1 Corinthians 14:20
Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.
Study Note
Study Note
Paul's exhortation 'be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men' creates a deliberate inversion of the child-adult analogy. Infancy is desirable in evil (nespiazete tei kakia — remain childlike in malice) but undesirable in understanding — pointing toward the integrated adult who combines moral innocence with cognitive maturity. The immediate context is the Corinthians' attachment to uninterpreted tongues — a preference for the experientially spectacular over the intelligible — which Paul characterizes as a form of intellectual underdevelopment. Matthew 18:3 ('unless you become like children') uses the child image positively for humility and trust, while Paul here uses it negatively for cognitive immaturity, showing the image requires contextual disambiguation.
Other Translations
Brethren, be not children in mind: yet in malice be ye babes, but in mind be men.
Brethren, become not children in the understanding, but in the evil be ye babes, and in the understanding become ye perfect;
My brothers, do not be children in mind: in evil be as little children, but in mind be of full growth.
Cross References
I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation.
Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty: neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in …
Surely I have behaved and quieted myself, as a child that is weaned of his mother: my soul is even …
And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord: and he shall not judge after the …
At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast …
And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter …
And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made …
Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not …
For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would …
Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes …