Really?
"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." I Cor 13:8
If what you say is true then knowledge also no longer happens. He who is ignorant of God and the things of God will always be ignorant!
Agreed.
Even though Paul told the Corinthians church to stop forbidding tongues, and explained that he wanted them have all the gifts in operation in their church until Jesus returns, and listed all the gifts of the spirit, and explained how to use those gifts during church services, cessationists try to use 1 Corinthians 13:8-11 as their proof text that spiritual gifts ended when the Bible was completed.
But note that when that which is perfect comes, we then see face to face.
The Bible has no face - it has a cover, a binding, pages, chapters, verses, etc. - but Jesus does.
Here’s the passage:
1Co 13:8 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.
1Co 13:9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
1Co 13:10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
1Co 13:11 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.
1Co 13:12 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.
Notice in verse 8, three things end, when that which is perfect comes: prophecy, tongues, and knowledge.
Yet in the last days, knowledge increases, says Daniel the prophet:
Dan 12:4 But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.
We are currently in an explosion of the increase in man’s knowledge, to where it’s now doubling every six months.
And prophecy also increases in the last days, as God pours out His spirit:
Act 2:15 For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.
Act 2:16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
Act 2:17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
Act 2:18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
Since knowledge and prophecy increases in the last days and end times - and knowledge, prophecy and tongues end at the same time - it becomes obvious that tongues and prophecy, which are gifts of the Holy Spirit, are for today, until Jesus returns and they are no longer needed.
That’s why Paul told the Corinthians that he wanted them to have every spiritual gift while they await the coming of Jesus - because then they won’t be needed any longer, and will expire - when that which is perfect - the kingdom of God and its king, Jesus, comes to earth, and we know as we are known, and we see Him face to face.
Shalom Aleichem
