What Is The Perfect Thing Of 1 Corinthians 13:10?
Godly, intelligent Christians disagree concerning the identity of what is refered to in 1 Corinthians 13:10 as "that which is perfect." Some believe that it refers to the second coming of Christ while others believe it can only be the eternal state. Below are ten reasons that I believe that it can only refer to the completion of the canon of Scripture at the end of the first century.
1. "That which is perfect" is set in contrast to the "in part" of verse 9 (incomplete knowledge and prophecy). Contextually, it must refer to the completed knowledge and prophecy to come, that being the canon of Scripture (2 Peter 1:19-20) which was formally closed with Revelation 22:19.
2. The word "perfect" (telion) is never used of the Second Coming of Christ anywhere else in the Bible. It is used to describe the Word of God in James 1:25. The Word of God is perfect and is all we need as a guide!
3. The word "perfect" does not necessarily mean sinless. The primary meaning of the word is that of completeness, needing nothing additional to accomplish its intended purpose or function. While it is impossible in this present life to be sinlessly perfect, it is very possible for them, even required for them, to be perfect according to the meaning of this Greek word. Hebrews 5:14 speaks of those who are of "full age" being able to handle the Word of God correctly. In Phil. 3:15, Paul writes, "as many as be perfect...' indicating that there were already living saints who were perfect. Likewise, Eph. 4:11-15 indicates that the growing into perfection is obtainable in this lifetime. The being carried about by every wind of doctrine refers to being deceived while spiritually immature. To prevent this from happening, God has gifted His Church with certain men. If perfection can only come about with the second coming of Christ or the eternal state, then the endowment of these gifts was useless.
4. The Greek text literally reads, "But when the perfect thing is come..." The definite article "the" and the word perfect are both neuter in gender. Nowhere in Scripture is Jesus Christ referred to with a neuter article. The words "Jesus, Christ, Lord, and Savior" are all masculine and require a masculine article. The words, "apocalypse and parousia", referring to the Second Coming, are both feminine and require a feminine article. If Paul was referring to Jesus as the perfect one, he would have had to have written, "but when the one who is perfect is come," using a masculine article and form of the word perfect.
If any member of the Godhead is being referred to by this neuter article, it could be the person of the Holy Spirit since the Greek word for "spirit" is neuter in gender. But the Holy Spirit had already come at Pentecost. Therefore, Paul could not be referring to any member of the Godhead in this passage.
5. We are not in the "now" stage of history, seeing through a glass darkly, but in the "then" stage. We have God’s Word bound together in 66 books which need not be dark and dim to our understanding, God’s Word is forever settled (Ps. 119:89), closed (Rev. 22:19), and delivered (Jude 3).
6. The word "then" in verse 12 can not be isolated from the rest of the context. "Then face to face" refers back to the "then" of verse 10- the completion of knowledge and prophecy. This is the only acceptable grammatical and exegetical approach to this passage. It is therefore apparent that Paul is not referring to the perfection of the saints at Christ’s Coming but the perfection (completion) of Scripture with the passing of the gifts of prophecy and knowledge.
7. The Bible is likened to a mirror in James 1:22-25. In Bible times a mirror was a polished metal surface held in the hand to see one’s own reflection. In verse 13, Paul is using a dark metallic mirror as a metaphor to represent imperfect knowledge. A darkened mirror is likened to 'know in part". Paul could only know in parts, bits and pieces of God’s will revealed at various times through the gifts of knowledge and prophecy. Metaphorically, he was like a man looking into a dark piece of polished metal only seeing a blurry and distorted image of himself. Likewise, Paul also uses "face to face" as a metaphor in the same manner as a darkened glass. "Face to face" relates the "then shall I know" which speaks of a complete knowledge. This comparative statement is used for the complete state of knowledge that would come with the completed canon. Metaphorically, he would be like a man looking into a clear, highly-polished mirror, who could see a clear and complete image of himself. He uses this metaphor to indicate a time when full knowledge would be available with partial knowledge having been given in completion. Context demands that we do not interpret "face to face" as a literal appearance of Christ. It is quite clear that the mirror that Paul speaks of is a figure of speech and consistency of interpretation demands that we understand face to face as such. Likewise, the "I shall know even as I am known" does not refer to knowledge of one by Jesus Christ. In context, the mirror is capable of fully "knowing" Paul, but because of its incompleteness, Paul can only partially see himself in it.
8. If the perfect thing refers to the Coming of Christ, then the gifts of prophecy and knowledge must be operative today because the word "then" indicates that these gifts will not cease to function in the Church until the perfect thing is come. If the gift of prophecy is operational today, then there must be prophets today. However, prophets are a foundational gift to the Church (Eph 2:20) and if the coming of Christ is the thing which causes the prophets to cease, then the Church will never be anything more than foundation without superstructure, for the coming of Christ also finishes the construction of the Church. What a funny looking Church!
9. 1 Corinthians 13 is demonstrating the permanence of love in contrast to the temporal nature of spiritual gifts. Verse 8 specifically points to the permanent character of love- it never fails. However, certain gifts were not to be permanent as indicated by the word "but". Prophecy and knowledge were to fail and tongues were to cease having fulfilled their functions. Love, though, will be needed throughout eternity.
10. By using the illustration of progressive development from childhood to maturity, Paul illustrates the process of the perfection of prophecy and knowledge. First, the partial gifts are likened to infancy. Note the analogy: spoke as a child (tongues) understood as a child (prophecy) and thought as a child (knowledge). Just as Paul put away the expressions of physical infancy when he became an adult, so the assembly was to render null and void those gifts which were useful in infancy of the Church, but no longer needed in its maturity. The Church reached this maturity when the Apostles and Prophets were removed and the Canon of Scripture came into existence. Today, we see the results of these early gifts of apostleship and prophecy in that we have a complete revelation of the will of God for today- The Bible. According to Eph. 4:11-16, because of the benefits of these gifted men we are no more children (v. 14), we have grown up (v. 15) and have become perfect (v.13). It is quite clear that the perfect thing has already come.