1Cor 14:20-21 | Barnes | STEP | Verse 20. 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 really 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 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 any one, 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, νηπιαζετε. 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, (παιδια;) 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, . Be men . Margin, " Perfect, or of a ripe age . τελειοι. The word means, full-grow men . Act like those whose understandings are mature and ripe. (e) "not children" (f) "ye children" (&) "howbeit" "yet" (|) "children" "infants" (1) "be" "perfect or, of a ripe age" (g) "men"

1 Corinthians 14:20-21

Verse 20. 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 really 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 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 any one, 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, νηπιαζετε. 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, (παιδια;) 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, Mt 18:3.

Be men. Margin, "Perfect, or of a ripe age. τελειοι. The word means, full-grow men. Act like those whose understandings are mature and ripe.

(e) "not children" Eph 4:14,15, Heb 6:1-3 (f) "ye children" Ps 131:2, Mt 18:3, Rom 16:19, 1Pet 2:2 (&) "howbeit" "yet" (|) "children" "infants" (1) "be" "perfect or, of a ripe age" (g) "men" Ps 119:99 Verse 21. In the law it is written. This passage is found in Isa 28:11,12. The word law here seems to mean the same as revelation; or is used to denote the Old Testament in general. A similar use occurs in Jn 10:34, 15:25.

With men of other tongues, etc. This passage, where it occurs in Isaiah, means, that God would teach the rebellious and refractory Jews submission to himself, by punishing them amidst a people of another language, by removing them to a land--the land of Chaldea--where they would hear only a language that to them would be unintelligible and barbarous. Yet, notwithstanding this discipline, they would be still, to some extent, a rebellious people. The passage in Isaiah has no reference to the miraculous gift of tongues, and cannot have been used by the apostle as containing any intimation that such miraculous gifts would be imparted. It seems to have been used by Paul, because the words which occurred in Isaiah would appropriately express the idea which he wished to convey, Mt 1:23,) that God would make use of foreign languages for some valuable purpose. But he by no means intimates that Isaiah had any such reference; nor does he quote this as a fulfilment of the prophecy; nor does he mean to say, that God would accomplish the same purpose by the use of foreign languages, which was contemplated in the passage in Isaiah. The sense is, as God accomplished an important purpose by the use of a foreign language in regard to his ancient people, as recorded in Isaiah, so he will make use of foreign languages to accomplish important purposes still. They shall be used in the Christian church to effect important objects, though not in the same manner, nor for the same end, as in the time of the captivity. What the design of making use of foreign languages was, in the Christian church, the apostle immediately states, 1Cor 14:22,23.

Yet for all that, etc. Notwithstanding all this chastisement that shall be inflicted on the Jews in a distant land, and among a people of a different language, they will still be a rebellious people. This is the sense of the passage, as it is used by Isaiah. Isa 28:12. It is not quoted literally by the apostle, but the main idea is retained. He does not appear to design to apply this to the Corinthians, unless it may be to intimate that the power of speaking foreign languages did not of necessity secure obedience. It might be that this power might be possessed, and yet they be a sinful people; just as the Jews were admonished by the judgments of God, inflicted by means of a people speaking a foreign language, and yet were not reformed or made holy.

(a) "law" Jn 10:34 (b) "it is written" Isa 28:11,12 (*) "tongues" "languages" (+) "hear" "hearken to"