"That Which is Perfect"

Many in my church heritage have claimed that tongues and prophecies (and by extension all miraculous activity) have ceased, citing 1 Cor 13:8-10 as their proof. This passage says:

WEB 1 Cor 13:8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will be done away with. Where there are various languages, they will cease. Where there is knowledge, it will be done away with. 9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part; 10 but when that which is complete has come, then that which is partial will be done away with.

Their belief is that "that which is complete" (or "perfect", in the older King James Bible) refers to the word of God, the Bible, and then they use other arguments to say the Bible is now complete.

This view has been taught as the view by many of our brethren, to the point we barely consider if it's true.

But let me offer a different view. This is not the only place where Paul writes of spiritual gifts and that which is "perfect". It is highly likely that whatever is the "perfect" that results from spiritual gifts in one place is the "perfect" that results from spiritual gifts in the other place. That other place is Ephesians 4.

Paul starts off in Ephesians by writing that gifts are given to all:

WEB Eph 4:7 But to each one of us was the grace given according to the measure of the gift of Christ. 8 Therefore he says, “When he ascended on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men.”

Then he goes on to explain how some of those gifts are manifested:

Eph 4:11 He gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, shepherds and teachers;

Then he explains what the gifts are for:

Eph 4:12 for the perfecting of the saints, to the work of serving, to the building up of the body of Christ;

And finally, he explains how long the gifts were to last:

Eph 4:13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a full grown man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we may no longer be children, tossed back and forth and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in craftiness, after the wiles of error; 15 but speaking truth in love, we may grow up in all things into him, who is the head, Christ; 16 from whom all the body, being fitted and knit together through that which every joint supplies, according to the working in measure of each individual part, makes the body increase to the building up of itself in love.

The parallel to 1 Cor 12-14 is striking:

First he starts off in 1 Corinthians by explaining that gifts are given to all:

WEB 1 Cor 12:7 But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the profit of all.

Then he goes on to explain how some of those gifts are manifested:

1 Cor 12:28 God has set some in the assembly: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracle workers, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, and various kinds of languages. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all miracle workers? 30 Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with various languages? Do all interpret? 31 But earnestly desire the best gifts.

He explains what the gifts are for:

1 Cor 12:18 But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body, just as he desired. 19 If they were all one member, where would the body be? 20 But now they are many members, but one body. ... 14:5 Now I desire to have you all speak with other languages, but rather that you would prophesy. For he is greater who prophesies than he who speaks with other languages, unless he interprets, that the assembly may be built up. ... 20 Brothers, don’t be children in thoughts, yet in malice be babies, but in thoughts be mature.

And then he explains how long the gifts were to last:

1 Cor 13:9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part; 10 but when that which is complete has come, then that which is partial will be done away with. 11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I felt as a child, I thought as a child. Now that I have become a man, I have put away childish things.

In both passages, the gifts are for the building up of the body, that we may no longer be children, and will cease when maturity arrives. It should be noted that in both passages, the Greek word behind the English "perfect"/"mature"/"complete"/"full-grown" is the same Greek word, telion. It should also be pointed out that in both passages, love is the dominant gift that runs throughout this maturing process.

I propose that in 1 Cor 13:10, "that which is perfect" does not refer to the finished word of God, but to the same maturity of the church/Christian which is a core thrust of both passages. The contrast in both passages is immaturity vs maturity, and the gifts are given for that exact purpose of taking us to maturity, and are to last until the maturity arrives.

Originally published at:
http://kentwest.blogspot.com/2018/03/that-which-is-perfect.html