1 Corinthians 13:8
~5 min read
“…love which will never fall and die…”
1 Corinthians 13:8, Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
Love (charity) never faiteth means it is lasting or permanent. Like a flower or leaf that falls to the ground, withers and decays, that will never happen to love which will never fall and die. There will always be love!
But as for prophecies, tongues and knowledge, they shall fall, cease and vanish away. The word prophecies can mean foretelling or forthtelling. The revelation of God’s Word was given progessively as the Holy Scriptures was being written by the authors who were inspired by God. The word tongues was about known languages that the people had never learnt before. The word knowledge was about special knowledge not known before.
Why would prophecies, tongues and knowledge fall, cease and vanish away? Well, the Apostle Paul explained;
- Verse 9, For we know in part, and we prophecy in part. At that time, God was still revealing to the Apostles, and they were still receiving and writing the Holy Scriptures. What they knew was only partial (in part) of the entire canon of the Bible.
- Verse 10, But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. The complete canon of the Bible (perfect) was completed, it had come.
- Verse 11, When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. Paul used the illustration of a child. Before the Bible was completed, he could only speak like a child, and his maturity was like a child. But when the Bible was complete, he could speak like an adult, and his understanding was like an adult.
- Verse 12, For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. Paul used another illustration of a mirror. Before the Bible was completed, they could only see through this glass or mirror, and it was dark or obscure, and not clear. But when the Bible was completed, they could see clearly as in face to face.
Dear children, today, we no longer need special revelation, spiritual gift of tongues-speaking or extra-biblical knowledge. We do not need anyone to come to us and say, “God has revealed to me a special revelation, or He has given me the ability to speak in tongues, or He has given me extra-biblical knowledge. Let me show it to you.” NO! The reason is simply because we have the complete canon of the Word of God - the Bible, which is the complete revelation of God”s Word, will and purpose.
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