Day 187: Something that lasts forever? - 1 Corinthians 13 vs 8 - 13

8-10 Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will come to an end. 

11-12 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put aside childish things. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, as I am fully known. 

13 Now these three remain: faith, hope, and love - but the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:8-13 Christian Standard Bible

In these verses Paul speaks of some things that will fade away, and some things that will remain. What are the three things that he says have a 'use by' date? (vs 8-10)

He says that prophecies, tongues and the word of knowledge will no longer be needed after a certain point is reached. What was the point he had in mind when those things would no longer be needed? (Still in vs 8-10)

He speaks of a time of ‘perfection’. The Greek word can be used of people reaching maturity, or of things that are completed. In a way, he uses both meanings in the example of a child becoming a man, and then of part knowledge that reaches fuller understanding and seeing the whole picture. Christians over the years have debated and differed on what Paul meant by 'the perfect'. Some say he must be talking of when the Lord returns. Others say he could be talking about when whole New Testament would be complete and Christians would no longer need special revelations. And some would say that perhaps he simply meant that as the Church reached maturity it would no longer need the things God gave it in it's infancy.

This may sound like an unnecessary debate, but it's important in our day and age when some Christians still claim that prophecies, tongues and special words of knowledge are essential, while others believe they are not. It's not for me to tell you which view you must take. My own view leans towards the position that they were going to fall away over a period of time. But we can't put God ‘in a box’ of our own opinion. But what did Paul say were the things that would remain? (vs 13)

He speaks of faith, hope and love continuing in the Church. They are things that MUST be in every believer's life. It wasn't necessary for everyone to speak in tongues or be able to prophesy. But without faith, hope and love they would not be a Christian. Faith speaks of believing on Christ as Saviour, hope speaks of believing that there is a resurrection of our body and we will be with God forever. But love speaks of a true response and obedience to Christ. It's not only that we now love God with heart and soul and strength and mind – but we also seek to love one another as Christ loved us. Why do you think love is the greatest of the three things that remain?

I think it's because it will remain even longer than the other two. Our faith will turn to sight when Jesus returns (or when we die and go to be with him). Our hope will be realized when our bodies are raised again and we are ever with the Lord. But love will never end. We will be able to love God as never before. We will adore Christ as never before. A faithful Bible Scholar of old named Jonathan Edwards wrote a book which he titled: “Heaven - a world of love”. That's indeed what heaven is.

Don't let prophecies and tongues be an issue. Paul says the mature believer is the one who is growing in their faith, hope and love. Especially love. That will last forever.