"Spiritual Gifts" and 1 Corinthians 13
1 Corinthians 13
What can we
KNOW about spiritual gifts? Spiritual gifts were promised by the Lord to
believers; were administered by the apostles; and were for a limited time (see
Mark 16:15-18; Acts 8 & 19; 1 Corinthians 13). We
also know that there were nine such gifts (1 Corinthians 12:4-11); and 1 Corinthians 12 discusses the use of these gifts. But the purpose of this article is to answer the question,
"How can we know WHEN these spiritual gifts will cease or be done away
with?"
In 1 Corinthians 13:8 Paul stated that "love never
fails." But he says that the gifts of
"prophecies," "tongues," and "knowledge" would
"cease" (NAS) or "would be done away." (NAS) And this would happen "when that which is perfect is
come" (v.10). The question is, however, has "that which is
perfect" come; and consequently the spiritual gifts been done away?
A BRIEF STUDY
OF THE GREEK WORDS WE WANT TO NOTICE
In the NAS the translators say that both the gifts of
prophecy and knowledge would be "done away." The KJV translates it
that the prophecies "shall fail" and knowledge "shall vanish
away." In the original, however, the same Greek word, [katargeo],
is used for both.In both the
KJV and the NAS the phrase "shall cease" is used in reference to the
gift of tongues. That is because it is translated from
a completely different word, [pauomai].
The word for
''fail," [ekpiptei], ("love never faileth") is another totally
different word, yet. So, then, what we have is this: The gifts of prophecies
and knowledge will [katargeo] (translated as
"fail," "vanish away," "be done away"); but the
gift of tongues will [pauomai] (translated
"cease").
In the
THEOLOGICAL DICTIONARY OF THE NEW TESTAMENT we are
told that the word [katargeo] means (a.) "to condemn to inactivity" (b.) to destroy (c.) "to remove from the sphere of activity" (d.) religiously
= "to make completely inoperative."
Let's look at some other
places where this word is used in our Bibles:
Death is to
be ''abolished" [katargeo], in 2 Timothy 1:10 and 1 Corinthians 15:26. {Note definition
(b.)} We have been "discharged" [katargeo]
from the law (Romans 7:6). {Note definition (d.)} The Old Law, itself, was
"done away" [katargeo] in Christ, (2 Corinthians 3:14) and by Christ (Ephesians 2:15). {Note
definitions (a.) and (c.)} Notice that when Christ died on the cross THE OLD
LAW WAS DONE AWAY. It could still be read in Paul's
day as well as ours. BUT ITS ACTIVITY IS GONE, being
no longer in force! In the same way, when "that which is perfect
comes," the need and purpose for the gifts of prophecy and knowledge would
be gone; when the divine revelation was complete, these gifts would stop via
inactivity.
[Katargeo], then indicates coming
to an abrupt end when the need has expired.
The word [pauomai] ("to cease"),
used concerning the demise of the gift of tongues means something somewhat
different. This difference, however, tells us something about how this
spiritual gift was to stop. In the Arndt-Gingrich LEXICON
we are told that the word [pauomai] means "to
stop oneself."
The gifts of
prophecies and knowledge had to be DONE AWAY WITH
(come to an abrupt end). But the gift of tongues would
STOP BY THEMSELVES. Prophecies and knowledge would be "done away
with" in the same way that sacrifices of the Old Law were "done away
with." Paul said, in Ephesians 2:14-15, "For He Himself is our peace,
who made both groups into one, and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall,
by abolishing [katargeo] in His flesh the enmity,
which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, that in Himself He
might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace...." How was
the Law done away with? By SOMETHING BETTER taking its place!
The gifts of
knowledge and prophecy would be done away with
"when that which is perfect is come."
CONSIDER THE
CONTEXT
This context begins in 1 Corinthians 12:1 and ends
with 1 Corinthians 14:40. Chapter 12 deals with the diversity of spiritual
gifts. In 12:31 we are introduced to the quality of
LOVE in contrast with SPIRITUAL GIFTS. In V.31 Paul told the Corinthians,
"But earnestly desire the greater gifts. And I
show you a still more excellent way." Then in chapter 13:1-3 he points out
that "love" is more important than the spiritual gifts of tongues,
prophecies, and knowledge. In vv. 9-10 Paul contrasts
that which is "in part" and that which is "perfect." He
says now we know "in part" and we prophesy "in part," and
then tells us that which is ''in part" shall be done away with and
replaced by "that which is perfect." And then,
(in v.12) he says, "I shall FULLY know as I am FULLY known." Let's look at the two Greek words that are translated as
"in part" and "perfect." "In part" is translated
from the Greek [ek merous],
meaning PARTIALLY. Paul knew God's will PARTIALLY (through spiritual gifts).
Later Paul would know FULLY (or completely) when all the parts are put
together. Look at 1 Corinthians 12:27 where Paul
speaks of "members in particular." (ek merous); i.e. each
person who had a gift was only a part of the whole. (Consider the context.)
