240218 1 Corinthians 13: Got Agape?

INTRODUCTION

0:00 Minute(s) INTRODUCTION SLIDE

John 15:12–14 ““This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. “You are My friends if you do what I command you.

Agape is in view here. It is known as a selfless, sacrificial and unconditional love. Active in motion, forgiving of wrongs and transformative in relationships

MAINPOINT

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John 15:14 ““You are My friends if you do what I command you.”

ROADMAP

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PRAYER

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CONTEXT

0:00 Minute(s) CONTEXT SLIDE

Here is the context of 1 Corinthians 13. The overall intent of the letter was revealed last week in 1 Corinthians 1:10 which says, “Now I exhort you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment.” Unity is the goal and to achieve this goal he has systematically worked through the issues that he is aware of including idolatry, immorality, lawsuits in between members of the body and anarchy during the Lord’s supper. He is working to unite the body together and he describes in chapter 12 how all believers are given gifts by the Holy Spirit for the building up the body but then he shifts away to this transcendent digression on Love in chapter 13 with these words, 1 Corinthians 12:31“But you earnestly desire the greater gifts. And I will yet show you a more excellent way.”

SERMON

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I. Agape’s Importance (v1-3) - The Critical Ingredient 3:30 Minute(s)

1 Corinthians 13:1 If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.

Minimum Required Elements

1. Rephrase:

Without possessing agape: v1 The languages of men and angels are a loud empty noise v2 Possessing other gifts, even great and mighty things like prophecy, mystery, knowledge and even faith is nothing and its lack makes the user of the gifts worthless v3 Giving up all things, even ourselves, without love is entirely without value to the one who gives it up

2. Enhance:

Agape is the critical ingredient in life. Agape is something possessed, owned, held.

3. Define:

Agape is an active and intentional expression of unconditional affectionate devotion that culminates in sacrificial service for the ultimate purpose of glorifying God and promoting our mutual good.

4. Elaborate:

Without Agape we cannot speak correctly, prophecy Biblical truth accurately, know God’s mysteries truly, believe rightly, sacrifice ultimately or serve properly. It is the critical ingredient

5. Getting Agape:

How does one get this critical ingredient? Can it be built Romans 7:18, bought Song of Solomon 8:7, or borrowed? No! It must be received, yes received as a gift from God. PAUSE Have we recieved the gift of God’s love? 1 John 3:1“See how great a love the Father has given to us, that we would be called children of God; and we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.”

6. Transition:

but before we dive into how Agape is received lets see what Agape looks like

Notes

v1 BTB v2 Paul is arguing from the actual to the hypothetical therefore no support that tongues are a heavenly language

II. Agape Explained (v4-7) 6:00 Minute(s) TOO MUCH EDGE NEEDS EDITING

1 Corinthians 13:4 Love is patient, love is kind, is not jealous, does not brag, is not puffed up; 5 it does not act unbecomingly, does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered; 6 it does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 7 it bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Minimum Required Elements

1. Rephrase/Restate:

Agape is the capacity to be wronged and not retaliate, agape is gentle. Agape is not envious (Jealous), proud (puffed up), or angrily reactive (provoked). Agape does not accept entitlement (seek its own) or act out (act unbecomingly) or keep tallies of sin debts (take into account a wrong suffered). Agape does not delight in wickedness (unrighteousness). Agape does take joy in truth (rejoice with the truth), endures every kind of suffering(bears), gives the benefit of the doubt endlessly (Believes), expectantly desires good things (Hopes), withstands all things (endures).

2. Application:

The absence of Agape was pervasive in Corinth. Think of the context of the Corinthian church, there were lawsuits, idolatry, selfishness, arrogant pride, even incest… Is this Agape? No! That is what the absence of Agape looks like.

Agape is a gift given from the Father. Agape is commanded by the Son and Agape is the fruit of the Spirit’s work in the life of the believer. Do we have Agape? Turn with me to Galatians 5:14ff

Commanded: Galatians 5:14–6:2 | 14 For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in this: “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.”

Warned 15 But if you bite and devour one another, beware that you are not consumed by one another.

Exhorted: 16 But I say, walk by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.

Reason: 17 For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you do not do the things that you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.

