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THE NORTHERN KENTUCKY SEARCHER VOLUME 3, NUMBER 45, DECEMBER 7, 2003 HELP WITH 1 COR. 13:9-13“For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. 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. 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. And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.” This is one of those controversial passages that is frequently misunderstood and misapply in the religious world. The question revolves around “that which is perfect”. Does it refer to the second coming of Christ, sometimes referred to as the Parousia; or does it refer to the completed revelation? I would like to present just a little bit of help in understanding what this passage means. The Greek word translated as “perfect” is teleios. It refers to the end of a process or development (either or people or things). Vine’s defines it as “having reached its end, finished, complete, perfect.” When the word is used of person it has reference to attaining the full limits of stature. When it is used of things, it has reference to completion. Let me show you another passage where teleios is used. It will help us to see how the word refers to the end of a process or development. In Hebrews 5:12 – 14, we find, “For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For everyone that useth milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” You can see here that one does not arrive at “full age” when it comes to the knowledge of and the ability to use, the Word of God, suddenly. No, “full age” comes about as the result of a process, “reason of use”. The process is what brings a person to the point of being able to use their knowledge “to discern both good and evil.” In verse 10 of 1 Cor. 13, the Greek is as follows, “hotan de elthe to teleion, to ek merous katargethesetai”. “To ek merous” is translated “that which is in part.” Mike Willlis’ exegesis of this particular verse (and indeed, the entire passage) is right on the money. He wrote, “Precisely what is described as to teleios must be learned from the context. The phrases to teleion and to merous are put in contrast with each other, and, therefore, must be used together in defining what each is. If I can identify what to ek merous is, then I will know what to telion is – it must refer to perfection or completeness in the same realm as that realm which was denoted by to ek merous. We know what to ek merous is; it is used to describe the manner in which God revealed Himself to man through spiritual gifts. Hence, to ek merous is the partial revelation of God’s will to men. To teleion, therefore, is the completed or perfected revelation of God’s will to man…Let us suppose that we have a pie of unknown kind. If I can identify one part of it, I will know what the rest of it is…If I can identify the one slice of pie as cherry pie, I will know that the whole pie is cherry pie. Similarly, if I can identify the to ek merous, I will know what the to teleion is. To teleion must refer to completeness, wholeness, or perfection in the same realm as that referred to be to ek merous. “But, I can positively identify to ek merous as prophecy, the word of knowledge, and tongue speaking (v. 8, remember that these three gifts are used representatively in this text for the sum total of all the gifts); hence, to ek merous is the way of spiritual gifts as the in part method of God revealing His will to man. “If to ek merous refers to the in part revelation, then to teleion must be identified as the completed revelation just as surely as if I identified the one piece of pie as cherry pie guarantees that the rest of the pie is cherry pie. To teleion, therefore, refers to God’s completed revelation…Hence, Paul is saying that when God’s revelation was completed, the miraculous spiritual gifts would cease.” (A Commentary on Paul’s First Epistle to the Corinthians, p. 463, 464, 465) Another difficulty that those who see the “perfect” as referring to the second coming must deal with involves the word “now” in verse 13. The Greek is nuni and it has logical rather than temporal force in this verse. A similar passage is found in John 18:36. That verse says, “Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.” The idea behind the word is “now however”, or “now therefore”, or “seeing that it is so”. Thus, back in 1 Cor. 13:13, we have the spiritual gifts passing away but faith, hope, and love abiding. How is hope going to abide after the return of Jesus? What is seen is not hoped for. I realize that this is a little bit deeper than I would normally get in a bulletin article, but sometimes a more thorough explanation is called for. I hope it is helpful. Greg Litmer ALMOST To almost catch the plane is to miss the trip. To almost get the job is to be unemployed. To almost be a Christian is not to be a Christian at all. To almost be saved is to be lost!
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