- I'll just copy and paste what I wrote on the other thread:
No, that passage isn't talking about a cessation of the gifts. In fact, the first epistle to Corinthians never thematizes spiritual gifts - it's only talking about spirital maturity, it just so HAPPENS that spiritual maturity is PROPERLY DEFINED as giftedness, an argument begun in chapters 2 and 3, where Paul contrasts the 'immature' Corinthian 'babes' with mature prophets like himself, Isaiah, Moses, etc. THOSE men defined spiritual maturity (see Numbers 12:8 for example), and it MANIFESTS in inspired-speech (see 1Cor 2:6-3:2)
Actually, your view here is enforcing an idea that does not exist within the Scriptures. In 1 Corinthians 2, and 1 Corinthians 3: Paul had to speak unto the Corinthians using milk and not the meat of the Word because they were not able to bear the meat of the Word because they were still yet carnal. Paul's point in 1 Corinthians 2, and 1 Corinthians 3 is that he was not pointing out how he was more mature because he spoke in tongues. The context is in 1 Corinthians 2 and 1 Corinthians 3 was about their being carnal because they were glorying in men (1 Corinthians 3:21) (1 Corinthians 3:4), and the wisdom of men (1 Corinthians 2:1) (1 Corinthians 2:5).
Numbers 12:8 in the NIV says,
"With him I speak face to face, clearly and not in riddles; he sees the form of the LORD. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?"
So Numbers 12:8 is about the CLARITY of speech and not in the obscurity of speech or just pointing out the general maturity of believers. It is referring to the clarity of the message in how God did not speak in riddles (Which is a more difficult way to understand) but God spoke to Moses face to face clearly. Keep in mind that Moses did have to put a veil over His face.
1 Corinthians 13:12 says: "but then face to face: now I know in part;"
1 Corinthians 13:12 also says: "For now we see through a glass, darkly;"
1 Corinthians 13:10-11 says,
10 "But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things."
If you were to keep reading in 1 Corinthians 14, Paul is rebuking the Corinthians for their using tongues without an interpreter. For God is not the author of confusion (1 Corinthians 14:33).
Paul says he knows in part, and he prophesy in part.
Are you saying that the Bible is not all the prophecy that we need?
Are you saying that the Bible needs more added holy words to it?
Does the Bible need more prophetic visions?
Is the Bible incomplete?
Again, James compares a person looking into a glass/mirror and forgetting what kind of person they were in relation to their not doing the Perfect Law of Liberty. By our obedience to the Word, we are conforming to the image of Christ and we are loving Jesus. Jesus says if you love me, keep my commandments. Now, I am not discounting Paul meant that all things will be done away with when He sees the Lord face to face. But we also see another secondary meaning of the "perfect" in Scripture and that is in James 1. The Perfect Law of Liberty which is compared to a person looking in mirror/glass.
When God's perfect law of liberty is complete (With the Bible), we will be able to see Jesus face to face by looking at the reflection of the glass/mirror of the Bible.
Jesus says that the Scriptures testify of Him.
Jesus is perfect, and so the Word is perfect, too.
God magnifies His Word above His own name.
Faith comes by hearing the Word of God.
You said:
Chapter 12 hasn't deviated from this inspired-speech definition of maturity (note most of the gifts in 1Cor 12:7-11 are speech-based). Neither has 13 deviated from the same themes inaugerated at chapters 2 and 3 (babes, maturity, and inspired speech). For example, 13 uses the same Greek word for 'babes' found in ch 3, as WELL AS, the same word for 'mature' used in chap 2. Here's my rendering, therefore, of 1Cor 13:8-11:
Love never ceases. As for prophecies, they will cease; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will cease. For we [apostles and prophets] know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the mature comes, what was in part will cease. When I was a babe, I spoke like a babe, I thought like a babe, I reasoned like a babe. When I became a [mature] man, I ceased from baby things (13:8-11, my translation).
Your odd interpretation here is not what the Bible says. Paul is building up to say this:
19 "...with my understanding, that
by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an
unknown tongue.
20 Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men. " (1 Corinthians 14:19-20).