What is that which is perfect? 1 Corin. 13:10

[Postvieww]

1 Corinthians 13:10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

This verse used by many to discount the gifts of the Spirit and claim they are not for today.

Ephesians 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

If we have not yet been perfected and come to the unity of the faith, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, the fivefold ministry is still in effect today and all of the gifts that go with them.

1 John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

This passage tell us plainly we have not yet been perfected or are we fully like Him. That takes place when He appears.

That which is perfect is not the completed cannon of scripture, that is false teaching based on no scripture.

Luke 13:32 And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.

That which is perfect is Jesus. We await His return.

1 Corinthians 1:7 So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:

 

[Handmaid for Jesus]

I think it means that when the body of Christ ( The Church) has been united as one with the Head (which is Christ Jesus). I can't find the words to fully express my understanding.

 

[Straightshot]

We know in part by the Lord's Word, spoken and written, however, He has not revealed everything that we will know when we have been made immortal .... this changing will remove a man's limitations .... and those who have been changed will know all that He knows .... no limitations

 

[Charlie24]

The church at Corinth gave Paul more problems than any other church he built. Corinth was one of the most sinful cities of that day, and Paul had challenge to keep this church in order.

He tried to bring unity in one body of Christ, they were divided and what you may call the holy rollers of 1st century christianity. In chp. 13 Paul tells them though you may have all these gifts of the spirit, they are nothing without love. The love that Paul speaks of is the motivating love of God.

Then in vs 8-13 Paul makes a comparison between their present state of being and the future state. In the present state of being "we know in part and we prophesy in part." In the future state "but then shall I know even as also I am known." Paul is speaking of the difference between who we are now and what we will be come the resurrection.

"When that which is perfect is come," is the change that takes place from mortal to immortal, the resurrection.

Paul uses another comparison in vs 11. comparing the mortal state of being as a child, and the immortal state as a muture man. He likens it to looking through a glass and not seeing clearly, vs 12.

The point of it all is that the love that God gives is the factor that changes man. vs 1-8 presents this love, vs 8-13 is the comparison of the change Gods love can bring.

 

[Straightshot]

For we will be like Him

 

[Postvieww]

I think it means that when the body of Christ ( The Church) has been united as one with the Head (which is Christ Jesus). I can't find the words to fully express my understanding.

I agree with what you wrote. I believe that is only one aspect of it. Eph 4:11-13 supports that. What I pointed out in my OP is that while we are now striving for perfection and we will attain it at His coming and “the resurrection “as Charlie 24 pointed out. I believe the passage 1 Corinthians 13:10 refers to Jesus as “that which is perfect”. Jesus said in Luke 13:32 “the third day I shall be perfected” , that was accomplished and He is coming again. It will be at that time those “gifts” Paul wrote of will no longer be needed. The point of the tread is to point out fallacy commonly taught around this scripture. There has been an effort by many in the church over the years to remove much of the supernatural out of scripture, in this area as well as many others.

I have been confronted with the teaching that “that which is perfect” is the cannon of scripture many times. The theory there is: we have the complete word of God “the cannon of scripture” so there is no need for those supernatural gifts today. I believe that is false and only deprives the people of God many blessings in our day.


Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.

 

[Postvieww]

1 Corinthians 13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

Anything a believer accomplishes without charity “love” is of little value. This passage is not an indictment against the gift of tongues.

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, and have not charity, I am nothing.

Amen. But this does not eliminate the need for or the existence of these gifts in our midst today.

3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

Jesus said: John 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

When will prophecies fail, when will tongues cease, when will knowledge vanish away? We are told in verse 10.

9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.

10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

When Jesus returns his kingdom will operate as originally intended, and then and only then will those things which are in part be done away with.

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.

12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

Paul and Jesus agree.