Sunday, April 22, 2012 pm 1 Corinthians Index
Studies in 1 Corinthians
(45)
The End of Miraculous Spiritual Gifts
1Corinthians 13:8-13
Tonight we continue our study of 1 Corinthians.
We are in the midst of a study dealing with abuses concerning
spiritual gifts. It is one
of the most extensive topics addressed by Paul in this letter,
addressing chapters 12-14.
In our study dealing with spiritual gifts thus far, Paul began by noting
that the various gifts one received was a result of what the Spirit
Himself willed (i.e. they didn’t get to choose which gifts, if any, they
would receive). After this,
he addressed how, as the body of Christ, every part is important and
responsible for fulfilling whatever its function is.
Together, we are the body of Christ and members individually.
So whatever abilities one might have, they need to execute that
and do what they can to support the body as a whole.
This was followed by an acknowledgment that God (not man) has
appointed the various “offices” within the body AND works to be done.
He has placed us where He wants us and we need to respect His
will. In summary of chapter
12, Paul was dealing with unity in the body as each part did their share
to build up the body of Christ.
Yet in spite of all this Paul said, “And yet I show you a more
excellent way.” (12:31)
That way of course was the way of love.
We have discussed what this love involves, how important it is,
and the attributes that accompany Christian love.
We noted how such is more excellent than the various spiritual
gifts because EVERYONE can develop and show this love.
Furthermore, love is necessary to use spiritual gifts (or
whatever gifts we have) properly.
That is why we need to seek to develop this love in every
relationship we are involved in.
That now brings us to our text for this lesson.
Paul here presents yet another reason why the way of love is more
excellent than that of spiritual gifts – namely, that miraculous
spiritual gifts would be done away with.
We have alluded to this in the past.
Tonight, we want to discuss in greater detail the cessation of
spiritual gifts.
I.
Miracles to be done away
with
a.
What is a miracle? As we have noted in times past, this word is misinterpreted
by many today. They call
spectacular events, unexplained phenomena, coincidences, answered
prayers, or even luck a miracle.
But that is not the Biblical definition or description.
Miracles in the Bible were acts which clearly suspended or
superseded the laws of nature for the purpose of verifying that God was
with one (and usually associated with the revelation of His word).
IT is an act of God that cannot
be duplicated through natural processes.
b.
What was the purpose of
miracles (spiritual gifts)?
To
verify the word of God.
As a rule, whenever miracles were performed, God was speaking to
His people directly. The
purpose of the miracle was to distinguish the true prophet of God from
the false prophets.
An example of this is Matthew 9:1-8 where Jesus performs a miracle to
prove that “the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins.”
In John 3:2 Nicodemus acknowledged Jesus as having come from God, “…
for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with Him.”
(For a fuller discussion of this, see the lesson on 1 Cor.
12:1-3). Oh, how the
Corinthian brethren needed to keep this in mind!
c.
Were miracles to cease? The answer is
YES!
i.
The text we are now
discussing clearly demonstrates this.
Vs. 8 says that prophecies, tongues and knowledge would fail or
vanish away.
ii.
The way that miracles
were distributes was ALWAYS through the laying on of the apostle’s
hands. (cf. Acts 8:14-19, 19:6, Rom. 1:11, 2 Tim. 1:6, etc.)
IF this be true, then when the generation of the apostles died,
so did the ability to lay hands upon others so that they could receive
miraculous gifts to perform miracles AND with this – within a generation
of the death of the last apostles, there were no more miracles.
iii.
History confirms that
spiritual gifts ceased shortly after the beginning of the 2nd
century. They are not
discussed as being in existence anymore by the “church fathers.”
iv.
As we shall also see in
our text, there would come a time when they were no longer needed.
We just need to determine when that time is.
v.
Finally, we just do NOT
see miracles today which fit the model of the New Testament.
Even the so-called miracles being performed today (which they are
not) do not follow the pattern of the New Testament.
Today, miracles are performed for the betterment of the
believer’s life rather than to produce faith as was so often the case in
the Bible.
II.
The Context
a.
Let us analyze this text
and see how it teaches that spiritual gifts will be done away with and
when it will occur. In this
text we need to determine what was “in part” and what is “perfect.”
Let us examine the text:
b.
Love NEVER fails!
(vs. 8) This is the ultimate
point Paul is trying to drive home.
They were bickering over their spiritual gifts and failing to
manifest love in their conduct for one another.
They had it backwards.
Having described Christian love, Paul concludes by noting that it
will NEVER fail.
c.
(Vs. 8) BUT, miraculous
spiritual gifts WILL fail!
Paul mentions 3 –
i.
Prophecies (2nd
only to apostles in God’s order – 1 Cor. 12:28) would fail – a word
meaning “to render inactive, idle, useless, ineffective.” (WS Dictionary
NT) Paul was saying a time
was coming when prophecies would no longer continue to be made.
ii.
Tongues would cease –
tongues dealt with unknown languages to the one speaking it OR the one
interpreting it. We will
discuss tongues in more detail in our next lesson (14:1-18).
Here Paul said they would cease – meaning to stop or come to an
end.
iii.
Knowledge would vanish
away – the word for knowledge is a common word meaning to know.
Obviously Paul is not saying that learning would cease, BUT he
was saying that divinely guided knowledge would no longer be revealed.
