WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5
1 Corinthians 13:8-13
2 Peter 1:16-21

“Charity never faileth ...”

LOVE IS ETERNAL (I)

Paul wanted to demonstrate why love is “a more excellent way” (1 Cor 12:31) compared to the Corinthian Christians’ tongue-speaking. He did so in this section by pointing out that love is eternal, whereas spiritual gifts will one day cease to exist.

First, let us note the three gifts that will come to an end: “prophecies,” “tongues” and “knowledge.” These three gifts are revelatory sign gifts. In 1 Corinthians 13:8, Paul stated that “prophecies” will “fail” and “knowledge” will “vanish away.” The terms “fail” and “vanish away” are rendered from the same verb katargeō, which means to destroy, obliterate or abolish. These two verbs are written in the passive voice, indicating that an external agent will cause prophecies and knowledge to be destroyed.

What is that which will cause prophecies and knowledge to be obliterated? 1 Corinthians 13:9-10 tells us that “that which is perfect” (to teleion) will come. Since the context deals with revelatory gifts, “that which is perfect” that will come must be the perfect revelation that negates all need for these revelatory sign gifts. What then is this perfect revelation? It is the completed canon of sixty-six books, i.e. the Bible that we hold in our hands today!

In the days of the Corinthian Christians, the congregation still needed prophecies and knowledge as revelatory gifts. They were just like a child who still understood and spoke like a child, or a man who was looking into the mirror dimly (1 Cor 13:11-12). However, when the “more sure word of prophecy” (2 Pet 1:19) comes, it is time to put away the “childish things” (i.e. prophecies and knowledge). Thus, prophecies and knowledge ceased when the canon of Scripture was completed.

THOUGHT: God’s Word is the “more sure word of prophecy.”
PRAYER: Father, I thank Thee for giving us Thy perfect Word.