“But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.”
But
The “but” is a conjunction of contrast. The contrast is between the “perfect” and the “in part.” The contrast is between the partial capacities of gifts versus the full-fledged revelation of God.
when that which is perfect has come,
The word “perfect” means complete, mature, full-grown. The word “perfect” is neuter in gender (so cannot refer to Christ) and correlates with “in part.” Whatever the “in part” refers to, the “perfect” is its counterpart or antithesis. Both have the same referent. The contrast is one of quantity. In the church age, the gifts of prophecy and knowledge were partial, Paul was saying, but there would come a time when we would have a full understanding of prophecy and a full-grown understanding of God. Here “perfect” means full truth about God. That day came when the canon of Scripture was complete.
then that which is in part will be done away.
When the full truth about God comes, then there is no need for the partial, delimited gifts of prophecy and knowledge extant today. While the canon was in formation, the church had fragmentary knowledge. Partial gifts are unnecessary with a completed canon.
PRINCIPLE:
We have a complete canon, so there is no need for direct revelation.
APPLICATION:
God replaced partial prophecy and knowledge with full revelation in the canon. This does not mean that Christians will have omniscience but that what we know is accurate knowledge from God.
All that we need is in the Bible. We have it all in writing in the Bible. If you don’t come up with chapter, book, and verse, we don’t believe a word you say.
But doesnt Peter seem to imply by quoting Joel that the gifts would remain all the way through the tribulation and until the coming of Christ?
Act 2:14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:
Act 2:15 For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.
Act 2:16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
Act 2:17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
Act 2:18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
Act 2:19 And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:
Act 2:20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:
Kris, thanks for your comment.
There is nothing in those verses that indicate that the gifts will last until the Second Coming. The gift of apostleship (the right to found the church and write Scripture) has ceased. The canon of Scripture closed with the New Testament and no one can write Scripture today.
CanadaNZ, thanks for your blog. The problem with your thinking is gross generality. You do not attempt to critique my argument but simply state your opinion. Opinionism is no argument. There is no attempt on my part in this passage to give a comprehensive argument about the cessation of tongues with the close of the canon. There are many other arguments such as 1) the Greek word for tongues (glossa) is used almost universally for a known language rather than an ecstatic utterance. 2) You do not address the syntactical parallelism of verse eight which is important in this discussion. 3) The difference between the Greek verb used with prophecy and knowledge (katargew) and tongues (pauw) is important to distinguish things that differ. Katargew means to render inoperative whereas pauw means to come to an absolute cessation. Pauw would make no sense if tongues came to an end at the same time as knowledge and prophecy. 4) The purpose of tongues is given in 1 Co 14:20ff http://versebyversecommentary.com/1-corinthians/1-corinthians-1421f/ Tongues were for the purpose of showing Jews that New Testament revelation is valid for them. Tongues were not for the purpose of ongoing use by the church. In every occasion in the book of Acts speaking in foreign languages without studying for them was at a transition point from the Old Testament economy to the New Testament economy.
This is but a brief summary. The study of this issue is complex because it deals with many passages of Scripture. Yes, it is true that the word “perfect” could refer to the Rapture. That certainly is a valid interpretation. However, the Greek word “perfect” does not carry the English idea of perfect but more the idea of mature or complete. It is often used for the maturity of the believer in Christ.
CanadaNZ, I do not mind for you to put your blog in this blog but no ping backs please.
Grant i am new to this sight, and i am really enjoying what i read, EVERYTHING i have read from you so fare you have been DEAD ON. The perfect in verse 10 means, to start with this was written about 56 ad the cannon wasn't completed until 95 ad, so they knew in part, but when the perfect comes the partal would be done away, these 3 gifts were faded out when the cannon of scripture was written. Grant is wright, the Perfect is the word of God, in your greek concordence, you will find it is nutre not masklin gendre, if had been masclin gender it woulh have been Jesus Christ, but it was nutre. Tongues was a laungage Acts chapter 2 every one could hear it in their on laungage. Billy Gram said that he spoke in a unknown laungage, when he went to the foren countrys he spoke in a unknown tung, so he would have an interpeter with him to where they could hear it in their on language, the english he was speaking was translated into their language, by the interpter. I am glad that i have a God that understands english. Amen. I was in special education from the seventh grade on i am not the smartest kid on the block, but the Lord can even use someone like me, thank the Lord. I will share how the devil uses tongues in todays churches some of them anyway, And i will share it with you in babby turms not milk. When tongues is used today in churches it becomes an emontial hour, and know one is edified, it is like milking a cow, you start milking the cow and you look at the bucket and the foam is over the top, so you quit milking and leave thinking the bucket is full and after the foam settles downm, you notice the bucket is only half full, that's the same when you walk out of the Church that has been a emotinal hour , your bucket is half full, notherwords you learned very little bible Doctorine. That is just one way of many ways the devil deceives us, the devil will not get a capital d from me. Friend in Christ Randall
Brothers in Christ..Can anyone show me …where it is written that ” Gifts of the Holy spirit ceased after apostles”
They haven’t ceased the baptism in the Holy Spirit is much needed for today as it was then there is and anointed empowerment of his spirit I’m Assembly of God thank goodness I did meet u first my boss is same as u as far as u in believing he’s Baptist u have no proof scripture wise to proof it’s false
Gary, read this article: https://versebyversecommentary.com/articles/doctrine/baptism-of-the-spirit/
Mr. Grant, it’s me again .
Pardon me if I’m always full of questions .
I’m just seekin’ for truth of scripture and not to put my or any other person’s view there.
My case is:
Today in Nigeria, prophecies occur in some churches, where God reveals his earthly plans for us and guides us, and it reveals to us what the enemy is planning concerning an individual in the church, and instructs the leading roles to take action (… just giving insight on it)
I attend such church and listen to prophesy given out by those with gift to prophesy.
So, I became confused when I saw this commentary on this verse.
Every Sunday, I listen to prophecy, even though my church mates and leaders believe in Erasing of name from the Book of life, Losing salvation, and Withdrawal of the Holy Spirit from Christians.(I’m convinced I can’t lose my salvation and I am secured by the Holy Spirit).
I want to hear/read from you concerning this… Why are some people receiving extra revelation apart from scripture. Some exegesists say that prophecy now means interpreting and declaring the truth of scripture, and not extra revelation.
But here in this context, it means extra revelation (i.e. revealing to us things about the future, and how God is currently working for us).
The prophecies encourages and even rebuking of things not to be done, but lemme be honest … it doesn’t rebuke loss of salvation doctrine, nor taking verses out of context like Hebrews 6 & 10, Matt. 7:21-31. As it rebukes and encourages, it should be able to rebuke on those matters/topics, but I’ve never witnessed one.
Please Enlighten me. I thank God as He made me discover this website. I just want clarity and go with *The Truth*! I’ll keep praying for knowledge and for you, sir!
And thanks a ton for allowing comments.
Mike, you are asking very important but also very complicated questions. The answer involves a number of issues such as the closing of the canon (the books that belong in the Bible). See this article about the closing of the canon: https://versebyversecommentary.com/articles/doctrine/closing-of-the-canon/ Also, it has to do with the difference between temporary and permanent gifts. See three of my studies here: https://versebyversecommentary.com/articles/problem-passages/tongues-issue-in-the-bible/