The word vanish is the same Greek word used to describe
prophecies failing.
iv.
NOTE:
We have listed here 3 of the 9 “spiritual gifts” found in 1 Cor.
12:8-10 where Paul attributes all of them to being distributed by the
Holy Spirit as he willed. It
should be noted that Paul is not speaking ONLY of these 3 spiritual
gifts, but ALL such spiritual gifts (i.e. the whole list).
You could call these three a sampling of those that would be done
away with.
d.
(Vs. 9) For we know in
part and we prophecy in part – what does “in part” mean here?
i.
The word has to do with
a portion of the whole.
Considering this in light of our present discussion, what Paul is saying
is that their knowledge (miraculous) and prophecies were not complete.
ii.
Consider that God did
NOT reveal the completed word all at once.
It was delivered in pieces (if you will).
Consider the following:
Jesus promised His disciples in John 16:13 that He would send the Holy
Spirit and “He will guide you into
all truth; for He will not speak of his own authority; but whatever He
hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.”
An example: Consider how the gospel was gradually revealed to all
mankind.
1.
As Jesus said in Acts
1:8, it would begin in Jerusalem with the Jews and culminate with the
end of the earth.
2.
Recall how at first they
went exclusively to the Jews.
3.
It wasn’t until Peter
was sent to Cornelius (Acts 10) that the Gentiles received the gospel.
4.
And it was years after
this (Acts 15) based upon command, example and inference,
where they reached their conclusion that Gentile did not have to
keep the Law.
5.
NOTICE what Paul says in
Eph. 3:2-5, the “mystery” had now been revealed, “which
in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been
revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets.”
6.
However, shortly
thereafter, statements would begin to be made which indicated that the
message had been completed.
Let’s continue:
e.
(Vs. 10) “But when THAT which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will
be done away with.” What is “that which is perfect”?
i.
Some believe it to be
the second coming of Christ, especially those who believe in modern day
miracles. But that does not
fit the context.
1.
First of all, it does
not say, HE who is perfect, but THAT which is perfect (it is an
adjective in the neuter gender).
While such can apply to a person, it is often used of objects.
2.
It is NOT dealing with
the Lord’s return. Paul was
challenging these brethren to emphasize love OVER spiritual gifts,
because their existence was not permanent.
3.
The context contrasts
whatever “that which is perfect” is with the spiritual gifts which were
given “in part.”
ii.
The best explanation is
that it has reference to the COMPLETED Word of God.
1.
This fits the context,
especially when you consider the “gifts” mentioned in vs. 8 were all
associated with the revealing of God’s Word (knowledge, tongues and
prophecy).
2.
While the word of God
was to be delivered, it was delivered “in pieces” if you will.
3.
Jas. 1:25 speaks of “the
perfect law of liberty” which is associated with the word of God.
“Perfect” is the same word as in our text.
4.
Other texts indicate the
complete message had been revealed orally (but not completed in writing,
but it was happening).
Consider Jude 3 – the faith, “once for all delivered to the saints”;
2 Pet. 1:3, His divine power has given us “all things that pertain to
life and godliness.”
a.
(Vs. 11)
“Childish things” put away when
we become a man.
i.
Paul is here making an
analogy to explain that which is in part and that which is perfect.
ii.
He notes that what is
“in part” is like a child that is immature.
Paul recalls how he spoke as a child (without complete
understanding, simple wording), understood as a child (thoughts,
interests and opinions), and thought as a child (the process of
reasoning). We know how a
child CANNOT fully comprehend mature subject matter.
But as he matures, he is able to process things better.
And that is why:
iii.
When he became a man he
put away childish things.
Will a more complete understanding one realizes it is time to GROW UP.
iv.
In our context: “That which is
perfect” is associated with maturity or completion.
The point of the text is that when the word was completed, the
need for spiritual gifts (that which was done in part) would be done
away with.
v.
ANOTHER THOUGHT:
Consider this also from the standpoint of the need for these brethren to
GROW UP and quit being childish toward one another.
b.
Now we see in a mirror,
dimly… - further elaboration upon what “that which is perfect” has
reference to – something that brings full understanding and reveals what
we are. That IS the word of
God!
a.
1 Pet. 1:10-12 – now
revealed.
b.
Romans 16:25-26 – the
mystery kept secret since the world began, “but
now made manifest, and by the prophetic scriptures made known to all
nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for
obedience to the faith…”
c.
Again consider James
1:22-25 which challenges to do the word.
When we look into “the perfect law of liberty” and do it, we will
be blessed.
d.
We have EVERYTHING we
need to please God. That is
why we DON’T need any further revelation!
c.
Now abide faith, hope,
love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
Paul has proved his point!
Mainly that love is the greatest motivator and it is always
needed. It is
something that transcends this life.
And
thus Paul has demonstrated WHY spiritual gifts ought not to be a source
of contention and division. While
certainly served their purpose, they were NOT the end all motivation of
the Christian. In fact, Paul
has taught them that spiritual gifts are temporal, but love is eternal.
Therefore, instead of fighting over what spiritual gift one
possessed, learn to love one another and work together.
This would accomplish far more good, both in their midst and
within the society they were a part of and that they were to influence.
We should remember the same thing.
In
our next lesson: Having established the temporary nature of these
miraculous gifts, Paul will now make application as to how to properly
use them in the assemblies.