Completion of Partial Gifts of Prophecy

By Christ’s Spirit, Paul contrasts love’s constancy to the limitation of gifts of the Holy Spirit in 1 Corinthians 13. In this, Paul revealed that the gifts of prophecy will fail, tongues will cease, and knowledge will vanish. These will cease unlike love. Paul observed, “Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part; but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away” (1 Cor 13:8–10 NASB).

When is the coming of the complete when the partial gifts will be done away? What is the completion of these partial gifts of prophecy and knowledge?

The Completion of Partial Gifts

This partial knowledge and partial prophecy would come to completion. Paul said, “But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away” (1 Cor 13:10). The word for perfect, telion, is also and better translated complete. The gifts of prophesying and revealing of knowledge are the essential modes to bringing forth the words of Christ. However, the Holy Spirit speaks through the apostle Paul revealing that these gifts were for a state of immaturity. This is seen in verse 11, “When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.” Speaking in tongues, prophesying, and healing were for those in a state of childhood and immaturity.

Completion and Maturity

From Moses working wonders to Christ working powerful signs, the Scriptures reveal that these signs of wonder were used to confirm men and their messages were from God (Mark 16:20, Heb 2:3–4). These wonders initiated the beginning and established God’s covenant with His people. Wonders done through the hands of men did not last and were not meant to last, but to establish the complete necessary for a state of maturity.

From Partial to Complete Revelation

The Spirit’s gifts were partial and incomplete in allowing man to fully examine himself. This is seen in verse 12, which says, “For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.” Paul says that the complete is a clear mirror rather than the dim one of partial prophecy and knowledge. Prophecy is not a mere prediction or personal revelation, but a revelation meant for the whole the church (1 Cor 14). In other words, the coming of the complete is a change from a partial revelation to a full revelation.

The reference to the mirror is found two other times in the New Testament Scriptures. In Paul’s next writing to the Corinthians, he refers to “the ministry of the Spirit” and “of righteousness” where Christians behold in a mirror “the glory of the Lord” in contrast to the Old Testament (2 Cor 3:7ff), which this mirror is the gospel by the which “the glory of Christ” shines (2 Cor 4:3–4). James also described “the Word” as a mirror (Jas 1:22ff). Knowledge will go from partial to complete. The “complete” is the completion of the necessity of the gifts for knowledge and prophecy. For verse 12 shows that the Christian knew in part and now he will know in full. The “perfect” is the complete revelation of the gospel and its new covenant. Christians have this complete revelation in the Scriptures since Jesus revealed all Truth to the Apostles.

Jesus told His Apostles on the night of His arrest that He had more to say to His Apostles. Therefore, He said that He would send His Spirit to reveal all the Truth to them (John 16:12–13). “All the Truth” is complete revelation of the Holy Spirit to the Apostles. “All the Truth” was to come in the time of the Apostles. This is how Jesus passed on His words, which words and instructions in the writings of the Apostles and prophets from Acts to Revelation.

The Limitations of the Partial Gifts

The limitations of the gifts of the Spirit is in contrast to a better way, love (1 Cor 12:31). Those “Christians” who concentrate on their “gifts” and look down on others as “dead” have little understanding of the lasting love that is to be among Christians (cf. 1 Cor 13–14). Those who invent false gifts are the result of a delusional pride. No more should believers try to gain preeminence over one another by their gifts from the Spirit. Christians see the enduring principle even after the gifts of the Holy Spirit have ceased. All of our gifts are given to everyone by God (Rom 12), and the unity of Christians in love goes far beyond Christians showing off their talents before the congregation. However, many churches are filled with shows of false gifts supposedly from the Spirit or performances of God-given talents. These churches are where worship is more about them than God. Just as the Christians in Corinth, many church leaders have made the assembly into a talent show (cf. Matt 6). These talent shows lead to strife and disputes.

Conclusion

God has blessed Christians by revealing all truth in the completion of these partial gifts. May all Christians stay as far away from these deceptions and draw near to God in His love and in their love for one another.

"Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. When I was a child, I spoke 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 in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known" (1 Cor 13:8–12).