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Download this outline here:

1 Corinthians 13_12 Through A Glass Darkly.pdf

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"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." (v. 12)

I. The Superiority of Charity Over Sign Gifts (v. 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.”

A. Charity Is Permanent and Enduring

• “Charity never faileth”
  • To “fail” is to collapse or become ineffective.
  • Charity (God’s love active in us) is a Spirit-produced virtue that builds and serves—it persists both now and in eternity.

B. The Temporary Nature of Sign Gifts

These gifts belonged to the kingdom “part” and coexisted with Paul’s mystery revelation.

• Prophecies – “They shall fail”
  • A sign gift under the kingdom program to Israel.
  • Continues alongside the mystery gospel, but will be rendered inoperative once the kingdom “part” is over.
• Tongues – “They shall cease”
  • Both human and heavenly languages given as a sign to Israel (1 Cor 14:21–22).
  • Persists so long as the kingdom offer stands, then stops entirely.
• Knowledge – “It shall vanish away”
  • Supernaturally imparted insight into unrevealed truth.
  • Remains active while the partial system remains, then disappears when that system ends.

C. Ephesians 4:11–13 Correlation

“And he gave some apostles; and some prophets; and some evangelists; and some pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints… till we all come in the unity of the faith… unto a perfect man…”

• Gifts were given until the Body reached unity in faith.
  • It would be impossible to say there is a unity as long as a Galatians 2:7 scenario still exists.
• The “perfect man” (ἄνδρα τέλειον) is the undivided Body of Christ—when the kingdom “part” has been done away, when there is no more “Jew first” scenario.

II. The Partial Nature of Early Revelation (v. 9)

“For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.”

A. Paul Already Possessed the Full Mystery