SEV Biblia, Chapter 14:20
Hermanos, no seis nios en el sentido, sino sed nios en la malicia; pero perfectos en el sentido.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - 1 Corinthians 14:20
Verse 20. Be not children in understanding] There are three words here to which we must endeavour to affix the proper sense. paidia 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. nhpiov, from nh, not, and eipw, I speak, signifies an infant; one that cannot yet speak, and is in the lowest stage of infancy; 3. teleioi, from telew, 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, paidia, 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] kakia, In wickedness, nhpiazete, be ye as infants, who neither speak, do, nor purpose evil.
But in understanding] teleioi ginesqe, Be ye perfect men, whose vigour of body, and energy of mind show a complete growth, and a well cultivated understanding.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 20. Brethren, be not children in understanding , etc.] 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, rbg a man, says Aben Ezra f301 , in our language, signifies t[d alm , 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.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 15-25 - There can be no assent to prayers that are not understood. A trul Christian minister will seek much more to do spiritual good to men' souls, than to get the greatest applause to himself. This is provin himself the servant of Christ. Children are apt to be struck with novelty; but do not act like them. Christians should be like children void of guile and malice; yet they should not be unskilful as to the word of righteousness, but only as to the arts of mischief. It is proof that a people are forsaken of God, when he gives them up to the rule of those who teach them to worship in another language. They can never be benefitted by such teaching. Yet thus the preachers did wh delivered their instructions in an unknown tongue. Would it not make Christianity ridiculous to a heathen, to hear the ministers pray of preach in a language which neither he nor the assembly understood? But if those who minister, plainly interpret Scripture, or preach the grea truths and rules of the gospel, a heathen or unlearned person migh become a convert to Christianity. His conscience might be touched, the secrets of his heart might be revealed to him, and so he might be brought to confess his guilt, and to own that God was present in the assembly. Scripture truth, plainly and duly taught, has a wonderfu power to awaken the conscience and touch the heart.
Greek Textus Receptus
αδελφοι 80 N-VPM μη 3361 PRT-N παιδια 3813 N-NPN γινεσθε 1096 5737 V-PNM-2P ταις 3588 T-DPF φρεσιν 5424 N-DPF αλλα 235 CONJ τη 3588 T-DSF κακια 2549 N-DSF νηπιαζετε 3515 5720 V-PAM-2P ταις 3588 T-DPF δε 1161 CONJ φρεσιν 5424 N-DPF τελειοι 5046 A-NPM γινεσθε 1096 5737 V-PNM-2P
Vincent's NT Word Studies
20. Understanding (sresin). Only here in the New Testament.Originally, in a physical sense, the diaphragm. Denoting the reasoning power on the reflective side, and perhaps intentionally used instead of nouv (ver. 15), which emphasizes the distinction from ecstasy.
Children - be ye children (paidia - nhpiazete). The A.V. misses the distinction between children and babes, the stronger term for being unversed in malice. In understanding they are to be above mere children. In malice they are to be very babes. See on child, ch. xiii. 11.
Malice (kakia). See on Jas. i. 21.
Men (teleioi). Lit., perfect. See on ch. ii. 6.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
14:20 {Be not children in mind} (me paidia ginesqe tais fresin). "Cease becoming children in your intellects," as some of them evidently were. Cf. #Heb 5:11-14 for a like complaint of intellectual dulness for being old babies. {In malice be ye babes} (tei kakiai nepiazete). {Be men} (teleioi ginesqe). Keep on becoming adults in your minds. A noble and a needed command, pertinent today.
