Introduction Chapter Overviews Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Appendix

	Chapter 13
	Verses 1-3 Overview

We see in these three verses three things produced by the lack of love.

In verse one we see the utter futility of "speaking" without love. In verse two we see the utter futility of "having" without love. In verse three we see the utter futility of "giving" without love.

13:1 - Though I speak with tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging symbol.
Tongues equal languages! Wherever angels are recorded as speaking to mankind, they always speak in the same language (and likely dialect) as a person to whom they are speaking. So with this kind of consistency in Scripture, can we say that angels have a "special" language of their own? Hardly!

What ever I do, simply must be done in love - and if so, I will be forced to consider my brothers and sisters that they may be edified (built-up) rather than caused to be stumbled or confused. To encumber the saints of God with words they cannot directly understand is not according to the observed and recognized activity of the Holy Spirit as we find him operating in the New Testament.

13:2 - And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
In this verse, it is the gift that is being emphasized. We can have prophecy, knowledge, understanding, etc., without exercising those abilities in love, and in doing so we become "nothing".

13:3 - And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.
The ultimate sacrifice of self followed the complete sacrifice of things, and yet the reward or profit was nothing, due to an unloving motive.

13:4-7 - Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices is in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
This is perhaps the most profound statement about the characteristics of love found in the Word of God. These characteristics, in our opinion, are not the same as a proper definition of love (agape). We do not feel adequate to properly define this word apart from saying "God is love" (1 John 4: 6 & 16). When someone says that they love someone else, it (that love) can be tested by this verse. The bearing, believing, hoping, and enduring "all things" comes from the "energy" of love. Here is one aspect of the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23) and is the "key" characteristics of the Christian life. The "all things" here, are "all things" that are not contrary to the obvious mind of God as reflected elsewhere in God's holy word. The expression "all things" does not give the believer license to violate God's word in any way.

13:8 - Love never fails. But whether there be prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge it will vanish away.
The Holy spirit is here comparing that which will never fail with things that will fail (namely gifts). Remember, we have been talking about gifts thus far - it does not change here, else we can make little common sense of these phrases. Therefore we must maintain the context. The gift of prophecy, the gift of tongues (languages), and the gift of knowledge will fail, cease and vanish away. However, we certainly know by simple observation that men do prophesy (minister), God uses languages for his own glorification, and men study and prove to have great knowledge. But the gift of being able to utilize these upon immediate need has departed from us in our day.

13:9 - For we know in part and we prophesy in part.
"Knowing in part and prophesying in part", as Paul (under the guidance of the Holy Spirit) penned this letter, was a clear confession that all of the mind of God for his people was not yet given. They did not have the "full counsel" of God at that time. And perhaps they were not yet able to read all the "letters" floating around between the early churches. As Paul continued serving, he was given more and more divine revelation. He received his last revelation while in prison at Rome. The same process of revelation would be true for Peter, James, and John etc. After God led the early church fathers to "wait" for all that he had in mind, it was then ready to be collected into a full and complete revelation (or counsel) of our mighty God. Since we really believe He is mighty, this was therefore no problem for Him to give us his eternal inerrant and powerful written Word.

13:10 - But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.
The Word "perfect" here literally means complete. It is in the neuter gender. We believe this clearly indicates the written Word of God, not the person of the Lord Jesus and his return. It could read - when that perfect Word of God is finally collected and assembled together (by the Holy Spirit) as a completed revelation of the mind of God for all mankind to read and learn, then the partial things we (1st century believers) now know will not be needed. The "partial things" (sign gifts which were of supernatural character) would be replaced by the "completed thing", God's Holy Word, perfect!

Paul was shown by the Holy Spirit (as the previous verse reflects) that "in part" was incomplete as it relates to the Mind of God for his people. The word "perfect" stands in sharp contrast to "part". The word "perfect" translates TELEIOS, which, as we mentioned earlier, has a function of "complete". The "bit by bit" revelation of God's mind through sign gifts (such as, word of knowledge, word of wisdom, prophecy, etc., etc.) would serve God's purpose for his Saints until, through progressive revelation, the completed revelation would be finally given (God breathed). That being accomplished, the "part" would be done away, there being no further need of such. The Bible, God's Holy Word, stands complete (perfect) today and has so stood for about nineteen centuries. Many believe that the expression "perfect is come" refers to the coming of our Lord in the air (rapture). We submit these objections--

Therefore, we submit that all the sign gifts ceased with the coming of "that which is perfect (complete)", God's completed revelation of His Mind to man, in written form. Does our God still reveal himself with power, understanding, wisdom, healing, languages, etc., - absolutely, but is now always through His precious Word and prayer, not by the special gifts (which he plainly declared would cease). The completion of His perfect written Word makes these gifts of "special revelation" unnecessary.

