In a Mirror Dimly, But Then Face to Face
In a Mirror Dimly, But Then Face to Face
As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. - 1 Corinthians 13:8b-12 (ESV)
Have you ever gotten to this last part of 1 Corinthians 13 and felt confused? Me too.
At face value, it’s almost as if the Apostle Paul was just trying to be enigmatic and elusive. Taking a closer look, however, and thinking about these verses in context to the larger passage (really, all of 1 Corinthians, but at least chapters 12-14), I think the meaning becomes a bit less foggy.
There are some who believe that this text teaches or supports the idea that certain spiritual gifts were only given to the Church for a time, and that once their purpose was fulfilled, those gifts ceased. I’m not about to argue for or against cessation here, but I do think there is a strong argument to be made that this particular passage has nothing to do with that idea — not in the context of our day, at least. I believe there is a more appropriate understanding and application of these verses to be considered, based on the rest of 1 Corinthians.
1 Corinthians 13, commonly known as “the love chapter,” kicks off by contrasting a number of the spiritual gifts (prophecy, knowledge, faith, giving) with love, stating that even if we had the most desirable gifts — that even if we had the most effectual gifts — without love, they’d be completely worthless.
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. - 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 (ESV)
Now, you cannot read 1 Corinthians 12-14, and say, “It’s about love, and not about spiritual gifts.” But neither can you say, “It’s about spiritual gifts, and not about love.” This section of the Apostle Paul’s letter to the church of Corinth clearly discusses both: love and spiritual gifts.
That being said, I personally believe that the whole of chapter 13 has more to do with love — what love looks like, and the rank and role that love is supposed to take in the life of a Christian — than it does spiritual gifts.
When Paul wrote 1 Corinthians, one of the major issues that he was having to address with the church in Corinth was that the Corinthian Christians were putting too much emphasis on the significance of possessing and using spiritual gifts. They were treating one another as if, if you’d received one of the “miraculous” spiritual gifts (e.g. healing, prophecy, tongues), you were more important than other Christians and deserving of greater honor. On the other hand, if you’d received one of the “ordinary” spiritual gifts (e.g. giving, mercy, service), you were less important and deserved less honor.
Having been given certain spiritual gifts had become a matter of pride, whereas having been given other spiritual gifts was something to feel ashamed of.
Paul denounced this way of thinking and treating one another, reminding the church in Corinth that all of the spiritual gifts are “empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills” (1 Corinthians 12:11, ESV).
It was never supposed to be about the one who’d received a spiritual gift; it’s only ever been about the Spirit of Christ, who gives each gift at will, and empowers each person to use the gifts they’ve been given for His good purpose. In other words, there’s no room for any of us to boast about our spiritual gifts, because they have nothing to do with us! As Paul wrote in the very beginning of his letter to the church of Corinth:
For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” – 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 (ESV)
The gifts of the Spirit are all manifestations of God’s grace at work through us, His empowering strength to do His work, here on earth, and to be transformed into His likeness.
And what does it look like for you and me to be transformed into His likeness? Well, it looks a lot like love.
I think that’s why, sandwiched right between two chapters about the appropriate uses, function, and attribution of spiritual gifts in the lives of Christians, Paul paints for us this vivid depiction of what love looks like:
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. - 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a
And as I shared in last week’s article, as we begin to look more and more like love, we’ll look more and more like God; because God is love (1 John 4:8, 16)!
This side of eternity, the appropriate use of whichever spiritual gifts you and I are given for the purpose of serving one another, goes hand-in-hand with you and me being able to love one another the way that we should — the way that Jesus would!
I believe that the final verses of 1 Corinthians 13 bears witness to the truth that on the day when Christ’s love is perfected in us, you and I won’t need spiritual gifts anymore — not just the so-called “miraculous” gifts, but any of the spiritual gifts.
I believe that Paul references the gifts in these verses, and all throughout this passage, not because they’re the main point of the passage, but because they demonstrate the contrast between something that’s passing (ending) and something that’s being completed (becoming permanent).
Our sanctification, for those of us who are in Christ, is being completed. And at the day of Christ Jesus, it will be finished! And when that day comes, our completed image-bearing Christ-likeness will never be lost, nor will it ever fade!
You might say like this: When you and I pass over from the moment-by-moment process of our sanctification to the finished work of our glorification, we will look like perfect love.
The book of James talks about the Bible being like a mirror that we hold up to ourselves — a mirror that reveals to us our truest state (James 1:22-25). When we look into it, we can see how unlike Jesus we still are; but also, as we continue to be sanctified and transformed into Christ’s likeness — as we continue to grow up in our faith — over time, we’ll catch more and more glimpses of Jesus in our own reflection.
Right now, as we learn more about what God is like and what He desires for us to look like, through reading the written Word, we see Jesus dimly. But one glorious day in the not-so distant future, you and I are going to see Love incarnate, face to face!
As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. - 1 Corinthians 13:8b-12 (ESV)
And I am sure of this, that [Love] who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. - Philippians 1:6, ESV
Want to read more articles like this one? Subscribe today for free, and you’ll get blog posts and updates sent straight to your inbox, so you’ll never miss a thing!
God Is Love $22.95 & up
Based on 1 Corinthians 13 and 1 John 4, you can proclaim God’s love everywhere you go while wearing this t-shirt or hoody! (Available in multiple colors.)