THE KEY
"Perfect" is translated from the Greek [teleion],
meaning, according to Thayer's LEXICON, "brought to its end, finished;
wanting nothing necessary to completeness." In the Arndt-Gingrich LEXICON the word is described as, "having attained the
end or purpose, complete, perfect." It is important
to note that this word is an ADJECTIVE and not a NOUN. Some have taught,
in error, that "that which is perfect"
refers to Jesus. But even in our English language we never refer to a person as
a ''that." In Greek or English "that"
is neuter gender. Christ is not referred to as "that" but as "who." The key to understanding this passage properly is
in the proper understanding of the word "perfect." Let's
look at some other New Testament uses of the Greek word [teleion]:
(1) Jesus
commanded us not to be respecters of persons in loving our friends and hating
our enemies (Matthew 5:44-47), but to be complete or "perfect" [teleion] like our heavenly Father (v. 48) in loving friends
and enemies alike.
(2) Jesus
said that the rich, young ruler could be "perfect" [teleion] if he would "go and sell your possessions and
feed the poor...." (Matthew 19:21).
(3) Paul
said that his preaching was wisdom among those who are "full grown,"
or "perfect" [teleion] (1 Corinthians 2:6)
(4) Paul
urged the Corinthians to be "men" [teleion]
(i.e. "full grown" or "perfect") instead of babes (1 Corinthians 14:20).
(5) In
Ephesians 4:13 we read that the body of Christ is to be built up unto a full grown, "mature" [teleion]
man.
(6) When
Paul wrote to the Philippians he said (3:15) that some of the Christians were
"perfect" [teleion].
(7) Epaphras prayed that the Colossians would stand
"perfect" [teleion] in the will of God
(Colossians 4:12).
(8) The Hebrews were chided for not having progressed to the solid
food aspect of the Word of God which, said the inspired writer. is for grown, "mature," [teleion]
men, described as those who have their senses exercised to discern good and
evil (Hebrews 5:14).
(9) James
describes the law of liberty as the "perfect" [teleion]
law. (James 1:25)
Now let's look at "that which is perfect" in its
context: 1 Cor. 13:9-12, "For we know in part, and we prophesy in part;
but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away. When I was a child,
I used to speak as a child, think as a child, reason as a child; when I became
a man, I did away with childish things. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but
then face to face; now I know in part, but then I shall know fully just as I
also have been fully known."
"That
which is perfect (COMPLETE)" is the COMPLETION of that which is in part.
We KNOW "in part" and we PROPHESY "in part" refers to the proclamation
of the gospel by divine will as the apostles were teaching by the use of
spiritual gifts. When Jesus promised to guide the apostles into "all truth " (John 6:13) it was not done all at once. During
the first century these inspired men were each revealing the parts of the whole
gospel as the Lord was revealing it to them through the Holy Spirit (via spiritual
gifts). It was not until almost the close of the first century that the whole had been revealed.
Paul gives us an illustration. When a child grows up (matures) and becomes full
grown, he puts away that which is childish. "I spoke as a child" - immature
thoughts and ideas; "understood as a child" - lacking in knowledge;
"I thought as a child" - reasoning based upon limited knowledge and
understanding. He compared it to trying to see one's face in a dark and smoky
glass compared to the reality of face to face.
CONCLUSION
The purpose
of spiritual gifts was both so that the ones who were preaching the gospel
would have the exact message from God to proclaim, and that the ones who were
the listeners would know this revelation was from God and not man (read 1
Corinthians 2:1-5). Paul said that his "message and preaching were not in
persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,
that your faith should not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of
God."
Don't ever wish you could go back to that time when
they had spiritual gifts. Don't ever think that we
have less than they did then. We have the PERFECT revelation from God. Desiring
"spiritual gifts" is to desire to go back to looking through the
"dark glass."
Spiritual gifts
ceased because their need ceased. Some died instantly. The spiritual gifts of
prophecies and knowledge was "done away" [katargeo].
When God finished His gospel to us there was no more need for those spiritual
gifts. These spiritual gifts stopped because God stopped revealing. His message
was complete. Some spiritual gifts lingered for awhile
and died of their own accord. The spiritual gift of tongues would
"cease" [pauomai], or stop by itself. One
would assume that when the last person died who had the spiritual gift of
tongues, that spiritual gift died also.
Spiritual
gifts were never meant to last forever. While the
church was in its infancy they were needed. But the church became full grown. God, as in all of those
things He created miraculously, gave the church all that it needed to continue
to reproduce after itself. That's why today, when you
plant the "seed," the word of God (Luke 8:11) in fertile soil (the
heart of the honest man, Luke 8:15) the fruit that is produced is simply a
Christian.
In closing
let me also mention that we can know that spiritual gifts (the nine spiritual
gifts of our context beginning in 1 Corinthians 12) are no longer in force
today because the only way that they could be passed
to another is by the laying on of the apostle's hands. In Acts 8, Philip, who
was not an apostle, had to have apostles come from Jerusalem to lay their hands
on the Samaritans so that they could receive spiritual gifts. (Look especially
at vv. 17-19) Also, read Acts 19:1-7. Since there are
no living apostles it should be obvious to all, based upon these passages, that
spiritual gifts were never intended to last past the first century, and are certainly not active today.
I am
thankful that we live in the age of the "still more excellent way" ..... "But now abide faith. hope,
love, these three; BUT THE GREATEST OF THESE IS LOVE. "
By David A. Beck