Flesh’s Example: 19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, 21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Wow, now that is a vile list… here is some food for thought though. We are told in 1 Corinthians 13:6 that Agape “it does not rejoice in unrighteousness...” Can we honestly look at our entertainment choices and say that we believe that we are not rejoicing in unrighteousness? How much sexual immorality is present, impurity, sorcery, strife, jealousy, drunkenness. Hollywood is a whole industry bent on twisting reality so much that we cheer for the bad guys now… I wonder if we actually possess Agape....

Agape is a product of the Spirit led life, possessed by the Christian and evidenced in interactions with friend and foe alike

Spirit’s Example:

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.

The indwelling of the Spirit, the leading of the Spirit produces these things - the first of which is Agape and its manifestations

Here is another thought… supposing that we are regenerate, that this is a body comprised of like minded Bible believing Christians, why haven’t our sins been confronted by each other? Are we hiding our sins? Are we so cultural, so biblically illiterate that we don’t even know our obligation to manifest Agape to others by bringing the Word to bear in their lives. I am talking about gently, disciplining one another for the purpose of restoration. Why don’t we do this? Are we hypocrites, are we ignorant, illiterate or unbelieving?

Call to action:

Galatians 6:1–2“Brothers, even if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, each of you looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”

III. Agape’s Endurance (v8-13) 1:30 Minute(s)

Minimum Required Elements

1 Corinthians 13:8“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.”

v8 Fading of the partial

Love doesn’t fade or fail; it endures and lasts… Everything else is a shadow of the final reality: Prophecy will be entirely fulfilled, Tongues as a sign won’t be needed, Partial intellectual knowledge will be eclipsed by experiential knowledge. But Agape will endure and this is effectively the same statement that we left on in verse 7 1 Corinthians 13:7“it bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”

Three Biblical Arguments for the cessation of Sign Gifts

Confirmation Completed - Apostolic authority was confirmed by sign gifts, this was their intent 2 Corinthians 12:12“The signs of a true apostle were worked out among you with all perseverance, by signs and wonders and miracles.”

Scripture’s Sufficiency, nothing more needs to be revealed by God 2 Timothy 3:16–17“All Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness

Cessation Self-Evident, gifts of healing not employed at end of NT 2 Timothy 4:20“Erastus remained at Corinth, but Trophimus I left sick at Miletus.”

1 Corinthians 13:9–10“For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away.”

v9-10 The partial and the perfect

The point is that with the coming of the perfect which is most likely the return of Christ both the gift of prophecy and the gift of knowledge will vanish BTB

1 Corinthians 13:11–12“When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child. When I became a man, I did away with childish things.

v11-12a Two illustrations

Children are are immature,

1 Corinthians 13:12b–13 ...Now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known. But now abide faith, hope, love—these three; but the greatest of these is love.”

v12b-13 The greatest

Paraphrase/Retranslation

Notes

There is a change in the verb tense between tongues and prophecy & knowledge (v8-9) thus suggests that tongues will end. Also Hebrews 2:3–4“how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? That salvation, first spoken by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard, God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will.” ATTESTATION

Questions

What does this passage have to do with cessationism

What is “the perfect” and why does it do away with the partial

What is the perfect’s relationship to love and maturity

What is Abide and what is it defining as far as a timeframe with regard to love

v9-10 BTBThe point is that with the coming of the perfect (most likely the return of Christ)

Cross References

v9-12 1 John 3:2“Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not been manifested as yet what we will be. We know that when He is manifested, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.”

Observations:

You will need to deal with the intersection of Glossolia and Cessationism which appears here

v9-12 CT3 the final and most complete revelatory work of Christ lies still in the future - full revelation/full knowledge

UBSH “Love never ends” is essentially the same as “Love endures all things”

v8

UBSH “Will cease” refers to two words that means that three gifts are temporary, limited, incomplete and even imperfect compared to love which is perfect.

an alternate translation is “Love lasts forever. There are messages from God, but they are temporary; there are gifts of speaking in strange sounds, but they will cease; there is knowledge, but it will pass away”

BKC - Every gift is linked in some way to building up the church to maturity—some (prophecy, knowledge, tongues) functioning in the early years of the Church Age and others continuing on till the church is perfected. When that perfection is achieved, the gifts will have served their purposes and will be rendered obsolete. But this will not happen to love

v9-10 UBSH “Paul seems to be contrasting “imperfection” here with the “perfection” that will be established when he meets God face to face.”

an alternate translation is “For our gift of knowledge and the ability to proclaim God’s message are incomplete; but when that which is complete and perfect comes, then that which is imperfect will no longer be needed.”

