1 Corinthians 13:11 (DRB)

Passage

When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child. But, when I became a man, I put away the things of a 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 is 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 understood as a child, I thought as a child. But, when I became a man, I put away the things of a child.

1 Corinthians 13:12 We see now through a glass in a dark manner: but then face to face. Now I know in part: but then I shall know even as I am known.

1 Corinthians 13:13 And now there remain faith, hope, and charity, these three: but the greatest of these is charity.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "child", "spoke", "understood", "thought", 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 is..." into verse 12's "We see now through a glass in...", 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.