George Antonios
Well-Known Member
This is a more text-honest - and therefore better - way of helping our Charismatic brethren see that the gifts of the Spirit have ceased.
V.8 whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. –
What kind of knowledge does he mean? Its listing along with prophecies and tongues identifies that knowledge as one of the gifts of the Spirit: 1Co 12:8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; 1Co 12:9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 1Co 12:10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues. But it also covers any communication of knowledge in the church, as Paul indicates in the next chapter: 1Co 14:6 Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine? This broader sense of knowledge is also manifest by Paul’s generalizing statements such as we know in part (v.9) and I know in part (v.12), which expressions are certainly true regarding any kind of knowledge.
His prophecy that prophecies…shall fail does not mean that Biblical prophecies will fail to be accomplished, for the Lord said: Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled (Mt.4:17)[1]. Nor is the sense that they shall fail by being fulfilled. In context, the prophecies are what Paul also calls prophesyings (1Co.14:6, 1Th.5:20); again, a reference to one of Spirit’s gifts, namely, oral prophecies of NT prophets. Here, therefore, for the prophecies to fail means to cease – as it is also said of the tongues. The word fail is oft used in the sense of termination: whether of money (Gen.47:15, 16), man (1Ki.9:5, 2Ch.6:16, Job 19:14), oil (1Ki.17:14, 16), drink (Isa.32:6), vintage (Isa.32:10), desire (Ecc.12:5), grass (Isa.15:6), bread (Isa.51:14), waters (Job 14:11; Isa.19:5, 58:11; Jer.15:18), or years (Heb.1:12)[2].
His prophecy that whether there be tongues, they shall cease does not mean that there is coming a point at which languages will cease to exist, but rather that the gift of tongues – the Spirit’s granting of the sudden ability to understand or preach in an earthly language hitherto unknown to the speaker – will cease to operate.
Thus, we have the prophesied termination of prophecies, tongues, and knowledge.
Paul indicates the ephemeral nature of prophecies and knowledge for the purpose of exalting charity (and possibly also faith and hope) by its contrasting eternality.
V.9 mentions knowledge and prophecies but not tongues because the latter are but the vehicles of communicating knowledge or prophesying the future, as Paul explains in the next chapter, Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine? (1Co 14:6). Tongues – being inherently valueless if not communicating knowledge or prophecy – are subsumed of Paul under both in v.9.
Bengel’s Gnomon: “These occupy a middle place, because they are the vehicle and appendage of prophecies; but prophecy and knowledge constitute two different genera, 1 Corinthians 13:9; 1 Corinthians 13:12.”
Now, let’s consider the macro view:
A) Paul’s purpose is to teach the gift-loving Corinthians that those gifts are the less weighty parts.
B) He does that by revealing their temporary nature.
C) Then he mitigates against the Corinthians’ shock at the claim by noting that all knowledge and prophecy would one day dissipate.
His broadened scope (vs.9-12) is introduced to justify his claim that the gifts would cease, not to identify when they would cease.
The big question is: when do those gifts cease? Both cessationists and non-cessationists are mistaken about the pertinent terminus in that:
1) both mistakenly understand Paul as saying that the gifts (v.8) would cease when that which is
perfect is come (v.10) – which is technically inaccurate.
2) Cessationists mistakenly identify that which is perfect as the completion of the NT scriptures,
whereas non-cessationists correctly identify that which is perfect as the millennial day of Christ. It is undeniable that the ultimate terminus is the millennial kingdom perfect day (Pro.4:18) signaled by the 2nd coming of Christ, and by extension, the ages to come (Eph.2:7) beyond that day; as we understand from Paul’s reference to then face to face in v.12. This he contrasts to the darkly discerned scriptures [glass (v.12) – 2Co.3:18, Ja.1:23] , whether completed or not. Far from presenting the completed NT scriptures as the terminus, Paul effectively employs them as an illustration of incomplete and darkened knowledge. Although Biblical prophecies predict as far as eternity, yet the act of prophesying itself will indeed become illegal in the millennial kingdom: Zec 13:2 And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD of hosts, that I will cut off the names of the idols out of the land, and they shall no more be remembered: and also I will cause the prophets and the unclean spirit to pass out of the land. Zec 13:3 And it shall come to pass, that when any shall yet prophesy, then his father and his mother that begat him shall say unto him, Thou shalt not live; for thou speakest lies in the name of the LORD: and his father and his mother that begat him shall thrust him through when he prophesieth. Zec 13:4 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the prophets shall be ashamed every one of his vision, when he hath prophesied; neither shall they wear a rough garment to deceive: Zec 13:5 But he shall say, I am no prophet, I am an husbandman; for man taught me to keep cattle from my youth.