* v11 UBSH Context - mirrors in view here are not those modern mirrors but those used in the past made of polished metal. “See” implies seeing God

SUMMARY

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CONCLUSION

1:00 Minute(s) CONCLUSION SLIDE

Ephesians 4:13“until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the full knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ,”

1 John 4:7–12“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love. By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we have loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has beheld God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us.”

PRAYER

1:00 Minute(s) CONCLUSION SLIDE

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15:45Hrs Total Time

0:05Hrs Various research and confirm text to be studied

0:05Hrs Reset Manuscript with notes outline etc

0:10Hrs Daily Reading of Text

0:05Hrs Daily Prayer regarding the text and its penetration

0:45Hrs Hand write text for comprehension

0:10Hrs Read Passages in LSB/NIV/NKJV/LXX/BHS/UBS

0:05Hrs Copy passages in the sermon template in italics

0:00Hrs Draft title/main point/antithesis that connects the passages

1:25Hrs Make notes

0:10Hrs Write Sermon Outline

0:00Hrs Check Biblemaps.com

0:45Hrs Review all Cross References to see what I have missed

0:15Hrs Context BEB

0:30Hrs Read theology CT3/CICR/ST/ST:BH/WSC

5:50Hrs Read Book commentary NAC/K&D/WAL/EBB/TSK/OTT/UBSH/BTB/ES/BKC

6:00Hrs Write Sermon

0:00Hrs Write Introduction/prayer

0:00Hrs Practice

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I. Agape’s Importance (v1-3) - without Love every good is pointless/The Critical Ingredient 1:00 Minute(s)

1 Corinthians 13:1 If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.

Minimum Required Elements

Rephrase: Without possessing agape everything is:

v1 The languages of men and angels are a loud empty noise

v2 Possessing other things, even great and mighty things like prophecy, mystery, knowledge and even faith is nothing, without possessing agape. It makes the user of the gifts worthless

v3 Giving up all things even ourselves without love is entirely without value to the one who gives it up

Enhance and Define POSSIBLY DELAY UNTIL VERSE 7: Agape is the critical ingredient in life. Agape is something possessed, owned, held.

Definition: Agape is both actively intentional and unconditional in nature; involving affectionate devotion, resulting in sacrificial service to ultimate end of God’s glory and our mutual good.

Definition: Agape is an active and intentional expression of unconditional love, characterized by affectionate devotion that culminates in sacrificial service for the ultimate purpose of glorifying God and promoting our mutual good.

Without it we cannot speak correctly, prophecy Biblical truth accurately, know God’s mysteries truly, believe rightly, sacrifice ultimately or serve properly. It is the critical ingredient

How does one get this critical ingredient?

Can it be built? No

Romans 7:18“For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the working out of the good is not.”

Can it be bought? No,

Song of Solomon 8:7 ““Many waters cannot quench love, Nor will rivers overflow it; If a man were to give all the riches of his house for love, It would be utterly despised.””

Can it be borrowed? No!

Can it be received, yes but only as a gift from God but before we dive into how Love is received lets look at Agape explained further

Paraphrase/Retranslation/

Without “Agape” we cannot: *Does God?

speak correctly - Speak with love, are His words a noise to us

prophecy Biblical truth accurately - Reveal accurately,

know God’s mysteries truly - Want to know us

believe rightly

sacrifice ultimately - sacrifice ultimately

serve properly - serve the weak and helpless

Notes

*v1 BTB v2 Paul is arguing from the actual to the hypothetical therefore no support that tongues are a heavenly language

If having faith without love makes someone nothing then can our works survive without love

God speaks in love, God has love so He is complete,

The gifts point to the Giver as the most important element in the transaction

v2 I am nothing” can be translated “I have no value at all”

v1 ἀγάπην is a noun, somethings possessed

v2 ἀγάπην same

v3 ἀγάπην same

v2

WAL Mysteries are not truths hard to understand but one that requires revelation before understanding is possible

ES Γνῶσις means supernatural mystical knowledge (BAGD) It means a human understanding of all facts, being virtually omniscient (MNTC)

QUESTION—What is the function of the repetition of the word πᾶς ‘all’ with ‘mysteries’, ‘knowledge’, and ‘faith’? It means to possess each of these in its individual perfection [Gdt].

