> Download these notes in PDF here: https://www.studyyourbible.org/topical/doctrine/a-little-bit-of-this-a-little-bit-of-that/handouts/1-corinthians-13-12-through-a-glass-darkly/ *"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." (v. 12)* # I. The Superiority of Charity Over Sign Gifts (v. 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.”* ## A. Charity Is Permanent and Enduring - **“Charity never faileth”** - To “fail” is to collapse or become ineffective. - Charity (God’s love active in us) is a Spirit-produced virtue that **builds and serves**—it persists both now and in eternity. ## B. The Temporary Nature of Sign Gifts These gifts belonged to the **kingdom “part”** and **coexisted** with Paul’s mystery revelation. - **Prophecies – “They shall fail”** - A sign gift under the kingdom program to Israel. - Continues alongside the mystery gospel, but will be rendered inoperative once the kingdom “part” is over. - **Tongues – “They shall cease”** - Human languages given as a sign to Israel (1 Cor 14:21–22). - Persists so long as the kingdom offer stands, then stops entirely. - **Knowledge – “It shall vanish away”** - Supernaturally imparted insight into unrevealed truth. - Remains active while the partial system remains, then disappears when that system ends. ## C. Ephesians 4:11–13 Correlation *“And he gave some apostles; and some prophets; and some evangelists; and some pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints… till we all come in the unity of the faith… unto a perfect man…”* - Gifts were given **until** the Body reached **unity** in faith. - It would be impossible to say there is a unity as long as a Galatians 2:7 scenario still exists. - The “perfect man” (ἄνδρα τέλειον) is the **undivided** Body of Christ—when the kingdom “part” has been done away, when there is no more “Jew first” scenario. # II. The Partial and Incomplete Nature of Early Revelation (v. 9) *“For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.”* ## A. Paul Already Possessed the Full Mystery - His gospel came **once for all** by aorist revelation (Gal 1:11–12). - By Jerusalem (Gal 2:2) it was **settled** and distinct. - The mystery was **fully made known** (Eph 3:3–4) and is **now** manifest (Col 1:25–26). ## B. “In Part” Reflects Dispersion, Not Deficiency - **Kingdom gospel** (Jew first, sign-based) still on the table, **alongside** Paul’s mystery gospel. - Believers held **different portions** of truth—Apollos knew only John’s baptism until taught the mystery (Acts 18:24–26). Jews had the prophetic part and Gentiles had the mystery part. - Partial knowledge = **divided understanding**, not an undeclared doctrine. ## C. Collective vs. Distributive Knowledge - **Collective**: the Body had partial insight. - This requires that the full mystery had not been made manifest, which is in opposition to Paul’s own testimony. - **Distributive**: groups of believers lived under a fragment rather than the whole. - Supported by 1 Cor 12-14, Rom 12:6, Eph 4:11–13, Gal. 2:7 - There were still two parts! # III. The Coming of the Perfect and the End of the Partial (v. 10) *“But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.”* 1. **The “perfect”** = the **unified under one gospel** in its fullness—one Body with **no more divisions**. 2. **The “part”** = the **kingdom program** (Jew first, national promises, sign gifts). 3. **Overlap**: Paul already had the mystery, but the kingdom “part” still operated, so sign gifts remained. 4. **Cessation**: once the kingdom offer was withdrawn, the “in part” ended—and with it, prophecy, tongues, and special knowledge. 5. **Ephesians 4:11–13** confirms: gifts persisted **“till we all come in the unity of the faith… unto a perfect man.”** # IV. From Childhood to Maturity (v. 11) *“When I was a child, I spake as a child… but when I became a man, I put away childish things.”* - Paul’s personal growth illustrates the church’s transition from **compartmentalized faith** to **corporate** unity. - The Body moves from **“childish” partitions** (Jew/Gentile programs) to **adult unity** under one gospel. # V. From Obscurity to Clarity (v. 12) *“For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face…”* - **“Now”** = dim, partial insight (mirror glass). - **“Then”** = direct, face-to-face understanding—no more division into parts that are separated, but now “face to face.” - Context: contrasts the **Apostolic era’s divided insight** with the **mature unity** of the one Body. - Though this is often used to speak about our arrival in heaven, its context is far more about the lack of divisions in the Gospel message. # VI. The Enduring Triad for the Mature Body (v. 13) *“And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.”* - **“Now”** = the post-“part” age, where the sign gifts are gone and we operate in unity of faith, hope, and charity. - **Charity** endures—God’s love at work in the Body, surpassing even faith (which will become sight) and hope (which will be fulfilled.