	Chapter 13
	Verses 11 & 12 Overview

In the next two verses the Holy Spirit gives two illustrations to help us understand what verse 10 means. Paul, through the Spirit, is contrasting "that which is perfect" (the completed, final and fully authoritative Scriptures of the New Testament), with "that which is in part" (the bit by bit revelation) of God’s mind. These things were from the Holy Spirit through the exercise of the gifts of prophecy, tongues and knowledge which he likens to a child. Having to depend upon prophecy, tongues, and knowledge for instruction and edification until the completed New Testament became available was similar to childhood in the experience of the church.

But now that the church has grown up into manhood, so to speak, with a complete revelation given to it, it has "put away childhood things"; that is, it has set aside as superseded (KATERGEKA, same word as in verse 8) tongues, prophecies, and knowledge, as having no needful place in its adult life, and belonging only to its "childhood" requirements.

Concerning the second illustration the apostle states: "for now (just now, at this present moment), we see through a mirror, indistinctly (dimly), but then distinctly (face-to-face). Now (just now) I know in part, but then I will know (understand) just as I also am known (understood)".

The apostle is comparing the state of the church before the New Testament scriptures were added (canonized) to the Old Testament scriptures, to a person looking into a mirror made of polished metal and which reflected only a blurred image. Partial revelation to various individuals by the gifts of prophecy, tongues, and knowledge (which provided the "infant" church a much- needed initial thrust), yielded only an imperfect (incomplete) understanding of divine truth. "But then I shall know" refers to the time when the New Testament revelation will become available and enable accurate and full comprehension of spiritual truth to everyone. This is like a person who opens his heart to a real close friend (face-to-face) and therefore clearly understands him, which is far above and beyond just physically looking into his face.

"Now I know in part," in fragmentary fashion, as a result of limited revelation possible through the exercise of the gifts of prophecy, knowledge, and tongues. "But then I shall know", fully and completely, because a complete written revelation will be available to me for personal study, "just as I also am known" by God who reveals my true condition through his Word.

13:11 - When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became man I put away childish things
The church here (as it is maturing or growing up) is being viewed similar to a child in the growing up stages. When we became adults, we did not forget our childhood lessons, we simply learned from them and now as adults we act differently because of what we have learned. And in doing so we have actually "put off" childish things. This illustration refers to the putting away of the sign gifts that were given in the church's infancy. As "adults", we do not require the same signs, symbols and assurances as we did when we were "children". Please notice that prophecy was spoken, tongues (or languages) were to be understood, and knowledge was involved in the thought process.

13:12 - For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face-to-face. Now I know in part, but then shall I know just as also I am known.
Seeing in a mirror dimly was the perspective of the Corinthians and others at that time. But when the light of God's Word increased, they could see God's complete counsel with total illumination. This is simply coming to realize through the illumination of God’s total Word that I can know him in a way that I could have never known before such a written Word was available. "Face-to-face" here should not be taken to mean a physical sighting of another’s face any more than the other references in Scripture meant. See Genesis 32:30 & Exodus 33: 11 - did Jacob or Moses die after "seeing the Lord face-to-face"? (Exodus 33: 20) - No (see also Numbers 12:8, 14:14; Duet. 4:11 - 15, 5: 4; 34:10 and Ezekial 20: 35) and so also here the “face-to-face” is a plain indication of closeness, openness, and full understanding. As stated in Exodus 33:11, "face-to-face" was "as a man speaks to his friend" - in other words, plain and clear communications. Is it not through God's completed Word that we are known and searched out? (See Hebrews 4:12). Without this Word would I be able to "know as I am known"? God's Word is his great searchlight for discerning, as well as the light for our pathway. We must not belittle his precious Word by acknowledging it as anything less than complete and perfect!

13:13 - And now abides faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
These will abide until He comes. The greatest is love and therefore it will never cease. The obvious reason that faith and hope will cease after the Lord comes is seen in Romans 8:24. They will be no longer needed. Our faith will have turned to sight and our hope will have been finally realized (and we surely wouldn't want to hope for anything better than Christ would we?). Only love will abide throughout all eternity!

So now it begins to make better sense - some gifts ceased because God completed his written Word, some gifts and/or characteristics will abide until Christ returns, but only love will endure forever. The inescapable implication is that we now receive revelation (by ordinary means) every time we study God's complete Word with prayer and supplication. Because his Word is so complete and so perfect, we do not need special gifts of knowledge, prophecy or tongues to hear God speaking to us through his written Word. Keep in mind that in this chapter the apostle is being inspired to contrast things that will abide this dispensation of grace and things that will not.

Continue to Chapter 14