QUESTION—What is meant by οὐθέν εἰμι ‘I am nothing’? It means I am worth nothing [EGT, Ho, NIC, TG, TH, Vn]. None of these attainments are of any value without love and so he is worthless [Ho].

Questions

v3 and if I-hand-overa my body in-order-that I-may-boastb/burn,c TEXT—Instead of καυχήσωμαι ‘I may boast’ some manuscripts have καυθήσωμαι ‘I may be burned’ or καυθήσομαι ‘I will be burned’. GNT selects the reading καυχήσωμαι ‘I may boast’ with a C rating, indicating difficulty in deciding which variant to place in the text. The reading καυχήσωμαι ‘I may boast’ is also taken by AB, EGT, NIC2, NIGTC, Rb, TNTC; NET, NLT and NRSV. The reading καυθήσωμαι ‘I may burn’ or καυθήσομαι ‘I will burn’ is taken by Alf, Gdt, Herm, HNTC, Ho, ICC, Lns, NTC, Vn; CEV, KJV, NAB, NIV, NJB, REB, TEV, and TNT.

Observations:

Cross References

v1 If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.

Psalm 150:5“Praise Him with resounding cymbals; Praise Him with clashing cymbals.”

Isaiah 54:10““For the mountains may be removed and the hills may shake, But My lovingkindness will not be removed from you, And My covenant of peace will not be shaken,” Says Yahweh who has compassion on you.”

1 Corinthians 14:2“For one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands, but in his spirit he speaks mysteries.”

v2 And if I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.

Matthew 17:20“And He said to them, “Because of your little faith; for truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you.”

Matthew 21:21“And Jesus answered and said to them, “Truly I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ it will happen.”

1 Corinthians 8:1“Now concerning things sacrificed to idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.”

1 Corinthians 14:1“Pursue love, yet earnestly desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.”

1 Corinthians 14:22“So then tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophecy is for a sign not to unbelievers but to those who believe.”

**Song of Solomon 8:7““Many waters cannot quench love, Nor will rivers overflow it; If a man were to give all the riches of his house for love, It would be utterly despised.””

v3 And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.

1 John 3:17“But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him?”

Romans 12:20““BUT IF YOUR ENEMY IS HUNGRY, FEED HIM, AND IF HE IS THIRSTY, GIVE HIM A DRINK; FOR IN SO DOING YOU WILL HEAP BURNING COALS ON HIS HEAD.””

Matthew 6:1–2““Beware of doing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven. “Therefore, when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be glorified by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.”

Warning

Without being expressed in love by one who loves, the greatest truths are forsaken

Application

II. Agape Explained (v4-7) 0:45 Minute(s)

1 Corinthians 13:4 Love is patient, love is kind, is not jealous, does not brag, is not puffed up; 5 it does not act unbecomingly, does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered; 6 it does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 7 it bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Minimum Required Elements

1. Rephrase:

Agape is the capacity to be wronged and not retaliate, agape is gentle. Agape is not envious (Jealous), proud (puffed up), or angrily reactive (provoked). Agape does not accept entitlement (seek its own) or act out (act unbecomingly) or keep tallies of sin debts (take into account a wrong suffered). Agape does not delight in wickedness (unrighteousness). Agape does take joy in truth (rejoice with the truth), endures every kind of suffering(bears), gives the benefit of the doubt endlessly (Believes), expectantly desires good things (Hopes), withstands all things (endures)

Paraphrase/Retranslation

Notes

Love is

patient (BKC - Patience (makrothymia) is the capacity to be wronged and not retaliate) - an active longsuffering choice)

kind

Love is not

jealous

a braggart

puffed up, the semblance of substance

provoked (BKC - People who are not easily angered usually do not start lawsuits

Love does not

act unbecomingly

self seek

take into account a wrong suffered (literally keeping a record of wrongs)

rejoice in unrighteousness

Love does

Rejoice with the truth

bear all things (specifically related to ill treatment)

believes all things (never loses faith)

hopes all things (is always confident in God)

endures all things (to remain patient no matter what)

Questions

How does this text enhance what follows and what precedes?

Love never fails - it is the greatest because God is love and the aspect of His character that will define the relationship between He and His people into eternity

Galatians 5:6“For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love.” FAITH WORKS THROUGH LOVE 1 John 4:8“The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love.”

