"For our knowledge is imperfect and our prophecy is imperfect; but when the perfect comes, the imperfect will pass away. When I was a child I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became a man, I gave up childish ways. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall understand fully, even as I have been fully understood." (I Cor 13:9-12)
YOUR argument falls apart when it meets this passage, my friend. Paul says that 'then' he will know FULLY. What does that mean? He will understand God's truth as presented in the Bible to the maximum level possible for anyone who isn't God. Your dispute on this point isn't just with me, it's also with Paul and the Holy Spirit.
Now, at what point does this happen? Since the passage quoted above is part of a continuous unit, 'then' must refer to 'when the perfect comes.'
So far so good.
So Paul said that when the perfect comes, HE, PERSONALLY, will understand fully. You contend that this refers to the completion of the Bible on earth. The problem is that when that happened, PAUL WAS WITH THE LORD! If you can reconcile that one, you're good! [Smile]
“That” which is perfect is the Word of God. Paul never saw the completion of the Word of God. As you state, he was with the Lord when that event happened, and he states the case in the future, as one who is looking forward to this event. Unfortunately it never happened in his lifetime.
But I'm not done yet! In the other half of verse 12, Paul refers to 'then,' the point 'when the perfect comes,' as when WE no longer see as in a mirror dimly, but face to face. 'We' in that context refers to 'all believers.' So when the perfect comes, all believers will understand perfectly.
I am sorry, as I mentioned before, a belief such as the above borders on heresy. Only God has perfect knowledge. Only God is omniscient. You have yet to address that. No where in the text does it even suggest that anyone will have perfect knowledge. Paul says:
“now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.”
To know yourself better or more maturely. The contrast is with the child. He became a man. He became more mature. A man does not become perfect. He never attains perfection or perfect knowledge. But in his Christian growth he does become more mature.
This is applicable to tongues. I once was a child, he says, and spake as a child. This alludes to the gift of tongues, one of the least of all the gifts (12:28), an immature gift (ch.14). Now he became a man and put away childish things (tongues), and uses the gift of prophecy much more. As time went on Paul had much more of the Scripture to rely on. While in prison he writes to Timothy and tells him to bring the Scriptures, but especially the parchments.
2Tim.4:13 The cloak that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments.
“parchments” especially the parchments--containing perhaps some of his inspired
Epistles themselves. (Jamieson, Faucett, and Brown).
Not all who are currently in existence, but ALL. Again, that can only refer to the 'New Heaven and new earth' of Rev 21:1. Prior to the final judgment there will still be mortal believers who will not know fully. With the completion of the judgment and the passing away of the current sin-contaminated universe, all believers will know fully.
They will know fully what? There are some presumptions or assumptions here on your part.
DHK, your post is an interesting exercise in religious philosophy, but it does not contain one direct reference to Scripture, and doesn't answer any of my specific arguments about the passage in question. As the charismatics start with tongues and work from there, you seem to be starting with your philosophy and working from there. Maybe it's old fashioned of me, but I'll keep starting with what the Bible actually says and work from THERE.
Actually I have given plenty of Scripture that seems to go ignored. What else goes ignored is the plain fact that there is a deliberate tampering of changing the definitions of “prophecy” and “knowledge” as used by first century Christians. That is dishonest exegesis.
As for Scripture:
Heb 1:1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
--God does not speak through visions, dreams, prophecy, revelatory knowledge, etc., as he did in the Old Testament. He speaks to us through His Son Who is revealed to us through the Word of God. Any other way may be considered unscriptural. This is precisely why we do not consider Joseph Smith, Ellen G. White, Charles Taze Russell prophets today. God speaks through His Word. His Son is revealed through His Word—not prophecy, not the gift of revelation, not visions, and dreams—but the Word of God.
James 1:22-25
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.
--James calls the Word of God the “perfect” law of liberty. It is perfect.
He compares it (as does Paul) to a mirror. If you just listen to it, and don’t obey it, you are as one who looks into a mirror and then can’t remember if you shaved or combed your hair. You’re a spiritual disaster.
If you look into the mirror of God’s Word and obey what is there, you shall be blessed, and grow in grace and mature as a Christian ought to. Paul uses the same illustration.
Psalm 19:7 also calls the Word of God perfect.
7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
Look at Peter’s testimony concerning God’s Word:
2Peter 1:16-19
16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
17 For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.
19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
--Charismatics love their experiences like tongues, baptism of the spirit, etc. Their experiences pale to the experience that Peter had. He describes it here. He was on the Mount, when he saw Jesus glorified or transfigured before him. He also saw Moses and Elijah transfigured before him. It was the most glorious experience any mortal being could ever experience: standing before the glorified Christ, and Moses and Elijah as well. He also hears the very voice of God booming out of Heaven: “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” What an awesome experience!!
Then note carefully what he says. We have also a
more sure word of prophecy. He is referring to the New Testament Scriptures here. He is saying that better than the greatest experiences that you may ever enjoy is the settled reliability of the Word of God. Look to it. It is a more sure Word. It is more certain than experience. Ground yourself in the Word of God.
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.
--The context is revelation. These are the three sign gifts: prophecy, tongues, and knowledge. They will all end.
9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
--We have now only part of the total revelation of God. For this reason these three sign gifts are given. They are given up until the revelation of God will be completed.
10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
--When that which is perfect (O.E. word means completed, i.e. the Word of God) is come), then that which is in part (the temporary sign gifts) will 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.
--When I was an immature Christian I did immature things and sought after the more immature gifts such as tongues (12:28). Now I have become a man, more mature, and have put away such immature gifts.
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.
--I see through a glass darkly, because the Word of God is not complete. The Old Testament reveals only in part that which I should know about myself and my destiny. But when the Bible is perfected or completed I shall know more fully or completely. Just as a man looks face to face in a mirror, I will be able to look into the completed Word of God, and the Spirit of God will reveal to me as never before my faults, my frailty, and even my destiny. Why? I will see Jesus more clearly as ever before in the Word of God. That is where he will be revealed to me (Heb.12:1). See also John 1:1,14,18; and Rev.19:13
13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
--Note carefully that the spiritual gifts were compared to faith, hope and charity. Faith hope and charity are not gifts. The others are, but faith and hope and love are not gifts. The gifts were given for a temporary period of time which is now past. Faith and hope will end at the coming of Christ. Only love will endure forever. To say that these temporary gifts (the spiritual gifts) are greater than faith and hope is to do injustice to the context of this passage.
DHK