Learning About The Coming Of The Perfect Thing

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.

1 Corinthians 13: 8 -- 10

            Before I begin I must answer the question as to why certain words are italicized.  This is being done so that there is no confusion or wrong interpretation of Scripture.The translations must make sense in our language.  The word prophecies in the Greek is a normative word, and it is in the plural sense and to give a sense to this in English we must then add the words there are.  This would be true with the other words italicized as well.  First and foremost love, agape, God's principal love, never fails, and the verb, fails which the Greek is in the present tense and an adverb is saying that the failing never happens in this and would be true if one has agape or God's principal love exercised in their life.  Paul now contrast this never failing with those things that are going to fail and in the case of the word for prophecies that Greek word for fail is not the same word previously mentioned as a word for fail in the Greek previously used: which is: καταργηθήσεται, and it's a singular third person word that is future, indicative and passive.  This word carries the meaning to render something useless or unproductive, to render something powerless to cancel something or to bring something to an end, even to mean to destroy or annihilate. The word English word vanish here doesn't give a complete understanding of this word.  What the Greeks actually heard when they heard this word or read this word is that prophecies were going to be canceled or to be annihilated or destroyed, come to an end.  When it comes to the question in regards to tongues or languages the Greek word here is: παύονται, and meaningless to cause something to pause or cease to be restrained or prohibited and in this means to cease, or to stop, to desist, or to refrain.  The same Greek word used for vanish earlier is the same word used to win knowledge will come to a cessation.  Here then is a question in regards to the fact that knowledge will vanish away and does this mean that there is a cessation of knowledge?  The answer is this; the Greek word: γνωσις, primarily means to be seeking to know, a condition in which one seeks to inquire or to investigate.  How then could this then vanish away is a good question and the answer is: if we have what we need to have in order to have knowledge then there is no need to have any of their method of seeking more findings, knowledge.  It is then that thing that is to come that is going to make cause for us no need any longer to have special revelation, even now from God.  Why?  As Paul was writing to the Corinthians, they only could know in part for they did not have the complete as that is needed to not need to know in part, but when that which is perfect arrives then partial knowledge is now complete.  Here again is where to have knowledge of the Greek words is to help us in our understanding and the Greek word: έλθη, which is third person singular and is 2aorist, furthermore it is subjective.  And as subjective then it has the meaning of possibility so that the translation is that this come that which is perfect may come, but when it does come those things that are known partially shall be done away.  The word for perfect could either be accusative, or neuter, and again in this context will give us the answer, and to use the word thing, which is neuter, is aptly applied for there is no subjectiveness to the coming of Jesus Christ.  I know it is a lot a Greek but frankly too many churches today have pastors speaking from the top of their head and are not referring to the original Greek and to come to the understanding of what was actually written.  We need to know the truth, not somebody's opinion.  What were the Corinthians seeking, and what are many of the so-called Pentecostal and Charismatic churches seeking?  SPIRITUAL GIFTS!  Why?  First of all we are not told to seek them, rather we are to seek the excellent gift of love, for God will supply gifts to whomever, and whenever, He will to do so.  The Corinthian church and I'm afraid of those churches who believe in such doctrine pride themselves that they not only prefer an exercise of gifts as though they have come from God, they teach that this for today.  Unfortunately their doctrine does not align with Scripture.  A perfect has come, and that perfect is God's Word, Bible.  Love never fails, there is no longer any continuance in duration whereby God has need to give gifts as he did for the early Church, before His complete word was done, that is, the gospel of Jesus Christ, and how one should act in a according to God's commandments. This has now been supplied. And that supply is God's Word.  The gifts were in the original times to edify the Church on earth, but all that would be superseded when God's word was come and written and now available to all people to be able to read themselves.  We have God's Word that tells us how we are to live: IF THE BIBLE TELLS US TO DO SOMETHING, DO IT!  IF THE BIBLE TELLS US NOT TO DO SOMETHING, DON'T DO IT!  Simple?  YES!  Hard to do?  YES!  Can we do it?  YES!  When we believe upon the LORD JESUS CHRIST and convert to Him we are given the Holy Spirit, the one who comes alongside and aids us in this life.  How does the Holy Spirit do that?  Like a computer: garbage in, garbage out: or, good things in, good things out.  And how does the Holy Spirit help us?  When we read and study His word and His word becomes part of our knowledge, the Holy Spirit then will draw out that which we have put in.  If we don't put anything in, then either we believe in some sort of special revelation, which the Bible never speaks of especially is this true after the perfect thing has come. We either can't or won't follow the guidance of Scripture.

            I guess we must ask ourselves this question: will I obey God or will I obey man, even my own faulty and sinful reasoning?  The answer to this determines whether, or not Authentic Christianity rules your life.

Establish Your word to your servant,

who is devoted to fearing You.

Turn away my reproach which I dread,

            for Your judgments are good.

Behold, I long for Your precepts;

            revive me in Your righteousness.

Psalm 119: 38 -- 40

Walk in the path of righteousness

Richard L. Crumb