When the Perfect Comes...

“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 13:9-10)

All my life I’ve been taught that the “Perfect” is the completed word of God… the Bible and that when the Bible comes, the “Part”(spiritual gifts) would be done away with. I believed that and taught that but somewhere along the way I became troubled with that interpretation. I guess because for me it didn’t seem to fit the context.

First of all the purpose of the spiritual gifts (especially the gift of Prophecy) was to edify or build the congregation (1 Cor. 14:4). And the church needed to be built up. Keep in mind the church was in its infancy and in fact Paul referred to the Corinthian church as being “Babies” and in need of growth and maturing (1 Corinthians 3:1).

They were spiritual babies in part because they were not united in love with each other… they were bickering and fighting and they needed to be built up utilizing spiritual gifts until they became mature or perfect in their love for each other.

1 Corinthians 13 clearly illustrates that “love” is superior to “spiritual gifts” and while all Christians might not possess the same spiritual gifts they could all… no matter their spiritual station… be rich in love

So “spiritual gifts” in the early church were like training wheels on a bicycle and there comes a point when the training wheels come off and we can ride that bike on our own.

The promised “perfect” then in 1 Corinthians 13:10 is the point when Christians interact with each other in love and in so doing testify that Jesus is the Son of God (John 17) and God is glorified (Ephesians 3:10)

That’s when the training wheels come off and spiritual gifts are no longer needed (in my opinion).

Thanks