Cross References

4 Love is patient, love is kind, is not jealous, does not brag, is not puffed up;

Proverbs 10:12“Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all transgressions.”

Proverbs 17:9“He who covers a transgression seeks love, But he who repeats a matter separates close companions.”

5 it does not act unbecomingly, does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered;

6 it does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth;

7 it bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Observations:

UBSH Corinthians says that “love is spoken as of a person”

Warning

v4-7 Question 80 What is required in the tenth commandment? The tenth commandment requireth full contentment with our own condition, (Heb. 13:5, 1 Tim. 6:6) with a right and charitable frame of spirit toward our neighbour, and all that is his. (Job 31:29, Rom. 12:15, 1 Tim. 1:5, 1 Cor. 13:4–7)\

v7 Question 144 What are the duties required in the ninth commandment? The duties required in the ninth commandment are, the preserving and promoting of truth between man and man, (Zech. 8:16) and the good name of our neighbour, as well as our own; (3 John 12) appearing and standing for the truth; (Prov. 31:8–9) and from the heart, (Ps. 15:2) sincerely, (2 Chron. 19:9) freely, (1 Sam. 19:4–5) clearly, (Josh. 7:19) and fully, (2 Sam. 14:18–20) speaking the truth, and only the truth, in matters of judgment and justice, (Lev. 19:15, Prov. 14:5,25) and in all other things whatsoever; (2 Cor. 1:17–18, Eph. 4:25) a charitable esteem of our neighbours; (Heb. 6:9, 1 Cor. 13:7) loving, desiring, and rejoicing in their good name; (Rom 1:8, 2 John 4, 3 John 3–4) sorrowing for, (2 Cor. 2:4, 2 Cor. 12:21) and covering of their infirmities; (Prov. 17:9, 1 Pet. 4:8) freely acknowledging of their gifts and graces, (1 Cor. 1:4–5,7, 2 Tim. 1:4–5) defending their innocency; (1 Sam. 22:14) a ready receiving of a good report, (1 Cor. 13:6–7) and unwillingness to admit of an evil report, (Ps. 15:3) concerning them; discouraging tale-bearers, (Prov. 25:23) flatterers, (Prov. 26:24–25) and slanderers; (Ps. 101:5) love and care of our own good name, and defending it when need requireth; (Prov. 22:1, John 8:49) keeping of lawful promises; (Ps. 15:4) studying and practicing of whatsoever things are true, honest, lovely, and of good report. (Phil. 4:8)

Application

III. Agape’s Endurance (v8-13) 1:30 Minute(s)

1 Corinthians 13:8 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.

9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away.

11 When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child. When I became a man, I did away with childish things. 12a For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face.

12b Now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known. 13 But now abide faith, hope, love—these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Minimum Required Elements

1 Corinthians 13:8“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.”

v8 Fading of the partial

Love doesn’t fade or fail it endures and lasts… Everything else is a shadow of the final reality: Prophecy will be entirely fulfilled, Tongues as a sign won’t be needed, Partial intellectual knowledge will be eclipsed by experiential knowledge

Three Biblical Arguments for the cessation of Sign Gifts

Confirmation Completed - Apostolic authority was confirmed by sign gifts, this was their intent 2 Corinthians 12:12“The signs of a true apostle were worked out among you with all perseverance, by signs and wonders and miracles.”

Scripture’s Sufficiency, nothing more needs to be revealed by God 2 Timothy 3:16–17“All Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness

Cessation Self-Evident, gifts of healing not employed at end of NT 2 Timothy 4:20“Erastus remained at Corinth, but Trophimus I left sick at Miletus.”

1 Corinthians 13:9–10“For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away.”

v9-10 The partial and the perfect

The point is that with the coming of the perfect which is most likely the return of Christ both the gift of prophecy and the gift of knowledge will vanish BTB

1 Corinthians 13:11–12“When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child. When I became a man, I did away with childish things.

v11-12a Two illustrations

Children are are immature,

1 Corinthians 13:12b–13 ...Now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known. But now abide faith, hope, love—these three; but the greatest of these is love.”

v12b-13 The greatest

Paraphrase/Retranslation

Notes

There is a change in the verb tense between tongues and prophecy & knowledge (v8-9) thus suggests that tongues will end. Also Hebrews 2:3–4“how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? That salvation, first spoken by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard, God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will.” ATTESTATION

Questions

What does this passage have to do with cessationism

What is “the perfect” and why does it do away with the partial

What is the perfect’s relationship to love and maturity

What is Abide and what is it defining as far as a timeframe with regard to love

v9-10 BTBThe point is that with the coming of the perfect (most likely the return of Christ)

Cross References

v9-12 1 John 3:2“Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not been manifested as yet what we will be. We know that when He is manifested, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.”

