1 Corinthians 14:20
20. Brethren—an appellation calculated to conciliate their favorable reception of his exhortation.
children in understanding—as preference of gifts abused to nonedification would make you (compare 1Co 3:1; Mt 10:16; Ro 16:19; Eph 4:14). The Greek for "understanding" expresses the will of one's spirit, Ro 8:6 (it is not found elsewhere); as the "heart" is the will of the "soul." The same Greek is used for "minded" in Ro 8:6. men—full-grown. Be childlike, not childish.1 Corinthians 16:13
13. He shows that they ought to make their hopes of salvation to depend not on Apollos or any other teacher; that it rests with themselves. "Watch ye": for ye are slumbering. "Stand": for ye are like men tottering. "Quit you like men; be strong": for ye are effeminate (1Co 16:14). "Let all your things be done with charity" (1Co 8:1; 13:1): not with strifes as at present [CHRYSOSTOM]. "In the faith" which was assailed by some (1Co 15:1, 2, 12-17).
Ephesians 4:14
14. Translate, "To the end that"; the aim of the bestowal of gifts stated negatively, as in Eph 4:13 it is stated positively.
tossed to and fro—inwardly, even without wind; like billows of the sea. So the Greek. Compare Jas 1:6. carried about—with every wind from without. doctrine—"teaching." The various teachings are the "winds" which keep them tossed on a sea of doubts (Heb 13:9; compare Mt 11:7). by—Greek, "in"; expressing "the evil atmosphere in which the varying currents of doctrine exert their force" [ELLICOTT]. sleight—literally, "dice playing." The player frames his throws of the dice so that the numbers may turn up which best suit his purpose. of men—contrasted with Christ (Eph 4:13). and—Greek, "in." cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive—Translate as Greek, "craftiness tending to the methodized system of deceit" ("the schemes of error") [ALFORD]. BENGEL takes "deceit," or "error," to stand for "the parent of error," Satan (compare Eph 6:11); referring to his concealed mode of acting.
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