SPIRITUAL GIFTS 7
The love chapter is the way most see I Corinthians 13. Verses 1-7 and 13 are really keyed upon when this chapter is discussed. This is fine as far as it goes. We must examine the reason for writing verses 1-7 What end is Paul trying to achieve?
To do this we must examine the writings a little at a time. Paul is saying there is something greater than the gifts that the Church at Corinth was using and abusing. Verse 13 does a lot to clue us in. “
1Co 13:13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity. “
Paul is telling the Church there is something greater and better than the gifts that are only partial. Notice that prophecy, understanding all mysteries, all knowledge, and all faith to remove mountains are gifts that are inferior to the gift of love. If we don’t love the Lord and His people above all of these gifts we are what? Paul said we become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. Does he mean we are ding-a-lings? Just a little humor. What it means is a cacophony, a harsh and discordant sound. Not a symphony of well arranged notes and chords that are pleasing to the ear but disharmony and harsh, displeasing noise that has no rhyme or reason. These, certainly are not words of recommendation.
A further examination reveals what Charity does and what it does not do. What it does do is suffer long and is kind. What it does not do is vaunteth not itself, nor is puffed up, behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil: Rejoiceth not in iniquity. What have we seen with those that claim different gifts? Lets look at the vaunted and puffed up. Those that have claimed the gift of tongues and to a certain degree, other gifts;take pride in their accomplishment. There is the sense that they are more righteous because they do these things. They seem to want all others to engage in the gift of tongues, particularly. This is totally contrary to chapter 12 which states that not all have the same gift. Yet the prevailing thought is that everyone should speak in tongues. This has to be classed as heresy. Paul declares the sovereignty of God is giving the gifts to the ones He chooses. Notice particularly, verse 6, “rejoiceth in the truth: Can we not simply accept chapter 12 as Paul wrote it instead of vainly trying to explain it away. I Corinthians 12:6-11 amply explain that not all have the gift of tongues, or wisdom, or healing. The word is plain.
I Corinthians 13:8, Paul makes a clear statement about the partial gifts. “…they shall fail;.. they shall cease;…it shall vanish away.” It behooves us to find when these gifts shall fail, cease, vanish away. In the finding, we must be honest. In I Corinthians 13:6 “…but rejoiceth in the truth:.” We need to examine verse 10 because Paul is letting us know that he is telling us of when this will take place.
1Co 13:10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
Look at the construction of the sentence. Those that want to live with imperfect and partial knowledge state that this refers to the second coming of Jesus. For this reason we still have these partial gifts. May I contend with you that if this is the meaning of this passage, Paul is reviling Jesus by the term that. The love and respect we know Paul to have to the Savior would demand that Paul use the term He to cause this passage to read – “ But when He which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. “…that which is perfect…” is a common noun and is neuter. That means it is not masculine or feminine. My “Idiot’s Guide to Grammar & Punctuation says that common nouns refer to things such as – hair, emeralds, keys, time, whatever – things and stuff that have words for what they are but don’t have their own specific names. After checking my English, I then turned to the Greek language and found that this phrase could not possibly be speaking of a person such as Jesus. Those that would argue for this phrase being Jesus is making up, totally, a false argument based upon what that person wants this phrase to be. This would be tantamount to adding to the scripture which is forbidden in Revelations.
May we continue our search for the meaning of this passage by going to James 1:25.
Jam 1:25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
Look at the word perfect. What does this word mean? There are those that would use this to refer to Christ as the only perfect one. One must remember this is an Old English word.
G5046
τέλειος
teleios
Thayer Definition:
1) brought to its end, finished
2) wanting nothing necessary to completeness
3) perfect
4) that which is perfect
4a) consummate human integrity and virtue
4b) of men
4b1) full grown, adult, of full age, mature
Part of Speech: adjective
A Related Word by Thayer’s/Strong’s Number: from G5056
Citing in TDNT: 8:67, 1161
The above meanings are fulfilled today. The Word of God having been completed has given us all we need to know today. It is complete as to it’s instruction in salvation, in how to live, in what the Church is and is to do, in who Jesus is, in who God is and how He wants to be worshiped. Let us add one more verse to make even more solid that Paul is talking about the Completed Word of God. James 2:12.
Jam 2:12 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.
We have to agree that this verse is speaking of the same thing that James 1:25 speaks of.
Both speak of the law of liberty. James 1:25 relates that the one that looks into the law of liberty and continues in it will be blessed. Where else but the Word of God is it spoken how we should live our lives. James 2 states that we will be judged by the law of liberty. One only needs a short time of research to find that the Word of God will be used to judge all. Now that which is perfect in I Corinthians 13 can only refer to the perfect law of liberty that will judge the saint and sinner one day, Gods Word, the Bible.
Paul compares the desire for the partial gifts as childishness. He calls us to put away childish things. There will always be those that do not grow in the Lord and live their lives as “bottle babies,” never able to eat the meat of the Word of God.
Technorati Tags: love, examine, writings, corinth, church, paul
In Spirit and In Truth The Word 
Confederacy or Conspiracy
It is easy to cry “a confederacy,” but that union which is not based upon the truth of God is rather a conspiracy than communion. Charity by all means; but honesty also. Love, of course, but love to God as well as love to men, and love of truth as well as love of union.
Charles H. Spurgeon, in The Downgrade Controversy
Leave a comment
Filed under Commentary
Tagged as charity, confederacy, conspiracy, honesty, religious, spiritual