It was necessary that speaking in tongues at the beginning was meant to help spread the word to those of different nations. But when time brought about the ability of men to translate languages and to put things in print it is no longer needed.
1 Cor 13:8
8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.
NKJV
I respectfully disagree that it is not needed now. I will attempt to explain why below.
1 Corinthians 13:8 NKJV 8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.
Some people have used this scripture and the following few verses to say that the gift of tongues has ceased and is no longer in operation today. That is not the case. However, when we have glorified bodies and know all things, even as we are known, then there will not be a need to speak in tongues anymore. Paul was contrasting the temporariness of the gift of tongues with the permanentness of God’s love, just as he did with prophecy, to increase the value of love.
In all three of the comparisons in this verse, Paul was showing the relative worth of love. Love is greater than prophecy, tongues, and knowledge (1 Corinthians 13:13). “Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth” (1 Corinthians 8:1). Knowing the love of Christ in an experiential way is superior to plain knowledge (Ephesians 3:19).
When Paul said that knowledge would vanish away, he was not speaking of all knowledge. In this very context, he said, “Then shall I know even as also I am known” (1 Corinthians 13:12). We will have knowledge, but it will be God’s perfect, complete knowledge, not the corruptible carnal knowledge that we now possess.
1 Corinthians 13:10 NKJV 10 But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.
Some people have interpreted the “that which is perfect” in this verse as being the completed Bible. This has led them to believe that the gifts of the Spirit spoken of here (i.e., prophecy and tongues) have ceased. Although God’s Word is perfect (Psalms 19:7), that cannot be the “perfect thing” that is spoken of here.
In 1 Corinthians 13:12, Paul said when that which is perfect is come, we shall see face to face. This is speaking of seeing the Lord face to face, instead of vaguely as though through a dark glass, as it is now. Some might argue that this is speaking in a symbolic sense instead of literally face to face, but the next comparison in that verse says that then (when that which is perfect is come) we shall know all things even as we are also known. There is no other way to interpret that except to be describing when we stand before the Lord after this life. Then we will be face to face and know all things even as also we are known.
1 Corinthians 13:8 also says that at the time prophecies fail and tongues cease, knowledge will vanish away. That has to be talking about the next life, or the new heavens and earth, because one of the signs of the end times will be that knowledge shall increase (Daniel 12:4). The information explosion we see today with computers and the information available on the internet mean that the Bible can't be the "that which is perfect" Paul was referring to here.
It has to be speaking of either our glorified bodies or Jesus at His second coming. Either way, these verses establish that until that which is perfect is come, tongues and prophecy will remain. These are valid gifts today.
Paul was speaking about the gifts of the Spirit, specifically prophecy and tongues. They will pass away in the new heaven and the new earth (Revelation 21). We will not need them.
1 Corinthians 13:12 NKJV 12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.
As explained earlier, both the “thens” that Paul made reference to in 1 Corinthians 13:10 are speaking of our glorified state with Jesus in eternity. Until that occurs, the gifts of the Spirit will not cease.
Our knowledge, in our glorified bodies, will be equal to God’s knowledge of us now. We will be like Him (1 John 3:1-2). This is already a reality in our born-again spirits (1 Corinthians 2:16), and to the degree that we renew our carnal minds, we can draw on that knowledge now.