1 Corinthians 14:20 Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature.
This verse reflects Paul’s earlier comment in 3:1-3 where he compares the Corinthians to infants in Christ because of their worldliness. In this verse, Paul challenges the Corinthians not to be childish in their thinking. The key interpretive issue is to determine what is childish. The context will help us with this.
The Corinthians were immature by emphasizing speaking in tongues because it was causing division and confusing people. It was actually becoming an outlet of their selfishness and spiritual pride. These are all characteristics of immature Christians who need to become fully sanctified to God by putting their selfishness on the cross (see Galatians 2:20). The letter shows in every chapter how they needed to grow in their faith and follow the way of the cross, with which Paul begins this letter in 1:18.
The one way where they could be childish is in regard to evil. This is a metaphoric way of saying that they should not dabble in evil or be involved with it in any way. Do not gain experience or knowledge about evil. Stay away. This does not imply that their practice of speaking in tongues is evil but simply that this is the one area they can be like children.
Paul again emphasizes clear thinking by wanting them to be mature in their thinking. He wants them to be clear headed, mature, know the truth of the gospel, be involved in communicating it clearly to nonbelievers, making sure everyone in the church is growing, maturing, and using the spiritual gifts in loving ways.
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