That Which Is Perfect

THE PERFECT HAS COME

1 Corinthians 13:10, but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away. A new insight.

Imagine the discussion between Baptist and Pentecostal seminary students about the meaning of 1 Corinthians 13:10, but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away.

Influenced by teachings that certain sign gifts came to an end, the Baptist states confidently, “The phrase that which is perfect refers to the completion of the canon of the New Testament. The Greek word for perfect is t??e??? (telion) and here means ‘complete.’ Therefore,” he asserts, thinking the issue has been settled by his scholarly insight, “when the last apostle wrote the final inspired letter destined by the Holy Spirit to be included in our Bible, the need for sign gifts ended almost simultaneously.”

“No longer did the spoken word need authentication from miracles,” he added quickly. “The authority now rested in the Word alone.”

Lest his thought had gone unnoticed by the Pentecostal brother whose facial expression indicated he anxiously waited his turn to speak, the Baptist emphasized his view, “From then on, the Word stood on its own legs without a need for miracles. For that matter, miracles had already shown indications of fading away as evinced by Paul’s inability to perform one to heal Epaphroditus recorded in Philippians 2:25.”

Satisfied the case had been won without the prospect of a successful rebuttal, the Baptist suppressed an urge to smirk and gloat. The sermons he had heard on the subject, along with his exegesis course in 1 Corinthians, had won the day.

Knowing his turn to opine had come, the Pentecostal calmly and lovingly expressed his view. “You are certainly right that the word translated ‘perfect’ can, indeed, mean ‘complete.’” Sensing an outcome no worse than a stalemate, he drew a deep breath and continued speaking. “However, the wording of the text suggests a meaning a bit different.” Flipping open his bible to the passage, he pointed to the verse for his friend to read with him. Continuing his thought, he said, “We see an unspecified entity called ‘perfect’ and the mention that it is coming.” Looking directly into the unconvinced eyes of his Baptist friend, he offered a challenge. “Can you name a more likely meaning that the One who alone is perfect, Jesus, whom you firmly believe is coming back some day.”

Fraternal feelings rose in the heart of the Baptist who responded. “We need to understand that whatever is ‘perfect’ had to have been fully acknowledged at the occasion of Paul’s writing. The Corinthians no doubt fully understood the meaning. But how could the yet-to-happen Second Coming possibly have had an influence on the wretched behavior of the Corinthian readers?”

Before the Pentecostal student answered, the wall clock indicated the next class was to begin in five minutes. Smiling broadly at each other, one of them said, ‘We have much to discuss, much yet to learn and maybe a clear answer suitable to us both will someday emerge.”

“For the moment,” said the other, “I’m satisfied with what I presently believe.” With that remark hanging briefly in the air, both men parted to their respective classes in their non-denominational, evangelical seminary, confident their beliefs would someday prevail and be accepted universally.

Neither man pondered how so many competing views could be held by equally tenacious proponents. Neither wondered why each view is derived from the same verse claimed as the conclusive biblical authority for its own construal. The interpretations are varied to the point that 1 Corinthians 13 has become one of the most misunderstood and misinterpreted chapters in the bible.

Maybe the time has come for all inquirers to revisit the chapter and to consider it from a fresh perspective to determine if interpretative help can be uncovered, something subtle perhaps, unseen because the approach to the chapter is colored by beliefs leading to an affirmation of one’s own preference rather than what Paul meant. Let’s continue our exploration by referencing 1 Corinthians 13:10 from this spot forward simply as 13:10.

Before exploring a new approach, consider in the briefest way a summary of several prominent views where honest people park their hearts and build walls against other honest people.

VIEW 1 says “that which is perfect” in 13:10 refers to the completion of the NT canon. The death of the last apostle ended any further scriptural writings.

VIEW 2 says “that which is perfect” refers to the time the Gospel reached the ends of the world.

VIEW 3 says “that which is perfect” refers to the destruction of the temple in 70 AD when no more animal sacrifices for atonement could be offered and the Mosaic age unquestionably ended.

These three interpretations promote a stance called Cessationism. It asserts that “sign” gifts have now ended because the authority of the Apostolic message is contained in the NT writings alone. Therefore, no sign gifts are needed to attest the message. The Baptist student’s remarks disclosed his belief in Cessationism.