By Pastor Dave Farmer Wed, Jan 20, 2016
In support of expanded translation.
Exegesis of 1 Corinthians 14:20
Brethren! stop becoming children [spiritually immature] in the way you think, but with reference to wickedness (living in the Cosmic System) you must become infants [innocent as a baby], in fact you must become mature in the way you think.
Numbers in brackets [ ] refer to the Strong's numbering system whereby Greek words are assigned a number "Strong, J. (1995). Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship." Those who study the Scripture from the original languages are familiar with this lexicon.
20a] Ἀδελφοί, μὴ παιδία γίνεσθε ταῖς φρεσὶν, "Brethren! you must stop being children [spiritual immature]..."
The first command clause starts with the vocative plural of address ADELPHOS [80] meaning BRETHREN. This is not simple address, but a shout of exclamation.
"The vocative substantive is only rarely used in an exclamation without any grammatical connection to the rest of the sentence. The vocative in such instances, though used to address someone, is something of a sustained emotional outburst." [Wallace]
Next we have the negative ME [3361] plus the present middle imperative 2nd person plural of the verb GINOMAI [1096] which means TO BE, TO BECOME, TO BE BORN. GINOMAI in this passage means to enter a certain state or condition and therefore TO BECOME.
The present imperative plus the negative ME forms a prohibition. It means to stop an action that is in progress, to forbid what one is already doing.
The present imperative plus the negative ME means to stop and action that is already in progress. [Robinson -In general μή is used with the present imperative to forbid what one is already doing.Robertson, A. T. (1919). A Grammar of the Greek New Testament in the Light of Historical Research (p. 890). Logos Bible Software
In this context the brethren being addressed are those who are speaking in tongues and they are commanded to stop, "Brethren stop!" The present tense indicates the condition or state that persists. It is a stative present. This is not complimentary, on the contrary it is reprimand.
YOU MUST ALL STOP BEING and then we get the predicate nominative PAIDION [3813] meaning CHILDREN [SPIRITUALLY IMMATURE]. PAIDION represents a child under instructions. They have not reached spiritual adulthood which is the goal of the spiritual life [Ephesians 4:11-14].
Their spiritual growth has been disrupted by the false doctrine of tongues which they held. Their momentum in the Christian way of life has stopped and so Paul reprimands them for their lack of spiritual growth. There is no excuse for spiritual immaturity.
The final phrase is the articular plural instrumental of manner of PHREN [5424] which means way of thinking, thoughtful planning, or outlook, IN THE WAY YOU THINK. The article acts as a possessive pronoun meaning YOU.
20b] ἀλλὰ τῇ κακίᾳ νηπιάζετε - "indeed with reference to wickedness [living in the Cosmic System] you must become infants [innocent as a baby]...".
The second command clause begins with an emphatic use of the conjunction ALLA [235] meaning INDEED OR CERTAINLY.
ALLA - In an emphatic antithesis after a full negation, meaning but, but rather, but on the contrary [Zodhiates, S. (2000). The complete word study dictionary: New Testament (electronic ed.). Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers.]
Next we have the articular dative of reference of the noun KAKIA [2549] meaning WICKEDNESS, BAD, EVIL. This noun is one of several Greeks synonyms for the Cosmic System, the world Satan rules. Notice 1 Corinthians 5:8 where it is coupled with EVIL.
If you as a believer reside in the Comic System you are fighting against God. The believer is commanded to become an infant.
The verb is NEPIAZO [3515] means TO BE AS A CHILD, AN INFANT. The metaphor is that when it comes to evil, they are to be like an infant still on their mother's breast. The idea is untaught, untrained, a novice, innocent when it comes to evil. An infant has no contact with the outer world, so the believer is to have no contact with the Cosmic System. The infant knows only one thing, their mother's breast. Our nourishment comes from one source which is the Word of God, not experience and certainly not emotions as in the case at Corinth, 2 Peter 2:2.
The form of the verb is a present active imperative 2nd person plural. In the previous command we had a prohibition, so now we get a positive command. The present tense is a gnomic present which connotes an ongoing state that perpetually exists. It is never God's will for any believer to live in the Cosmic System or to ever be ruled by Satan, Romans 16:19; Ephesians 4:14.
20c] ταῖς δὲ φρεσὶν τέλειοι γίνεσθε "in fact you must become mature in the way you think.".
The last command clause begins with DE [1161] a conjunction of contrast, BUT. The emphatic use of the conjunction should be used here, IN FACT.
The verb is repeated for a third time GINOMAI. It is a present middle imperative 2nd person plural meaning YOU MUST BECOME. No negative ME this time. It is a positive statement. This is what you are commanded to do. This is God's will, plan, and purpose for your spiritual life. The word Paul choose to represent the concept of spiritual maturity is TELEIOS which means mature, perfect, complete. Spiritual maturity is the goal, YOU MUST BECOME MATURE.
The last phrase begins with the articular plural instrumental of manner of PHREN [5424] which means way of thinking, thoughtful planning, or outlook, IN THE WAY YOU THINK. The article acts as a possessive pronoun, YOU.
1 Corinthians 14:20 Expanded Translation
Brethren! stop becoming children [spiritually immature] in the way you think, but with reference to wickedness (living in the Cosmic System) you must become infants [innocent as a baby], in fact you must become mature in the way you think.
ENDNOTES
I am relying on several Greek grammars and lexicons in the exegesis:
Arndt, W., Gingrich, F. W., Danker, F. W., & Bauer, W. (1979). A Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament and other early Christian literature : a translation and adaption of the fourth revised and augmented edition of Walter Bauer’s Griechisch-deutsches Worterbuch zu den Schrift en des Neuen Testaments und der ubrigen urchristlichen Literatur. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
H.E. Dana and J.R. Mantey, A Manuel Grammar of the Greek New Testament, The Macmillan company, 1967, fifteenth printing.
Kittel, G., Friedrich, G., & Bromiley, G. W. (1985). Theological Dictionary of the New Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: W.B. Eerdmans.
Robertson, A. T. (2006). A Grammar of the Greek New Testament in the Light of Historical Research. Logos Bible Software.
Strong, J. (1995). Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship.
Wallace, D. B. (1996). Greek Grammar beyond the Basics: An Exegetical Syntax of the New Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.