippians 3:15
Reciprocal: 2 Chronicles 13:7 - young Ezra 8:18 - a man of understanding Nehemiah 4:13 - Therefore Esther 1:22 - according Esther 5:4 - the banquet Job 34:2 - General Job 36:4 - perfect Proverbs 13:16 - prudent Ecclesiastes 10:10 - wisdom Isaiah 46:8 - Remember Jeremiah 4:22 - they are wise Ezekiel 1:10 - the face of a man Matthew 10:16 - wise Matthew 19:14 - for Mark 10:14 - for Mark 13:14 - let him Luke 9:47 - took Luke 18:16 - for Acts 10:46 - speak 1 Corinthians 8:1 - touching 1 Corinthians 10:7 - be 1 Corinthians 10:15 - General 1 Corinthians 16:13 - quit Ephesians 4:13 - unto a Ephesians 4:31 - with Ephesians 5:15 - walk Colossians 4:12 - that 1 Peter 2:1 - malice 2 Peter 1:5 - knowledge Revelation 4:7 - as
Cross-References
He also said, "Blessed be the LORD , the God of Shem! May Canaan be the slave of Shem.
He also said, "Praise be to the Lord , the God of Shem! May Canaan be the slave of Shem.
And he said,"Blessed be Yahweh,The God of Shem;And let Canaan be his servant.
He also said, "Blessed be the LORD, The God of Shem; And let Canaan be his servant.
He sayde moreouer: blessed be the Lord God of Sem, and Chanaan shalbe his seruaunt.
Noah also said, "May the Lord , the God of Shem, be praised! May Canaan be Shem's slave.
He also said, "Blessed by the LORD my God be Shem; and let Canaan be his slave."
And Noe seide, Blessid be the Lord God of Sem,
And hee saide, Blessed bee the LORD God of Shem, and Canaan shalbe his seruant.
And he said, Blessed be the Lord God of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant.
Gill's Notes on the Bible
Brethren, be not children in understanding,.... There are some things in children in which it is reproachful for believers to be like them; as nonproficiency in knowledge, want of capacity to receive, bear, and digest strong meat; levity, fickleness, and inconstancy, unskilfulness in the word, deficiency of knowledge, want of understanding, not of things natural, but spiritual and evangelical; which is the more aggravated, since their understandings were opened and enlightened; an understanding was given them; the Spirit of God, as a spirit of understanding, was bestowed on them; they had the Scriptures, which are able to make wise unto salvation, and the man of God perfect; and also the ministers of the Gospel to explain divine truths to them; and many had been a long time in the school of Christ, and might have been teachers of others; and yet; after all, were children in understanding, and needed to be taught the first principles of the oracles of God. The apostle here has chiefly reference to the gift of speaking with tongues, these Corinthians were so desirous of; which when they had it, was only to talk like children; and for them to prefer it to other gifts, which were more useful and beneficial, discovered their judgment to be but the judgment of children; and if they desired this, and made use of it for ostentation, it showed a childish vanity, from which the apostle here dissuades:
howbeit in malice be ye children: in other things it is commendable to imitate children, and be like them; as in innocence and harmlessness of conversation; to be meek, modest, and humble, free from pride and vain glory; to be without guile and hypocrisy, without rancour and bitterness, envying and malice, but tender hearted, and ready to forgive. This the apostle recommends:
but in understanding be men; or "perfect", of ripe and full age, who have their senses exercised to discern between good and evil, גבר "a man", says Aben Ezra p, in our language, signifies מלא דעת, "one full of knowledge", as in Exodus 10:11. It is not perfection of justification that is here meant, for babes in Christ are as perfect in this sense as grown men; nor a perfection of sanctification, for there is no such thing as this in any in this life; there is a perfection of sanctification in Christ, and of parts in everyone that is a new creature; and as that denotes sincerity and uprightness, it is in all that have known the grace of God in truth; but then these are each of them as true of new born babes, young converts, as of older Christians, and strong men: but of knowledge and understanding in divine things; which though it is imperfect in the best, yet in some it is in greater perfection than in others; who may, in a comparative sense, be said to be perfect, or men of full age, who are arrived to a considerable ripeness and maturity of spiritual knowledge; and this is what believers should be pressing after, and desirous of, and make use of all proper methods, such as reading, hearing, and praying, to attain unto.
p Comment. in Psal. xxxvii. 23.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
Brethren, be not children in understanding - Be not childish; do not behave like little children. They admire, and are astonished at what is striking, novel, and what may be of no real utility. They are pleased with anything that will amuse them, and at little things that afford them play and pastime. So your admiration of a foreign language and of the ability to speak it, is of as little solid value as the common sports and plays of boys. This, says Doddridge, is an admirable stroke of oratory, and adapted to bring down their pride by showing them that those things on which they were disposed to value themselves were “childish.” It is sometimes well to appeal to Christians in this manner, and to show them that what they are engaged in is “unworthy” the dignity of the understanding - unfit to occupy the time and attention of an immortal mind. Much, alas! very much of that which engages the attention of Christians is just as unworthy of the dignity of the mind, and of their immortal nature, as were the aims and desires which the apostle rebuked among the Christians at Corinth. Much that pertains to dress, to accomplishment, to living, to employment, to amusement, to conversation, will appear, when we come to die, to have been like the playthings of “children;” and we shall feel that the immortal mind has been employed, and the time wasted, and the strength exhausted in that which was foolish and puerile.
Howbeit in malice be ye children - This is one of Paul’s most happy turns of expression and of sentiment. He had just told them that in one respect they ought not to be children. Yet, as if this would appear to be speaking lightly of children - and Paul would not speak lightly of anyone, even of a child - he adds, that in “another” respect it would be well to be like them - nay, not only like children, but like “infants.” The phrase “be ye children,” here, does not express the force of the original νηπιάζετε nēpiazete. It means, “be infants,” and is emphatic, and was used, evidently, by the apostle of design. The meaning may be thus expressed. “Your admiration of foreign languages is like the sports and plays of “childhood.” In this respect be not children (παιδίᾳ paidia); be men! Lay aside such childish things. Act worthy of the “understanding” which God has given you. I have mentioned children. Yet I would not speak unkindly or with contempt even of them. “In one respect” you may imitate them. Nay, you should not only be like “children,” that are somewhat advanced in years, but like “infants.” Be as free from malice, from any ill-will toward others, from envy, and every improper passion, as they are.” This passage, therefore, accords with the repeated declaration of the Saviour, that in order to enter into heaven, it was needful that we should become as little children; Matthew 18:3.
Be men - Margin, “Perfect, or of a riper age” (τέλειοι teleioi). The word means full-grown men. Act like them whose understandings are mature and ripe.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse 20. Be not children in understanding — There are three words here to which we must endeavour to affix the proper sense.
1. παιδια signifies children in general, but particularly such as are grown up, so as to be fit to send to school in order to receive instruction;
2. νηπιος, from νη, not, and ειπω, I speak, signifies an infant; one that cannot yet speak, and is in the lowest stage of infancy;
3. τελειοι, from τελεω, I complete or perfect, signifies those who are arrived at perfect maturity, both of growth and understanding. We shall now see the apostle's meaning: Brethren, be not, παιδια, as little children, just beginning to go to school, in order to learn the first elements of their mother tongue, and with an understanding only sufficient to apprehend those elements.
In malice — κακια, In wickedness, νηπιαζετε, be ye as infants, who neither speak, do, nor purpose evil.
But in understanding — τελειοι γινεσθε, Be ye perfect men, whose vigour of body, and energy of mind show a complete growth, and a well cultivated understanding.
