Why does Paul say, "When I became a man, I put away childish things" (1 Corinthians 13:11)?
Answered from the commentary of Hamilton Smith, Leslie M. Grant, William Kelly and 2 others
Paul gives the picture of a child growing into a man to show that our present apprehension of divine things is partial and immature: we speak, think and reason within the limits of what we know now. When the perfect state comes, those limits will be left behind, just as a man puts away what belongs to childhood. There is a minority view that the image also rebukes the Corinthians’ childish pride in spiritual gifts and their showy use of tongues; on this reading, Paul urges them to seek maturity in love and service.
Verses: 1 Corinthians 13:11, 1 Corinthians 13:8, 1 Corinthians 13:9, 1 Corinthians 13:10, 1 Corinthians 13:12, 1 Corinthians 12:31, 1 Corinthians 14:20, Ephesians 4:11, Ephesians 4:12, Ephesians 4:13, Ephesians 4:14, Ephesians 4:15, Ephesians 4:16, Hebrews 5:12
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What the commentators say
The passages the answer is drawn from, the most direct first, with the words that bear on the question marked.
Verse 11 illustrates our present, immature condition by that of childhood. A child's viewpoint is totally different from that of a man: it is necessarily restricted to his own small sphere of observation or instruction. He speaks as a child, and perhaps properly too, in accordance with his knowledge, but it is very limited, as is our own ministry of the Word of God. Conceptions and feelings too in childhood are necessarily childish, for they are formed by this limited knowledge. And reasoning also takes its character from this: I do not reason as an adult until I become one. But just as a maturing adult puts away childish things, so in glory will we leave behind such limitations.
Another illustration in verse 12 emphasizes this. At present we see as through a mirror in an enigma, but then face to face. Spiritual things now are learned with the help of reflections, types, symbols, and faith of course must be in exercise to discern in its measure the significance of all these teaching aids. It is not like seeing the object itself, but its reflection as in a mirror. We learn what the Church of God is by symbols, such as the Pearl of Great Price, the Building of God, the One Flock, the One Body, the Epistle of Christ, the Bride, and the Holy City. Thus now we gradually learn; but then what may seem too abstract to us now, will be seen in its full reality and blessedness.
Verses
- 1 Corinthians 13:8–128Love never fails; but whether prophecies, they shall be done away; or tongues, they shall cease; or knowledge, it shall be done away. 9For we know in part, and we prophesy in part 10but when that which is perfect has come, that which is in part shall be done away. 11When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I felt as a child, I reasoned as a child; when I became a man, I had done with what belonged to the child. 12For we see now through a dim window obscurely, but then face to face; now I know partially, but then I shall know according as I also have been known.
- 1 Corinthians 12:31But desire earnestly the greater gifts, and yet shew I unto you a way of more surpassing excellence.
- 1 Corinthians 14:20Brethren, be not children in [your] minds, but in malice be babes; but in [your] minds be grown [men].
- Ephesians 4:11–1611and he has given some apostles, and some prophets, and some evangelists, and some shepherds and teachers, 12for the perfecting of the saints; with a view to [the] work of [the] ministry, with a view to the edifying of the body of Christ; 13until we all arrive at the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, at [the] full-grown man, at [the] measure of the stature of the fulness of the Christ; 14in order that we may be no longer babes, tossed and carried about by every wind of that teaching [which is] in the sleight of men, in unprincipled cunning with a view to systematized error; 15but, holding the truth in love, we may grow up to him in all things, who is the head, the Christ 16from whom the whole body, fitted together, and connected by every joint of supply, according to [the] working in [its] measure of each one part, works for itself the increase of the body to its self-building up in love.