Cessation
of gifts. Some interpreters, especially in the dispensational
tradition, argue that Paul teaches that the gifts, at least the supernatural
ones, cease with completion of the canon. First Corinthians 13:8–12 certainly
teaches that gifts will not last forever. Indeed, 1 Corinthians 13:10 says that
they will pass away when “the perfect” (teleion)
arrives. In some circles “the perfect” is understood to refer to the New
Testament canon. This reading is impossible since Paul had no conception that
he was contributing to a completed canon of writings that would function
together as an authority for the church in its history. Paul was keenly
conscious of his authority as an apostle, and he expected churches to submit to
his authority. But he did not have any notion that history would last a long
time. To see “the perfect” as referring to the New Testament canon is an
example of anachronism. It has also been suggested that “the perfect” here
refers to spiritual maturity and that such maturity is possible once the canon
is completed. But the objections to this view are equally strong. Instead of
referring to spiritual maturity or to the canon of the New Testament, “the
perfect” most likely refers to the second coming of Christ, the end of the age.
The perfect is equivalent with seeing God face to face (1 Cor 13:12), which
most naturally refers to the coming of Christ. “Face to face” often refers to
theophanies in the Old Testament (Gen 32:30; Deut 5:4; 34:10; Judg 6:22; Ezek
20:35), and thus seeing a reference to Christ’s return is most probable. What
makes the spiritual maturity view even more unlikely is the reference to
knowledge. When the perfect comes, the partial will pass away (1 Cor 13:10).
Presently Paul sees imperfectly, but when the perfect arrives, he will see face
to face (1 Cor 13:12). Partial knowledge will give way to complete knowledge (1
Cor 13:12). If the “perfect” refers to the New Testament canon or spiritual
maturity, we no longer have partial knowledge. Those who have the canon or
those who are mature would know all things fully. Indeed, they know more than
Paul! But any notion that our knowledge is perfect now is overrealized
eschatology and should be rejected. (Thomas R. Schreiner, Paul, Apostle of God’s Glory
in Christ: A Pauline Theology [Westmont, Ill.: IVP Academic, 2006], 369–370)
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