1 Corinthians 13:8

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.

'never faileth' -'Love, that bears, also out-wears everything.' (Gr. Ex. N.T. p. 900) 'Love will never come to an end.' (NEB); 'Love shall never pass away.' (Con)

'faileth' -1601. ekpipto ek-pip'-to; from 1537 and 4098; to drop away; specially, be driven out of one's course; figuratively, to lose, become inefficient:-be cast, fail, fall (away, off), take none effect.

Points to Note:

1. The contrast in verses 8-10 is between that which endures and that which will pass away and cease. Since the spiritual gifts were never intended to be. permanent fixture among Christians, 'life's pursuit mustn't end in gift-seeking. (What. rebuke to those whose life is. tireless quest for God's gifts rather than God's service.' (McGuiggan p. 176)

2. Heaven isn't. cold impersonal existence. As long as we are with God, love will always exist. (1 John 4:16)

'whether there be prophecies' -i.e. the spiritual gift of inspired preaching and teaching. (1 Corinthians 12:10)

'done away' -'it will be done with' (TCNT). 'To put out of use, to remove from the sphere of activity.' (Willis p. 460) 'To make idle, inoperative.' (Robertson p. 178)

'whether there be tongues, they shall cease' -'they will stop.' (Gr. Ex. N.T. p. 900)

'knowledge' -knowledge as the result of direct inspiration, the gift of knowledge.

Points to Note:

1. These three spiritual gifts (prophecy, tongues, knowledge), stand as representatives for all the gifts. And two of them (tongues/knowledge) the Corinthians took particular pride in.

2. The possession of. spiritual gift wasn't necessary to gain favor with God. But the possession of love was and still is! One could lack spiritual gifts and yet still be on the "most excellent way."

3. Clearly, this verse is teaching that all the spiritual gifts would cease.. point that all concede. The only remaining question is, 'when'?

Most Charismatic and Pentecostal groups would argue that the gifts would cease when Jesus comes again. They claim, "that which is perfect" (1 Corinthians 13:10), refers to Jesus and His second coming. Problems with this view will be noted in the following verses.