CHAPTER 13 AND VERSE 10
1 Corinthians 13:10 indicates
that “when the perfect (teleion Greek) comes, the partial will be done
away.”
This clause is amplified by
Paul’s words, before and after, in 1 Corinthians 13: 9–13. After stating in
verse 8 that various manifestations of the Spirit would be rendered inoperative
or cease, he explains in 1 Corinthians 13:9 and 10: “For we know in part (“in”
is the Greek ek meaning “from” or “out of”), and we prophesy in part;
but when the perfect comes (Greek to teleion, “attaining an end or
purpose, complete” “meeting the highest standard”—BDAG, s.v. τέλειος, §1;
“brought to its end, finished; lacking nothing necessary to
completeness”—Thayer, s.v. τέλειος, §1), the partial will be done away (Greek brought
to an end).” The sense of the word points to the ultimate, not to some
intermediate state. Therefore, the phrase “when the perfect comes” (τέλειον/teleion),
likely refers to entering the eternal state—the new heavens and the new earth
(Rev. 21:1; cf. Isaiah 65:17–25).
There has been lots of debate on
the precise meaning of the Greek word teleion. Thomas Edgar (1996:246) sums up
his conclusion in the following insightful words:
If, as seems apparent in the
passage, the teleion [“perfect”] refers to the individual’s with the
Lord, this passage does not refer to some prophetic point in history. These
factors mean that this passage does not teach when gifts will cease or how long
they will last. It serves to remind the Corinthians of the abiding nature of
love in contrast to the gifts, which by their inherent nature are only
temporal, only for this life.
Put succinctly, Edgar (1996:246)
believes that the “perfect” (teleion) occurs when the individual
believer enters into the presence of the Lord, whether that be at the Lord’s
return or the believer’s passing on to heaven, whichever first. When the
believer meets the Lord Jesus face-to-face, there will be no need for the
spiritual gifts, because “then I shall know fully just as I also have been
fully known” (1 Cor 13:12; cf. 2 Cor 5:8–9). Calvin (1573:360), in answer to
when that “perfect” will come, says, “It begins, indeed, at death, for then we
put off, along with the body, many infirmities; but it will not be completely
manifested until the day of judgment.” Note that Calvin (1573:360) says that
the “perfect” begins at death, but its full application is not to that
intermediate state.
In other words, without fear of
being contradicted, we know that various “spiritual ministries” will fade into
complete irrelevance, at a different time for me than my grandchildren,
assuming they outlive me and that the Lord doesn’t return before I depart this
present earthly scene. (Maurice E. Vellacott, The Earliest View of New Testament
Tongues: Understood as Non-Supernatural, Learned Earthly Languages [Eugene,
Oreg.: Wipf & Stock, 2024], 227-28)
