1 Corinthians 13:8-12

Applebury's Comments

Text

1 Corinthians 13:8-12. Love never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall be done away; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall be done away. 9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part; 10 but when that which is perfect is come, that which is in part shall be done away. 11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I felt as a child, I thought as a child: now that I am become a man, I have put away childish things. 12 For now we see in a mirror, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know fully even as also I was fully known.

Commentary
The Transitory Nature of Spiritual Gifts (8-12)

Love never fails.When taken with the statement, love endures all things, we see why Paul says that love never fails. To endure is to withstand all the attacks of the enemy. Love that does that never fails. It stands up after the battle rolls on. It is like the walls of the city that never fall before the enemy assault. This fittingly introduces, by way of contrast, the transitory nature of the spiritual gifts: prophecy, tongues, and knowledge. It was not necessary for Paul to repeat the whole list for one to understand that all of the spiritual gifts were to be wiped out when the completed revelation should come.

in part. that which is perfect.While spiritual gifts served a worthwhile purpose, they were, at best, only in part; they were not the complete thing. That is why they were of necessity transitory; they were to give way to that which is perfect. But what is the perfect thing? Commentators suggest that it is Christ or the perfection that will be known when He comes. But there is no reference to the coming of Christ in this context. The word translated perfect means mature when it refers to persons as in 1 Corinthians 2:6. Paul says, We speak wisdom, however, among them that are fullgrown. When it refers to things, as in this case, it means the end or purpose achieved by the thing, complete. That which was in part must balance with that which is complete. The things that were in part, the spiritual gifts, were used of the Lord to bring the revelation of His will to man. Without the work of the inspired apostles we never would have known the wisdom of God. The spiritual gifts given by the Spirit through the laying on of apostolic hands made it possible for others to reveal the same wisdom of God. But when this revelation was committed to writing as it was in the first century, there remained no further purpose to be fulfilled by these gifts. Therefore, when the completed revelationthe Biblecame, the things that were in part were abolished.

By walking in the most excellent way, the Corinthian church should have been able to use the gifts for the benefit of the whole church while awaiting the day when the completed revelation would be available for all to use.

When I was a child.The apostle clearly indicates that the spiritual gifts belonged to the childhood period of the church; their possession and use were not the mark of spiritual maturity.

now that I am become a man.As the mature man puts away childish things, the church could look to the time when it was to have the completed revelation of the Word and put away the transitory spiritual gifts.

For now we see in a mirror darkly.The subject is still spiritual gifts. It is not a reference to time as opposed to eternity. By now Paul points to the situation which existed at Corinth. They had the gift of tongues, but it was like seeing an imperfect reflection in a mirror in contrast to the perfect view possible through completed revelation in the Bible.

but then face to face.This is not a reference to the coming of Christ when we shall see Him as He is. By then Paul is indicating the time when the completed revelation would be available for all.

now I know in part.This was true of the time when the gifts were being used as opposed to the full knowledge that would be possible through the complete revelation in the Bible. It is not a reference to the partial knowledge of this life as opposed to knowledge in heaven. Context does not permit the application to heaven.

as I was fully known.Just as God knew the needs of all men so He has given complete instruction in His Word for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:2-4).