When. was. child,. spake as. child,. felt as. child,. thought as. child: now that. am become. man,. have put away childish things.

'I spake..I felt..I thought' -the behavior of. child is appropriate to childhood. In like manner, the spiritual gifts were appropriate for the "then" period of time. But. time would come when they would be inappropriate.

'I have put away childish things' -another way of saying "they shall be done away, they shall cease" (1 Corinthians 13:8); "that which is in part shall be done away." (1 Corinthians 13:11)

'I have put away' -once and for all. 'The idea of. long extended period during which the spiritual gifts were absent followed by. renewal of them is prohibited by this illustration.' (Willis p. 467)

Point to Note:

Whether Paul intended it or not, one cannot walk away from this illustration, without thinking that God was telling the Corinthians that the spiritual gifts belonged to. "childhood" stage in the church. Hence, spiritual gifts are not. sign of "spiritual elitism", rather they infer that something is missing or not yet complete.

Continues after advertising
Continues after advertising

Old Testament