20 Brethren, become not children in the understanding, but in the evil be ye babes, and in the understanding become ye perfect;
for your obedience did reach to all; I rejoice, therefore, as regards you, and I wish you to be wise, indeed, as to the good, and harmless as to the evil;
as new-born babes the word's pure milk desire ye, that in it ye may grow,
for even owing to be teachers, because of the time, again ye have need that one teach you what `are' the elements of the beginning of the oracles of God, and ye have become having need of milk, and not of strong food, for every one who is partaking of milk `is' unskilled in the word of righteousness -- for he is an infant,
and said, `Verily I say to you, if ye may not be turned and become as the children, ye may not enter into the reign of the heavens;
Above all my teachers I have acted wisely. For Thy testimonies `are' my meditation.
As many, therefore, as `are' perfect -- let us think this, and if `in' anything ye think otherwise, this also shall God reveal to you,
And wisdom we speak among the perfect, and wisdom not of this age, nor of the rulers of this age -- of those becoming useless,
Wherefore, having left the word of the beginning of the Christ, unto the perfection we may advance, not again a foundation laying of reformation from dead works, and of faith on God, of the teaching of baptisms, of laying on also of hands, of rising again also of the dead, and of judgment age-during, and this we will do, if God may permit,
A Song of the Ascents, by David. Jehovah, my heart hath not been haughty, Nor have mine eyes been high, Nor have I walked in great things, And in things too wonderful for me. Have I not compared, and kept silent my soul, As a weaned one by its mother? As a weaned one by me `is' my soul.
and this I pray, that your love yet more and more may abound in full knowledge, and all judgment,
that we may no more be babes, tossed and borne about by every wind of the teaching, in the sleight of men, in craftiness, unto the artifice of leading astray, and, being true in love, we may increase to Him `in' all things, who is the head -- the Christ;
When I was a babe, as a babe I was speaking, as a babe I was thinking, as a babe I was reasoning, and when I have become a man, I have made useless the things of the babe;
And I, brethren, was not able to speak to you as to spiritual, but as to fleshly -- as to babes in Christ; with milk I fed you, and not with meat, for ye were not yet able, but not even yet are ye now able,
And he answering said to them, `Did ye not read, that He who made `them', from the beginning a male and a female made them,
At that time Jesus answering said, `I do confess to Thee, Father, Lord of the heavens and of the earth, that thou didst hide these things from wise and understanding ones, and didst reveal them to babes.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on 1 Corinthians 14
Commentary on 1 Corinthians 14 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 14
In this chapter the apostle directs them about the use of their spiritual gifts, preferring those that are best and fitted to do the greatest good.
1Cr 14:1-5
The apostle, in the foregoing chapter, had himself preferred, and advised the Corinthians to prefer, Christian charity to all spiritual gifts. Here he teaches them, among spiritual gifts, which they should prefer, and by what rules they should make comparison. He begins the chapter,
1Cr 14:6-14
In this paragraph he goes on to show how vain a thing the ostentation of speaking unknown and unintelligible language must be. It was altogether unedifying and unprofitable (v. 6): If I come to you speaking with tongues, what will it profit you, unless I speak to you by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine? It would signify nothing to utter any of these in an unknown tongue. An apostle, with all his furniture, could not edify, unless he spoke to the capacity of his hearers. New revelations, the most clear explications of old ones, the most instructive discourses in themselves, would be unprofitable in a language not understood. Nay, interpretations of scripture made in an unknown tongue would need to be interpreted over again, before they could be of any use.
1Cr 14:15-20
The apostle here sums up the argument hitherto, and,
1Cr 14:21-25
In this passage the apostle pursues the argument, and reasons from other topics; as,
1Cr 14:26-33
In this passage the apostle reproves them for their disorder, and endeavours to correct and regulate their conduct for the future.
1Cr 14:34-35
Here the apostle,
1Cr 14:36-40
In these verses the apostle closes his argument,