Originally posted by The Briguy:
DHK, On the "that which is perfect" issue, I just see the Kingdom age and the end of the "curse as the more complete explanation. We have a curious statement here that cannot be ignored. "But then face to face" When is the face to face? When that which is perfect comes. The kingdom age or the lifting of the curse time, however you want to say it takes this into account, The Bible theory does not. Overall as I read and re-read the passage I see where you are coming from but I am much more comfortable with my side of this one. Also, for you to be right then Knowledge and prophecy must be gone ( I know you believe that) but I don't so in that sense for me my theory is supported by the fact that I believe there are still gifts of proclaiming God's word and better understanding of God's word. (not in regards to revelation).
Brian,
First, I went to great lengths to show that the context is clearly revelation. It speaks of the revelatory gifts: prophecy, tongues, revelatory knowledge. Paul sets them in contrast to semi-permanent gifts which will pass away at the Coming of Christ: Faith and hope. But it is love that will never pass away, it is the greatest of all. The temporary gifts are revelatory gifts which will pass when the revelation is complete, the perfected Word of God (Psalm 19:7; James 1:25).
Now let's look at the rest of the verses that I have not explained, as you requested.
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.
When I was a child (an immature Christian), I spake as a child (i.e., I spoke with other tongues).
I understood as a child--referring to the gift of prophecy.
I thought as a child--referring to the gift of knowledge or special revelation.
But when I became a man (more mature in the Lord), I put away childish things. That is, as I grew older in the Lord, I had no more need for these revelatory gifts. More and more of the Word was being written. These gifts were dying out. The people seeking these gifts were really immature Christians, as Paul refers to the Corinthians in 1Cor.3:1-3, that they were carnal and immature.
For now we see through a glass (mirror) darkly; but then face to face. That mirror will so shine that it will show my true face: thus face to face.
I know in part. I have only part of the revelation of the Word of God. Remember the context is revelation.
But then (when? When the Word of God will be completed), shall I be known even as also I am known. When I look into God's Word today, it exposes who I really am. In Paul's day it did that in part--he had the Old Testament. How much more does it do that today, with the inclusion of the New Testament to make up the completed Word of God. Look at the parallel Scripture in James 1:
22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
---If you but hear the Word and do not obey the Word, James says you are like a man who gets up in the morning, looks in the mirror and then goes away, and can't remember whether or not he needed to shave or comb his hair, or wash the grime of his face. The experience of some teens (both boys and girls) can tell you that the longer you look in that mirror the more you'll find wrong with the face staring back at you. What's worse is the brighter the light, the more dirt you find. This is the picture that both Paul and James are drawing. We see through a mirror darkly. The light isn't very good. I don't get a good reflection. I can't see all the defects. But then, when the perfect is come, "whoso looks into the perfect law of liberty, and continues therein, he being not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed." He looks into that bright shining Book, the completed Word of God, and he sees himself and all of his imperfections. He doesn't forget. He does something about it. He gets those blemishes and imperfections taken care of. This man shall be blessed in his deed. Paul never lived to see the completed Word of God, but he looked forward to the day that he could.
DHK
[ July 12, 2002, 01:27 AM: Message edited by: DHK ]