Love Outlasts Everything

Part 3 - 1 Corinthians 13:8-13

We will close our brief study of love as found in 1 Corinthians today by reading from the final verses of Chapter 13.

1 Corinthians 13:8–13 KJV 1900

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. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spake 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 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. And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

Paul contrasts Christian charity, or AGAPE LOVE on the one hand with the more flashy of the spiritual gifts on the other hand, namely PROPHECY, TONGUES, and KNOWLEDGE. Notice these gifts are what was mentioned when he opened this chapter:

1 Corinthians 13:1–2 KJV 1900

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

It is important to note that Paul never condemns or downplays the importance of such gifts, but rather he very explicitly states none of these matter without a heart of love. As bookends to this chapter, he underscores the preeminence of love in the heart and actions of a Christian. And why is love the most important attribute of all? Paul tells us it is because it never ends. If something lasts forever, would it not be superior to all other things? And if not in it’s purpose, certainly in it’s quality. So the apostle here is saying that Christians who devote themselves to love are involving themselves in something beyond the ordinary and beyond the temporary.

Prophecies, tongues, and knowledge will all cease. In fact, he says those gifts can only be exercised “in part,” which means partially. In other words, their usage is fragmentary. Not only will everyone not receive these gifts, but they cannot be used at will, nor conjured at will, nor picked up or taken off at will. The Holy Spirit alone controlled who, when, and how these gifts were allocated and utilized. But love...now that is something that we all have been given. And what’s more, it never passes away!

Spiritual Gifts will pass away - Verse 10

The reason for why such gifts will pass is because that which is perfect will come to replace them and render them obsolete. The question is then raised as to what this perfect thing is that will come, and when it will come. There are two primary schools of interpretation of that.

"The Perfect" = The Eschaton (Christ’s Return / Final State)

Viewpoint: "The perfect" refers to the second coming of Christ, the consummation of all things, or the full knowledge and presence of God in the age to come.

Support: Fits the context of 1 Cor. 13:12, where Paul speaks of seeing "face to face" and knowing fully, as we are known—language typically associated with final glorification.

Affirms that spiritual gifts are temporary and will cease when believers are in God's full presence.

Theological Implication:

Gifts like prophecy and tongues are useful now, but obsolete in eternity.

Emphasizes the superiority of love, which endures beyond this age (v.13).

"The Perfect" = The Completion of the New Testament Canon

Viewpoint: Popular among some cessationist interpreters, particularly in conservative evangelical circles.

Argues that "the perfect" refers to the completion of Scripture—after which, prophecy and tongues were no longer necessary.

Support: Sees "partial" knowledge as prophetic revelation before the full canon of Scripture.

With the Bible completed, there’s no longer a need for revelatory gifts.

Theological Implication: Justifies the belief that miraculous gifts ceased after the apostolic age.

Encourages a shift from experience-based Christianity to Bible-centered faith.

Criticism: Most scholars note this doesn’t align with Paul’s language ("face to face," "know fully"), which suggests a relational or eschatological context rather than a textual one.

"The Perfect" = Spiritual Maturity (Individually or Corporately)

Viewpoint: "The perfect" may refer to spiritual maturity, either individually (as Christians grow) or corporately (as the Church matures over time).

Support: Some link it to Paul's analogy in verse 11: "When I became a man, I gave up childish ways"—suggesting a process of growing up in the faith.

Theological Implication: Spiritual gifts may fade as believers mature or as the church reaches greater unity and depth.

Criticism: This view struggles to explain verse 12, which seems to imply a future dramatic transformation, not merely growth over time.

Paul’s analogies - verses 11-12

in verse 11, he appeals to the natural experiences of all people in regards to knowledge and maturity gained through age

just as a man no longer acts as a child when he is grown, so does the mature Christian no longer acts as one that is a “babe” in Christ

The gifts of prophecy, tongues, and knowledge are so limited by the constraints of this life and their partial nature that they may be compared to childish things.

children are wowed and entertained by acts of grandeur, lights, and sounds and as wholesome and wonderful as they may be, adults are expected to be more grounded and sober-minded, not so much so that we are not amazed by the power and wonder of God, but that we are not ONLY stirred to move by such flashy things

in verse 12, Paul uses the analogy of a mirror

in those days, mirrors were made of polished brass. While this could reflect the image of a person, it was far from a perfect representation of their face, let alone all of the fine details

another example would be a portrait. They did not have the luxury of photography, but paintings and sculptures were plenty, and widely sought after in the Greco-Roman culture.

even the best paintings created by the finest artists were not perfect renderings of their subjects

however, even with modern photography and the instant access to real-time images of our loved ones, these are all a poor substitute for seeing our loved ones in real time

a picture is worth 1,000 words, but...

pictures do not do it justice

for Paul, the gifts of the Spirit such as prophecy, understanding knowledge, and speaking in tongues are like photographs: it’s what the church has access to now, but then when that which is perfect is come, we shall see Him more clearly and have no need of the photographs because we will be in His presence!

so which is better: strive for and tout the photographs of Jesus, or show our love for Him by pointing others to Him so that they may too see Him face-to-face one day?

The most excellent way - verse 13

Paul concludes this section of his letter by contrasting the gifts of the Spirit with these three fruits of the spirit: faith, hope, and love.

While prophecy, knowledge, and tongues will cease, the fruits of faith, hope, and love do and will remain. Yet...

One day, our faith will end in sight: 2 Corinthians 5:7 “for we walk by faith, not by sight.”

Implies that faith is for this present life, where we do not yet see fully. The implication is that when we are in God's presence, we will see, and so faith will no longer be needed in the same way.

One day, our hope in Christ will end: Romans 8:24–25 “For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.”

Hope fades when the object of hope is fully realized.

So even though faith and hope will outlive the gifts of the Spirit, there is still yet one attribute that endures forever, and that is love. Love is higher in stature, in importance, and in strength than any other thing we can conceive and see, because it is an attribute of God.

1 John 4:16 ESV

So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.

John 3:16 KJV 1900

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Romans 5:8 ESV

but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.