By oldhermit
The Inferiority of Spiritual Gifts to Superior Virtues, 8-13
“Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part; but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away. When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known. But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.”
A. Spiritual gifts were limited in:
1. Scope
2. Purpose and function
3. Time
a. With regard to the gift of prophesy it would “be done away” – The word is καταργηθήσονται from καταργέω – a passive verb meaning literally to be rendered inactive, to be made of no effect, to bring to naught, to discharge, sever, or to separate from. As the Young's literal translation renders it, “it shall become useless.” Once all prophesy was revealed the gift itself was simply no longer needed. The gift of prophesy would have fulfilled it purpose. Having fulfilled its function, the gift of prophesy (not prophesy itself) would become useless and thus be removed.
b. The gift of tongues would cease – παύσονται – middle voice, meaning to cease, stop, or leave off. The middle voice suggests that this gift, unlike the others would cease on its own. It would simply go away.
c. Revealed knowledge would fail – καταργηθήσεται – passive, same as with the gift of prophesy, it would be rendered inactive, be made of no effect, be brought to nothing. It will be actively taken away. Once all revealed knowledge had been imparted to man, the gift itself was simply no longer needed. It had fulfilled it purpose. Having fulfilled its function, the gift of knowledge (not the knowledge itself) would become useless and thus be removed.
While Paul only mentions three spiritual gifts here, this is representative of all spiritual gifts. The passing of these things would be a natural course of events as their function was fulfilled in time.
B. That which is “in part” – revealed knowledge and prophesy.
“Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part; but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away. When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. For now we see in a mirror dimly but then face to face (Without an obstructed view); now (a then present condition) I know in part, but then (a change of status which would mark the completion of what was in part) I will know fully (What he would then know fully would be the fullness of what was once revealed only in part.) just as (καθὼς – relates to manner, not to degree.) I also have been fully known (I will know fully in the same way I have been known fully.) But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.”
C. Comprehension of truth must be expanded and this would accompany the full body of revelation.
“Now we see in a mirror dimly (literally, in a riddle. The word is αἰνίγματι from which we get our word enigma, meaning a mystery. We cannot quite see what is there). At the time of Paul, partial knowledge and prophesy were still a reality. Paul and the other apostles and prophets still only knew in part and prophesied in part. They could not yet see the whole picture. This stresses the deliberate limitations of revealed knowledge and prophesy. Just as with the giving of the OT scriptures, the full revelation had not been delivered to any one man. Some was given to Paul, some to John, some to Luke, some to Mark, some to Peter, and so on. Once they had delivered to the Church everything they had received from the Holy Spirit, the need for such gifts would be no more; Consequently, the gifts would simply fade away. The New Testament writers recorded all revealed truth. Enough truth was given to...
1. Produce faith, John 20:30-31, “Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.'
2. Reveal the mysteries of God, Colossians 1:25-27, “Of this church I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God bestowed on me for your benefit, so that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God, that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints, to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”
3. Instruct us in righteousness and to make us mature, complete, and fully equipped for the work of God, 2Timothy 3:16-17, “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” The end result of the full revelation is a finished product.
4. To serve as our only guide in all spiritual matters,
a. “Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively applied to myself and Apollos for your sakes, so that in us you may learn not to exceed what is written, so that no one of you will become arrogant in behalf of one against the other.” 1Corinthians 4:6
b. “Retain the standard of sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to you.” 2Timothy 1:13
5. To bring us to salvation, “Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain.” 1Corinthians 15:1-2
D. “But when that which is perfect is come....” So, what is the perfect/complete of which Paul speaks?
1. Τέλειον can refer to something that is flawless in perfection but this is not the intent here.
2. As τέλειον relates to a person it identifies one who is full grown, mature, one who is of full age. This is especially true of the development of Christian character. This seems to be part of what Paul is illustrating here by drawing a comparison between himself as a child that exhibited childish speech, thinking, and reasoning and the Church which was at that time, still a child in its thinking, speaking, and reasoning. The presence of the gifts was a sign of an immature Church. The removal of these gifts would be evidence of a matured body. Since the purpose of spiritual gifts was to mature the body of Christ, the illustration of speaking, thinking, and reasoning, as a child was quite apropos. Once mature, these characteristics of immaturity would be set aside. There comes a time when, as characteristics of immaturity begin to fade away as a child grows into adulthood, we begin to embrace more mature traits. Such was the nature of these gifts to the early Church. The mark of a mature Church was the greater development of the more desired gifts of faith, hope, and love.
3. Τέλειον also refers to something that is complete in all of its parts, something that is lacking in nothing. This has to be contrasted with that which was at that time still “in part” which was knowledge and prophesy. The fact that the gifts were still present was a sign that knowledge and prophesy had not yet been given in their fullness. When these things became complete, the gifts that accompanied what was in part would no longer be needed. These gifts would have served their intended function and out lived their useful purpose. With the fullness of the revelation of the word of God, that which was in part became complete and those gifts that brought us the full revelation of God were no longer necessary and they simply began to fade away having fulfilled their function.
E. Faith and hope are also limited by reason of their purpose in time. These virtues are confined to time. Even faith and hope take a back seat to love in this regard.
1. Hope will eventually give way to realization and we will no longer hope because that for which we once hoped will have been obtained.
2. Faith will one day become sight and we will know longer need to trust in that which we cannot see for all will be realized.
F. Love alone is represented without limitations of any kind, even beyond the scope of this world, “it never fails.” Unlike the gifts, which one received by the will of another, love is a virtue that must be learned, cultivated, developed, and actuated. Unlike the gifts, love is a decision of the will. It is a choice. This is part of the maturing process.
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