We Know

In 1st Corinthians 13 we get a tremendous insight to the state that we are all now in as followers of Christ. Remembering that Paul was writing to the people of Corinth and encouraging them in the faith in chapter 12 he wrote of spiritual gifts in the church body, and then addressed the body of Christ itself. Toward the end of the chapter he writes about all the wonderful things all the differing spiritual gifts in the body can do but then he adds:

“But let me show you a better way.”

And this launches us into the contents of the 13th chapter or what is known as the chapter on Agape love (or God’s love). In this Paul explains the way that God’s love looks, the importance of it in a person who follows Jesus and how this love is in first position among all other Christian traits.

But then he drops in a little secret for us. And he says, continuing at verse 8:

1st Corinthians 13:8-10 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.

Reading this we all naturally believe that these things will occurs when we die and are in the presence of God, right? That is when prophesies with fail and tongues will cease and knowledge will vanish away, right?

We normally would think so and we typically read these verse this way. But read the next verse where Paul says:

9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

The Greek term for perfect is teleios and it is typically used in the New Testament (it is used 17 times) when speaking of a person reaching perfection or completeness. Once it speaks of a condition of a future state (I believe) but the rest of the time it is speaking of a person becoming complete.

Now I may be wrong and what I am about to suggest takes a bit of a leap, but throughout scripture Paul and the other writers are always urging their readers of that day to prepare for His coming. It was not Jesus death and resurrection that completed His mission and purpose but it was His entering the Holy of Holies of His father and then exiting back out to us that completed Him and His perfections. So for me I see this line

But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

I believe may be speaking of when that which is perfect is come, Jesus, then that which is in part – prophesying, tongues and knowledge – will be done away.

If He has come, as I do strongly suggest that He has, then have these things been done away with? YES.

What remains? Love. Love remains. That is the blood that runs through the body today. Love has come to town. That which is perfect has come and therefore the things which were once “in part” have been done away with.

This idea is supported in scripture when it comes to the term knowing and knowledge. In one of the last books written before 70 AD John wrote:

1st John 2:20 “But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.”

Six verses later John writes:

1st John 2:27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

Describing this time, the writer of Hebrews says:

Hebrews 8:11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, “Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.”

We know this must be speaking of this earth as there are least, greatest and neighbors described herein.

In the face of this I affirm my belief that material religion is done. The spirit reigns over all of humankind. Jesus has done the work. He has had the victory. All are therefore responsible before God for their lives, their walk, their faith, and the love that they have toward God and the World (the two great commandments).

That which is perfect has come – His Son, and therefore His Kingdom. Tongues and prophesies and apostles are over. There is a better way. And it is described in 1st Corinthians 13. The fruit of the Spirit – which is primary – is LOVE. The rest is done away with.