The Mirror of the Word

[WordSword]

The Bible is like a "mirror," and if we want to see how we're supposed to be and look like, we look at Scripture (scriptural mirror)! Paul's statement that "I know in part" means he only has partial knowledge of God 's Word at that time, because the other writers have yet at that time to write their part; and "that which is perfect" has to do with whatever is partial, which is the Word of God incomplete. But when the Bible was completed ("perfect") we could know the entire will and desires of God; coming face to face clearly in the mirror of the Word!

Again, when the Bible was completed, there was no more need to confirm the Word with "signs and wonders": and Christians could now see what they're supposed to look like by the Word--like the Lord Jesus (1Jo 4:17), and more so all the time as we "grow up into Him in all things" (Eph 4:15).

"Which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him . . . God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit" (Heb 2:3, 4).

James also made a comparison between a "mirror" and the Word of God:

Jas 1:22-25 "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does."

What’s so important about God discontinuing the signs and wonders? So faith can be at its strongest! Paul said “Jews require a sign.”

 

[NewLifeInChristJesus]

Paul's statement that "I know in part" means he only has partial knowledge of God 's Word at that time, because the other writers have yet at that time to write their part; and "that which is perfect" has to do with whatever is partial, which is the Word of God incomplete. But when the Bible was completed ("perfect") we could know the entire will and desires of God; coming face to face clearly in the mirror of the Word!

I was first taught this POV in the mid 1980's. At the time it seemed to be reasonable. But now I see it as indefensible because 1) knowing in full is speaking of the day when we see Him face to face and 2) nothing in 1 Corinthians 13 indicates the completion of the Bible is in view. I now closely associate this POV with those who teach that God does not personally interact with people any more, but instead points them to the Bible if they want to know His will. Is that where you're comming from?

 

[WordSword]

I was first taught this POV in the mid 1980's. At the time it seemed to be reasonable. But now I see it as indefensible because 1) knowing in full is speaking of the day when we see Him face to face and 2) nothing in 1 Corinthians 13 indicates the completion of the Bible is in view. I now closely associate this POV with those who teach that God does not personally interact with people any more, but instead points them to the Bible if they want to know His will. Is that where you're comming from?

Hi NLICJ, and always thankful for your replies! Many commentators support that the Bible is in reference concerning this issue. To me, it refers to something in part that will become perfect or complete, and Heaven has never been in part!

It's got to do with knowing and prophesying in part; all prophesy is the Word, thus all the Word is prophesy.

 

[NewLifeInChristJesus]

13 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.​

4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.​

8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.​

11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.​

13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. (1 Co 13:1–13)​

Hi NLICJ, and always thankful for your replies!

Thank you for your kind reception.

Many commentators support that the Bible is in reference concerning this issue.

I believe you.

To me, it refers to something in part that will become perfect or complete, and Heaven has never been in part!

I agree with you that it is referring to something in part that will become perfect or complete, and it's not Heaven. But the passage tells us what is incomplete now and will be complete then, and it tells us when that will happen (see bold underlined black words above).

• Our knowledge and our preaching is not mature (verse 9),
• We are children, not adults in terms of what we say, what we understand, and what we think (verse 11),
• Now, we see spiritual things dimly and we know spiritual things incompletely (verse 12), but
• Then, when we see Jesus face-to-face, we won't see dimly anymore (as looking in a polished metal mirror), but we will see Him clearly and our knowledge will be mature (verse 12).

It's got to do with knowing and prophesying in part; all prophesy is the Word, thus all the Word is prophesy.

The passage has to do with the superiority of love over other spiritual gifts. These spiritual gifts are all mentioned in verses 1 and 2 (see bold underlined blue text above). Three of them are for now only and will vanish when we see Jesus in verse 8 (see bold underlined orange text above). Three will never fade and will exist for eternity in verse 13 (see bold underlined green text above).

So, it is speaking of us gaining maturity/perfection/completeness when we see Jesus as He is. But for now, we need to concentrate on our spiritual gifts and serve the body of Christ with them, keeping in mind that serving with love is the most important aspect of using our spiritual gifts.

Can you comment on my observation that those who have the completion of the Bible in view in these passages also tend to promote the idea that God does not speak to us directly any more but instead sends us to the Bible for wisdom and instruction?

 

[WordSword]

."I agree with you that it is referring to something in part that will become perfect or complete, and it's not Heaven. But the passage tells us what is incomplete now and will be complete then,

The gloss here is that the Word will no longer be in part, because it will then be complete. I'm still trying to determine why God explained it that way. The word needed signs to be accepted to the Jew, until it no longer needed signs to believe ("I put away childish things" - 1Co 13:11).

It's ok if we differ in our understanding on this issue, thanks for the feed-back!

 

[WordSword]

Can you comment on my observation that those who have the completion of the Bible in view in these passages also tend to promote the idea that God does not speak to us directly any more but instead sends us to the Bible for wisdom and instruction?

The idea of God ceasing in the capacity of the gifts to allow faith to reach its maximum. The more the proof you have, the less faith there will be. "Hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?" Same for faith. Faith is believing without proof!

 

[NewLifeInChristJesus]

The gloss here is that the Word will no longer be in part, because it will then be complete. I'm still trying to determine why God explained it that way. The word needed signs to be accepted to the Jew, until it no longer needed signs to believe ("I put away childish things" - 1Co 13:11).

It's ok if we differ in our understanding on this issue, thanks for the feed-back!

It's ok with me too.

The idea of God ceasing in the capacity of the gifts to allow faith to reach its maximum. The more the proof you have, the less faith there will be. "Hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?" Same for faith. Faith is believing without proof!

I wasn't really asking about the timing of prophecies failing, tongues ceasing, and knowledge vanishing away (1 Cor 13:8). I was asking if you have noticed that those who believe 1 Corinthians 13 is speaking about the completion of the Bible also tend to believe that the Bible guides us into all truth (as oposed to believing the Spirit guides us into all truth). I was just asking if you have noticed any connection. And by implication, I am wondering where you fall on this aspect of the issue.

 

[WordSword]

I was asking if you have noticed that those who believe 1 Corinthians 13 is speaking about the completion of the Bible also tend to believe that the Bible guides us into all truth (as opposed to believing the Spirit guides us into all truth). I was just asking if you have noticed any connection. And by implication, I am wondering where you fall on this aspect of the issue.

If the Spirit isn't guiding and teaching you God's Word (He is the Author - 2Ti 3:16; 2Pe 1:21, you are not really learning what you need to understand! People can teach the Word, but it's only the Spirit that can eventually revel to us at our personal maturity level (1Co 2:13).

At first I wasn't sure what you were asking but I see what you mean now.

 

[NewLifeInChristJesus]

If the Spirit isn't guiding and teaching you God's Word (He is the Author - 2Ti 3:16; 2Pe 1:21, you are not really learning what you need to understand! People can teach the Word, but it's only the Spirit that can eventually revel to us at our personal maturity level (1Co 2:13).

At first I wasn't sure what you were asking but I see what you mean now.

That's fair. And your answer is right on point.