explaination of scripture

[ray]

1 Corinthians 13

8Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. 11When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. 12Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

Who or What is the word perfect refer to?

[EricH]

From the context, it seems to me the "perfect" is that time when we will no longer see through a mirror, but face to face. Namely, when Jesus returns

[Guest thejjman]

when made perfect with Jesus! Amen. No more flesh.

[Phil.2:12]

Who or What is the word perfect refer to?

In the Greek, the word "perfect" denotes complete maturation, which is why Paul went on to talk about when he was a child, he saw the world through a child's eyes, but when he became a man (or more mature) he saw the world thru the eyes of a man. Paul was illustrating the human maturation experience and showing that we mature spiritually just as we do physically. In another passage, Paul talkes about going from "glory" to "glory" and he is simply illustrating that as we spiritually mature, we go from one level to another, just as we do in physical maturation. We start out as an infant totally dependant on others and progress through crawling, walking, speaking, rational thinking, etc. until we become an adult or a "man"/"woman" through the natural physical maturation process.

[Sherman]

The following is from the New Living Translation:

8 Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever! 9 Now our knowledge is partial and incomplete, and even the gift of prophecy reveals only part of the whole picture! 10 But when full understanding comes, these partial things will become useless.

11 When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things. 12 Now we see things imperfectly as in a cloudy mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.

13 Three things will last forever

[exrockstar]

1 Corinthians 13

8Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. 11When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. 12Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

Who or What is the word perfect refer to?

the only thing perfect that we have today is the Word of God.

James 1:17

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and

cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning."

Every thing that discredits the bible will pass away.

Every religion that preaches outside of the bible will pass away.

The bible does not contain error and will stand through time.

It is the foundation of our Christian belief. We enter our walk as babies in Christ

and through the word of God we become mature strong Christians.

We make sound judgement in our lives with God's perfect word.

When the last book was written by John the books were complete.

When perfection came (God's Word), all other religions with their doctrines disappear

because they are imperfect.

And they will always come and go but the Word of God is here to stay.

I'm a new member here so hope I didn't chime in a topic that I'm not welcomed in.

Edited March 21, 2007 by exrockstar

[Openly Curious]

1 Corinthians 13

8Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. 11When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. 12Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

Who or What is the word perfect refer to?

It is speaking of Christ's return when we shall see him face to face in all of His glory as we can right now only see Him through the glimpses in His word but when He that is Perfect shall come we shall see Him in all of His glory and no longer will know only in part but in full as we ourselves will also be fully known to this world that we belong to Him and are His dear children. That is what the word perfect in this text of scripture means.

The word perfect is used in other passages of texts as well and it means "maturity" instead of being without flaws like people think we they see the word perfect used. But in this text it is speaking of Christ when He returns.

OC

[EricH]

1 Corinthians 13

8Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. 11When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. 12Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

Who or What is the word perfect refer to?

the only thing perfect that we have today is the Word of God.

James 1:17

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and

cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning."

Every thing that discredits the bible will pass away.

Every religion that preaches outside of the bible will pass away.

The bible does not contain error and will stand through time.

It is the foundation of our Christian belief. We enter our walk as babies in Christ

and through the word of God we become mature strong Christians.

We make sound judgement in our lives with God's perfect word.

When the last book was written by John the books were complete.

When perfection came (God's Word), all other religions with their doctrines disappear

because they are imperfect.

And they will always come and go but the Word of God is here to stay.

I'm a new member here so hope I didn't chime in a topic that I'm not welcomed in.

All are welcome to contribute. Feel free to share your thoughts any time. Welcome

[Sherman]

the only thing perfect that we have today is the Word of God.

James 1:17

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and

cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning."

Every thing that discredits the bible will pass away.

Every religion that preaches outside of the bible will pass away.

The bible does not contain error and will stand through time.

It is the foundation of our Christian belief. We enter our walk as babies in Christ

and through the word of God we become mature strong Christians.

We make sound judgement in our lives with God's perfect word.

When the last book was written by John the books were complete.

When perfection came (God's Word), all other religions with their doctrines disappear

because they are imperfect.

And they will always come and go but the Word of God is here to stay.

I'm a new member here so hope I didn't chime in a topic that I'm not welcomed in.

Exrockstar, greetings and you are more than welcome, we're glad to have you.

Your comment concerning "perfect" refering to "God's Word" is a common interpretation in many churches who wish to build from this passage a scriptural reason to say that the gifts of the Spirit ceased with the 1st century church and are not for today.

However, if one takes the passage in it's literary context it is pointing to the "temporary" nature of the gifts of the spirit, in that they are not eternal, they will not be needed when we all have full revelation and full understanding of spiritual matters, when perfection comes. It's connotation is that of the end of time, the culmination of this age, when Christ returns.

To say that "perfection" refers to the completion of the written NT is to read into the passage, rather than interpret from the passage.

Blessings,

Sherman

[exrockstar]

the only thing perfect that we have today is the Word of God.

James 1:17

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and

cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning."

Every thing that discredits the bible will pass away.

Every religion that preaches outside of the bible will pass away.

The bible does not contain error and will stand through time.

It is the foundation of our Christian belief. We enter our walk as babies in Christ

and through the word of God we become mature strong Christians.

We make sound judgement in our lives with God's perfect word.

When the last book was written by John the books were complete.

When perfection came (God's Word), all other religions with their doctrines disappear

because they are imperfect.

And they will always come and go but the Word of God is here to stay.

I'm a new member here so hope I didn't chime in a topic that I'm not welcomed in.

Exrockstar, greetings and you are more than welcome, we're glad to have you.

Your comment concerning "perfect" refering to "God's Word" is a common interpretation in many churches who wish to build from this passage a scriptural reason to say that the gifts of the Spirit ceased with the 1st century church and are not for today.

However, if one takes the passage in it's literary context it is pointing to the "temporary" nature of the gifts of the spirit, in that they are not eternal, they will not be needed when we all have full revelation and full understanding of spiritual matters, when perfection comes. It's connotation is that of the end of time, the culmination of this age, when Christ returns.

To say that "perfection" refers to the completion of the written NT is to read into the passage, rather than interpret from the passage.

Blessings,

Sherman

hey not a problem.

actually you do have a point. however, I understand very well what I am saying.

I stand on the side that says that not all spiritual gifts are eternal, whereas it seems as though you say they are. right?

Actually it is not a common interpretation because many Churches practice some sort of gifts in their congregation.

For example tongues. I believe tongues is the popular one of this century.

People have it yet no one agrees on things.

Yet people claim it's here.

Blessings

Edited March 23, 2007 by exrockstar