Observations:

You will need to deal with the intersection of Glossolia and Cessationism which appears here

v9-12 CT3 the final and most complete revelatory work of Christ lies still in the future - full revelation/full knowledge

UBSH “Love never ends” is essentially the same as “Love endures all things”

v8

UBSH “Will cease” refers to two words that means that three gifts are temporary, limited, incomplete and even imperfect compared to love which is perfect.

an alternate translation is “Love lasts forever. There are messages from God, but they are temporary; there are gifts of speaking in strange sounds, but they will cease; there is knowledge, but it will pass away”

BKC - Every gift is linked in some way to building up the church to maturity—some (prophecy, knowledge, tongues) functioning in the early years of the Church Age and others continuing on till the church is perfected. When that perfection is achieved, the gifts will have served their purposes and will be rendered obsolete. But this will not happen to love

v9-10 UBSH “Paul seems to be contrasting “imperfection” here with the “perfection” that will be established when he meets God face to face.”

an alternate translation is “For our gift of knowledge and the ability to proclaim God’s message are incomplete; but when that which is complete and perfect comes, then that which is imperfect will no longer be needed.”

v11 UBSH Context - mirrors in view here are not those modern mirrors but those used in the past made of polished metal. “See” implies seeing God

v12 Question 38 What benefits do believers receive from Christ at the resurrection? At the resurrection, believers being raised up in glory, (1 Cor. 15:43) shall be openly acknowledged and acquitted in the day of judgment, (Matt. 25:23, Matt. 10:32) and made perfectly blessed in the full enjoying of God, (1 John 3:2, 1 Cor. 13:12) to all eternity. (1 Thess. 4:17–18) Question 86 What is the communion in glory with Christ, which the members of the invisible church enjoy immediately after death? The communion in glory with Christ, which the members of the invisible church enjoy immediately after death is, in that their souls are then made perfect in holiness, (Heb. 12:23) and received into the highest heavens, (2 Cor. 5:1,6,8, Phil. 1:23, Acts 3:21, Eph. 4:10) where they behold the face of God in light and glory, (1 John 3:2, 1 Cor. 13:12) waiting for the full redemption of their bodies, (Rom. 8:23, Ps. 16:9) which even in death continue united to Christ, (1 Thess. 4:14) and rest in their graves as in their beds, (Isa. 57:2) till at the last day they be again united to their souls. (Job 19:26–27) Whereas the souls of the wicked are at their death cast into hell, where they remain in torments and utter darkness, and their bodies kept in their graves, as in their prisons, till the resurrection and judgment of the great day. (Luke 16:23–24, Acts 1:25, Jude 6–7) Question 90 What shall be done to the righteous at the day of judgment? At the day of judgment, the righteous, being caught up to Christ in the clouds, (1 Thess. 4:17) shall be set on his right hand, and there openly acknowledged and acquitted, (Matt. 25:33, Matt. 10:32) shall join with him in the judging of reprobate angels and men, (1 Cor. 6:2–3) and shall be received into heaven, (Matt. 25:34,46) where they shall be fully and for ever freed from all sin and misery; (Eph. 5:27, Rev. 14:13) filled with inconceivable joys, (Ps. 16:11) made perfectly holy and happy both in body and soul, in the company of innumerable saints and holy angels, (Heb. 12:22–23) but especially in the immediate vision and fruition of God the Father, of our Lord Jesus Christ, and of the Holy Spirit, to all eternity. (1 John 3:2, 1 Cor. 13:12, 1 Thess. 4:17–18) And this is the perfect and full communion, which the members of the invisible church shall enjoy with Christ in glory, at the resurrection and day of judgment.

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Galatians 5:14–26 | 14 For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in this: “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.” 15 But if you bite and devour one another, beware that you are not consumed by one another. 16 But I say, walk by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. 17 For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you do not do the things that you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. 19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, 21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become those with vain glory, challenging one another, envying one another.