I Corinthians 13:8-10 (ASV) says, "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." The Apostle Paul wrote these words to the Corinthians almost two thousand years ago, but what was he talking about? When would prophesies be "done away," when would tongues "cease," and what is the knowledge that he speaks of and when would it be "done away" with?
First, prophesies and tongues are miraculous, so we must conclude that the knowledge that is grouped with them is miraculous. Jesus speaks of this miraculous knowledge in Matthew 10:19-20 where he told the disciples, "But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you." Jesus spoke of knowledge being given to these men, but the passage in I Corinthians tells us that there would be a time when this knowledge would cease, along with prophesy and speaking in tongues! When would this be?
Verse ten gives us the answer: "…when that which is perfect is come, that which is in part shall be done away." The word perfect here means, "complete" in the original language. So, we have a contrast between that which is "in part" and that which is "complete." When these things were given, they were to give proof that the things taught by Jesus and these men were of God (John 5:36, John 10:25, Luke 9:1-2, Acts 1:5-8). Paul, however, says, that when that which is perfect is come, these things shall be "done away." That is to say, there will be a time when there are no more prophesies, no more tongue speaking, no more miracles! Read it again for yourself. These are those things that he says are "in part." Our question, then, must be, what is that which is perfect (complete)?
We will explore this question in the next article of this series. Until then, I encourage you to search the scriptures daily, whether these things are so. Acts 17:11
May God bless you in your study of his Word.
Copyright 2006 Mance J. Davis Jr.
