1 Corinthians 13:11 (DBY)

Passage

When 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.

Nearby Context

1 Corinthians 13:9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part:

1 Corinthians 13:10 but when that which is perfect has come, that which is in part shall be done away.

1 Corinthians 13:11 When 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.

1 Corinthians 13:12 For 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 13:13 And now abide faith, hope, love; these three things; and the greater of these [is] love.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "child", "spoke", "felt", "reasoned", and "became". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "child" and "spoke", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 10's "but when that which is perfect has..." into verse 12's "For we see now through a dim...", so "child" and "spoke" belong inside that flow. In 1 Corinthians context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "child" and "spoke" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.