1. The Greatest of These A Study of 1 Corinthians 13

2. 1 Cor. 12 1 Cor. 13 1 Cor. 14 The Endowment of the Gifts The Proper Atmosphere for the Gifts The Proper Exercise of the Gifts The way God put them together in the church The proper energy, environment, motive The way God wanted them used

3. Major Divisions of 1 Cor. 13 Prominence of Love - 13:1-3 Properties of Love - 13:4-7 Permanence of Love - 13:8-12 Preeminence of Love - 13:13

4. Permanence of Love 1 Corinthians 13:8-12 Love is the only permanent thing - love never fails. In heaven… Hope will end – Rom. 8:24 Faith will end – Heb. 11:1 Will not need preaching or teaching, prayers, exhortations, pleas for more wisdom or knowledge

5. Permanence of Love 1 Corinthians 13:8-12 Contrasts between love and spiritual gifts (13:8) Love never fails Prophecies will fail Tongues will cease Knowledge will vanish away

6. Permanence of Love 1 Corinthians 13:8-12 Contrasts between love and spiritual gifts (13:8) Prophecy – Speaking for God 1 Cor. 12:10 – one of the gifts I Cor. 14:3 – for edification, exhortation and comfort

7. Permanence of Love 1 Corinthians 13:8-12 Contrasts between love and spiritual gifts (13:8) Tongues – languages 1 Cor. 12:10 – gift to speak in a foreign language without studying 1 Cor. 14:22 – sign to unbelievers

8. Permanence of Love 1 Corinthians 13:8-12 Contrasts between love and spiritual gifts (13:8) Knowledge – Miraculous knowledge 1 Cor. 12:8 – word of knowledge 1 Cor. 13:2 – though I understand all knowledge

9. Permanence of Love 1 Corinthians 13:8-12 Contrasts between love and spiritual gifts (13:8) All the spiritual gifts (charismata) were to fail, cease, vanish away The question is... “When?”

10. Permanence of Love 1 Corinthians 13:8-12 Spiritual gifts ceased in the first century because Their purpose was fulfilled Hebrews 2:3-4 Mark 16:15-20

11. Permanence of Love 1 Corinthians 13:8-12 Spiritual gifts ceased in the first century because God’s revelation of the faith was finished John 14:36; 16:13 2 Pet. 1:3; Jude 3

12. Permanence of Love 1 Corinthians 13:8-12 Spiritual gifts ceased in the first century because The method of reception has passed Acts 2,10; Eph. 4:4 Acts 8:13-19

13. Permanence of Love 1 Corinthians 13:8-12 We are to contend for… “the faith once for all delivered to the saints” Jude 3

14. Permanence of Love 1 Corinthians 13:8-12 Why are the gifts (charisma) temporary? They are partial (incomplete) They are associated with the immaturity of childhood They are like seeing in a mirror darkly

15. Permanence of Love 1 Corinthians 13:8-12 In contrast to the gifts “That which is perfect” Maturity of manhood Seeing face to face Know as I am known

16. Permanence of Love 1 Corinthians 13:8-12 “That which is perfect” Gk: to teleion (adj. used as a noun) “The full measure of something”- A&G “Of things complete, perfect” – Vine “Wanting nothing necessary to completeness, perfect” - Thayer

17. Permanence of Love 1 Corinthians 13:8-12 “That which is perfect” Widely held views Refers to Christ at His second coming Refers to love itself Refers to maturity in Christ

18. Permanence of Love 1 Corinthians 13:8-12 “That which is perfect” Completed revelation of Scripture Contrasts with partial revelation Keeps subject the same Ties best with other reasons given for the cessation of the gifts

19. Permanence of Love 1 Corinthians 13:8-12 “That which is perfect” Completed revelation of Scripture Partial vs. Complete (9-10) Child vs. Man (11) In mirror darkly vs. Face to Face (12; Num. 12:8; Deut. 5:4-5) Know in part vs. Know as known (12; James 1:22-25)