1 Corinthians 14:20 BSB

1 Corinthians 14:20

Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature.

BSB

Parallel translations (2) ▾

ASV

Brethren, be not children in mind: yet in malice be ye babes, but in mind be men.

KJV

Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.

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Commentary

2 voices

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible (1832)

Be not children in understanding - There are three words here to which we must endeavor 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.

The record, by era

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

John Wesley

1703–1791

Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament (1755)

Be not children in understanding - This is an admirable stroke of true oratory! to bring down the height of their spirits, by representing that wherein they prided themselves most, as mere folly and childishness.

The Nineteenth Century1 voice

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

The Greek for "understanding" expresses the will of one's spirit, Ro 8:6 (it is not found elsewhere); as the "heart" is the will of the "soul." The same Greek is used for "minded" in Ro 8:6. men--full-grown.

Voices on this verse

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Original language & word study

15 tagged words

Original	Transliteration	Meaning	Word study
Ἀδελφοί,	Adelphoi	Brothers,	G80 →
μὴ	mē	not	G3361 →
παιδία	paidia	children	G3813 →
γίνεσθε	ginesthe	do be	G1096 →
ταῖς	tais	in the	G3588 →
φρεσίν,	phresin	minds,	G5424 →
ἀλλὰ	alla	Yet	G235 →
τῇ	tēa	in the	G3588 →
κακίᾳ	kakia	evil	G2549 →
νηπιάζετε,	nēpiazete	do be little children,	G3515 →
ταῖς	tais	in the	G3588 →
δὲ	de	however	G1161 →
φρεσὶν	phresin	thinking	G5424 →
τέλειοι	teleioi	full grown	G5046 →
γίνεσθε.	ginesthe	do be.	G1096 →

Rare words are the text's own signal of a deliberate thread: the fewer the occurrences, the more the places it appears belong together.

The walk

The walk8

Where the connections lead

Follow this verse’s cross-references two steps out. Each card is a verse this one points to, and beneath it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several different paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it. Every stop shows its own words, and every stop is a page.

Through
1 Corinthians 13:11
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 set aside childish ways.
leads to
- 1 Corinthians 3:1–2
  Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual, but as worldly—as infants in Christ.
  Reached by 2 independent paths from here.
Through
Matthew 18:3
“Truly I tell you,” He said, “unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
leads to
- Mark 10:14–15
  But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and told them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them! For the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.
- 1 Peter 2:2
  Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,
- Matthew 19:14
  But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them! For the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
Through
1 Peter 2:2
Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,
leads to
- Hebrews 5:12–13
  Although by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to reteach you the basic principles of God’s word. You need milk, not solid food!
- Ephesians 4:15
  Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Christ Himself, who is the head.
- 2 Peter 3:18
  But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
- Mark 10:15
  Truly I tell you, anyone who does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”

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