The Love Chapter
I Corinthians 13 is a beautiful and amazing passage of scripture, placed in the midst of Paul’s teaching on spiritual gifts. However, I believe the first three verses are literature rather than didactics because the author wants to make a point. He uses hyperbole – tongues of angels, faith that moves mountains, a body surrendered to the flames – to show that LOVE, not spiritual gifts, is to be our goal.
I do not believe Paul expected the 20th century pentecostal/charismatic denominations to base an entire doctrine – the doctrine of the unintelligible prayer languages – on I Corinthians 13:1. The actual occurrences of “tongues” in Acts seem to indicate that the gift of speaking in tongues referred to the supernatural ability to use a known language. In I Corinthians 14 Paul tries urgently to make it clear that the purpose of spiritual gifts is to edify everyone. And so, even if the Lord should choose to grant a believer a heavenly language (a tongue of angels, I Cor. 13:1), He would still expect an interpretation to be given.
Gifts Withdrawn
I was frustrated for many years because the issue of tongues, prophecies, and words of knowledge were non-issues in the mainline denomination of my childhood. Yet, here came a couple of foundling sects, formed many centuries after Christ, who claim to have the gifts and abilities of the apostles. I frankly don’t believe Christians were too stupid to recognize the presence of those supernatural gifts for nearly two millennia. I believe the gifts were provided by God for a season to make sure the infant Church was doctrinally sound, then they were withdrawn when the apostles died.
But why didn’t God say that certain gifts were going to cease, I kept wondering, so we wouldn’t have all this confusion now? Of course, I knew theologians claimed that God did say the gifts would cease in I Corinthians 13. But I would read the chapter and couldn’t see it.
Beginning to See
That is, for years I couldn’t see it. But finally, I spent a week meditating on I Corinthians 13:8-12 and I began to understand how theologians could claim that certain gifts had ceased. In verse 8, Paul says right out that prophecies will fail, tongues will cease, and knowledge will vanish away. My understanding of this verse for years was that he was referring to the situation in Heaven.
However, I finally asked myself,”Why would He stop talking about the use of spiritual gifts in the Church and start describing the situation in Heaven?” The whole purpose of I Corinthians 12-14 is to bring some balance to the carnal Corinthian Church. The topic was spiritual gifts in Paul’s day, not in Heaven.
The Perfect Replaces the Partial
In verses 9-10, Paul explains that the Church must rely on inadequate knowledge and prophecies for a season, but that a time would come when they would have the full understanding of God’s New Covenant – “…when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.” (KJV) *
In verse 11, Paul likens the receiving of scattered prophecies and words of knowledge to childishness, while the study of the completed canon of scripture is mature behavior. I would have to agree with this assessment, based on the dearth of Bible study in our land. It’s much easier – and more fun! – to have somebody stand up and give a personal, relevant word (supposedly) from God, then go home feeling super-spiritual.
A Clear Image
And in verse 12, Paul makes a comparison to the poor-quality mirrors of the day. Receiving a prophecy here and a word of knowledge there is like looking into a piece of shiny metal – you get some idea of the image, but it’s not clear. When the whole canon of scripture was completed and compiled, God’s New Covenant would be clear. Paul says, Now I know in part, but then I will be able to see fully, just as a person who looks at me can see me fully. In other words, a time would come when he wouldn’t have the vague, distorted view of one who looks in a glass, but the same clear view as the person who looks directly at him.
Presumptuous Babbling
I remember, toward the end of my 20-year sojourn in charismania, feeling troubled that everybody and their dog had a Word from God. It was madness! And I know that I know that I know that the Lord, the magnificent, omnipotent Creator of Heaven and Earth, can’t be pleased with all the inane babblings that are attributed to Him!
The bottom line? Prophecies, tongues, and words of knowledge may cease, but faith, hope, and love will remain. And the greatest of these Godly virtues is love. Probably, the Lord cares less who wins the debate, and more whether the world knows us by our love. Even so, we must not abandon true doctrine in an effort to please brethren who value their vain interpretations above God’s truth.
Footnote
* I agree that “perfect” may very well, refer to Heaven. And anything “in part” or “imperfect” certainly sounds like our earthly situation. But all great literature involves more than one level of meaning. Certainly, on a higher level, when we get to Heaven (the perfect), the imperfect or the partial will be a thing of the past. That fact, however, does not negate the fact that Paul is also referring to the incomplete and the complete canons of Scripture. (For comparison, consider the book Moby Dick. Sure, the book is a grand portrayal of man vs. nature. But it is no less a story about the fanatical Ahab vs. the white whale Moby Dick.)
Photo credit: Jamie Street on unsplash
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