V.8 whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. –
What kind of knowledge does he mean? Its listing along with prophecies and tongues identifies that knowledge as one of the gifts of the Spirit: 1Co 12:8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; 1Co 12:9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 1Co 12:10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues. But it also covers any communication of knowledge in the church, as Paul indicates in the next chapter: 1Co 14:6 Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine? This broader sense of knowledge is also manifest by Paul’s generalizing statements such as we know in part (v.9) and I know in part (v.12), which expressions are certainly true regarding any kind of knowledge.
His prophecy that prophecies…shall fail does not mean that Biblical prophecies will fail to be accomplished, for the Lord said: Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled (Mt.4:17)[1]. Nor is the sense that they shall fail by being fulfilled. In context, the prophecies are what Paul also calls prophesyings (1Co.14:6, 1Th.5:20); again, a reference to one of Spirit’s gifts, namely, oral prophecies of NT prophets. Here, therefore, for the prophecies to fail means to cease – as it is also said of the tongues. The word fail is oft used in the sense of termination: whether of money (Gen.47:15, 16), man (1Ki.9:5, 2Ch.6:16, Job 19:14), oil (1Ki.17:14, 16), drink (Isa.32:6), vintage (Isa.32:10), desire (Ecc.12:5), grass (Isa.15:6), bread (Isa.51:14), waters (Job 14:11; Isa.19:5, 58:11; Jer.15:18), or years (Heb.1:12)[2].
His prophecy that whether there be tongues, they shall cease does not mean that there is coming a point at which languages will cease to exist, but rather that the gift of tongues – the Spirit’s granting of the sudden ability to understand or preach in an earthly language hitherto unknown to the speaker – will cease to operate.
Thus, we have the prophesied termination of prophecies, tongues, and knowledge.
Paul indicates the ephemeral nature of prophecies and knowledge for the purpose of exalting charity (and possibly also faith and hope) by its contrasting eternality.
V.9 mentions knowledge and prophecies but not tongues because the latter are but the vehicles of communicating knowledge or prophesying the future, as Paul explains in the next chapter, Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine? (1Co 14:6). Tongues – being inherently valueless if not communicating knowledge or prophecy – are subsumed of Paul under both in v.9.
Bengel’s Gnomon: “These occupy a middle place, because they are the vehicle and appendage of prophecies; but prophecy and knowledge constitute two different genera, 1 Corinthians 13:9; 1 Corinthians 13:12.”
Now, let’s consider the macro view:
A) Paul’s purpose is to teach the gift-loving Corinthians that those gifts are the less weighty parts.
B) He does that by revealing their temporary nature.
C) Then he mitigates against the Corinthians’ shock at the claim by noting that all knowledge and prophecy would one day dissipate.
His broadened scope (vs.9-12) is introduced to justify his claim that the gifts would cease, not to identify when they would cease.
The big question is: when do those gifts cease? Both cessationists and non-cessationists are mistaken about the pertinent terminus in that:
1) both mistakenly understand Paul as saying that the gifts (v.8) would cease when that which is
perfect is come (v.10) – which is technically inaccurate.
2) Cessationists mistakenly identify that which is perfect as the completion of the NT scriptures,
whereas non-cessationists correctly identify that which is perfect as the millennial day of Christ. It is undeniable that the ultimate terminus is the millennial kingdom perfect day (Pro.4:18) signaled by the 2nd coming of Christ, and by extension, the ages to come (Eph.2:7) beyond that day; as we understand from Paul’s reference to then face to face in v.12. This he contrasts to the darkly discerned scriptures [glass (v.12) – 2Co.3:18, Ja.1:23] , whether completed or not. Far from presenting the completed NT scriptures as the terminus, Paul effectively employs them as an illustration of incomplete and darkened knowledge. Although Biblical prophecies predict as far as eternity, yet the act of prophesying itself will indeed become illegal in the millennial kingdom: Zec 13:2 And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD of hosts, that I will cut off the names of the idols out of the land, and they shall no more be remembered: and also I will cause the prophets and the unclean spirit to pass out of the land. Zec 13:3 And it shall come to pass, that when any shall yet prophesy, then his father and his mother that begat him shall say unto him, Thou shalt not live; for thou speakest lies in the name of the LORD: and his father and his mother that begat him shall thrust him through when he prophesieth. Zec 13:4 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the prophets shall be ashamed every one of his vision, when he hath prophesied; neither shall they wear a rough garment to deceive: Zec 13:5 But he shall say, I am no prophet, I am an husbandman; for man taught me to keep cattle from my youth.
