1 Corinthians
13:8 Charity never faileth: but whether [there be] prophecies, they shall fail; whether [there be] tongues, they shall cease; whether [there be] knowledge, it shall vanish away.
13:9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
13:10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
13:11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
13:12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
13:13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these [is] charity.
This cessation speaks to a time yet to come, not the present.
The gift of ‘languages’ was the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy (Isaiah 28:11-13)
11Very well then, with foreign lips and strange tongues
God will speak to this people,
12to whom he said,
“This is the resting place, let the weary rest”;
and, “This is the place of repose”—
but they would not listen.
13So then, the word of the Lord to them will become:
Do this, do that,
a rule for this, a rule for that;
a little here, a little there—
so that as they go they will fall backward;
they will be injured and snared and captured.
1. It was intended as a final sign to Israel of the impending destruction of Jerusalem which occurred in AD70.
Supernatural ‘spiritual gifts’ were delivered exclusively through the agency of the 12 Apostles
Acts 8v18 When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money 19 and said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”
Other supernatural spiritual gifts were all intended to validate the Apostles’ eyewitness testimony to Jesus’ resurrection. (Mark 16:20; Acts 1:8; Acts 4:33; Heb. 2:3-4)
The circumstantial evidence is consistent with this:
1. Paul had to travel all the way to Rome to impart spiritual gifts to the Romans (Rom. 1:11).
2. Timothy’s spiritual gift was delivered through Paul’s hands: (2 Tim. 1:6).
3. Paul imparted spiritual gifts to the Ephesians (Acts 19:6).
4. There is no case in the NT where people received spiritual gifts apart from the immediate presence of one of the 12 ‘chosen eyewitnesses.’
Paul’s statement that supernatural spiritual gifts would cease to be given (1 Cor. 13:8-13).
1. Love never ‘expires’ (ἐκπίπτει {ek-pip’-to} – lit. to “fall off,” met. “fail or expire”)
2. Prophecies will be ‘cancelled’ (καταργηθήσεται {kat-ar-geh’-o} future, passive voice – lit. “will be cancelled”).
3. Tongues (languages) will ‘cease of itself’ (παύσονται {pow’-o} future, middle voice – “cease of itself.”
4. Knowledge (by direct revelation) will ‘(καταργηθήσεται {kat-ar-geh’-o} future, passive voice – lit. “will be cancelled”).
Other gifts (like healing) may have continued until the deaths of the recipients, as late as approx. AD 180
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Surprises the one doing it,
