In 1 Corinthians 13 Paul has shown that without love man is nothing. This was especially true in exercising the nine spiritual gifts. Were one to speak with the tongues of men and angels but had no love, he was like a clanging cymbal. If he had the gift of prophecy, knew all mysteries and knowledge, and had faith to move mountains but had no love, he was nothing. Were he to give all his goods to feed the poor or his body to be burned but had no love, it profited him nothing (1 Corinthians 13:1-3). The foregoing information carefully names or refers to at least five of the nine gifts and tells us they were useless without love.
Having described the gracious attributes of love, Paul wrote, “Love never faileth, but whether there by prophecies, they shall be done away, whether there be tongues, they shall cease, whether there be knowledge it shall be done away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when that which is perfect is come, that which is in part shall be done away” (1 Corinthians 13:8-10). The apostle wrote of “things in part which would be done away” and that would occur when “that which is perfect” was come. What is “that which is in part” and “that which is perfect”?
A careful reading of these verses shows “that which is in part” is prophecies, tongues, and knowledge — three of the nine gifts. These gifts were essentials to the success of the first century church. Disciples had a message to preach — a message which when believed and obeyed brought salvation to that obedient soul. Yet the proclaimers of that message did not have that message written to be referenced in preaching, and since it was a new message, marvels and miracles were needed to convict hearers the message was from God. The context shows “that which was in part” were the nine gifts. While some may disagree, what explanation is offered as to what “that which is in part” is otherwise?
The ceasing of these gifts would occur when “that which is perfect” is come. Again, what does the apostle have in mind as to what “that which is perfect” means? Some say “that which is perfect” refers to Christ. There is no dispute that Christ is perfect, but Christ does not fit the context.
The apostle did not leave us in doubt. He wrote, immediately after saying “When that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away,” these following words to explain why that was true: “When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I felt as a child, I thought as a child; now that I am become a man I have put away childish things.” In Paul’s illustration, the “things in part” is the time of “childhood” of the church, and “that which is perfect” is the time of “manhood” of it.
“That which is perfect” is the final, full revelation of God’s will. Peter wrote that God’s power has granted to us all things which pertain to life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). Paul agreed. He said to Timothy, “Every scripture inspired of God and is also profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, instruction in righteousness that the man of God may be complete (perfect, KJV); furnished completely unto every work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). God’s perfect, completely revealed Word is here. What is in part has been done away; the perfect has come.
Jim McDonald