That Which Is Perfect - 1 Corinthians 13:10

The Argument: Why should "that which is perfect" be the New Testament Canon? Verse 9 says that knowledge and prophecy are "in part", or incomplete. It is then argued that the purpose of the gifts of prophecy and knowledge were to instruct the early church in ecclesiastical practise and Christian doctrine. Now the New Testament is to be our sole source of authority on these matters.

The Problem: The weakness in this argument is that it makes unbiblical assumptions about the purpose (and the nature) of the gifts of prophecy and knowledge. The idea that these gifts were given in order to teach church form and doctrine is one that cannot be supported from Scripture. No New Testament example of or teaching about the gifts even hints in this direction. Instead, the consistent message is that these gifts are given to "build up the church", by speaking "edification and comfort to men". For more details, see my article on Spiritual Gifts. The coming of the New Testament did not immediately complete the building up of the church. It follows that the gifts of prophecy and knowledge have a purpose different from what is argued, a purpose which was not fulfilled when the New Testament canon was completed.

Furthermore: The argument ignores the immediate context of the verse in question. This is a very dangerous thing to do when studying the Bible! In fact, verse 12 gives some important information about the very time referred to in verse 10. Paul wrote, in the first century, "Now we see in a mirror, dimly", and "Now I know in part", conditions which we ourselves could easily acknowledge! However, of the time when "that which is perfect has come", Paul writes "Then [we shall see] face to face" and "then I shall know just as I am known". No living Christian can rightly claim that the New Testament has produced these effects in their life. However, these are certainly the effects we will experience at the time when Christ returns, or when we pass through death to enter into glory. Other passages of scripture confirm that spiritual gifts will indeed continue until the last Day.

So What? What's The Big Problem?: This fallacy is probably more serious than many of the others. If a person believes wrongly that spiritual gifts are no longer given by God, they will be uninterested in what the Bible teaches about their use and benefits. They will be unreceptive to the gifts themselves, and to ministry by people who accept them. They will be disobedient to God's commands to "eagerly desire" spiritual gifts, and to "minister with the power that God supplies". The Body of Christ will be deprived of the building up that the Lord desired to accomplish through the gifts the Spirit would have prepared for that individual. Worse still, the Body has a bad history of division over this very issue, with people refusing to work with each other for the Lord.

Final Notes: I request that any who continue to differ on this issue, please do so in a spirit of Christian love! And please email me to point out any place you believe I have misrepresented or misunderstood the "Fallacy" (as I call it), or the plain teaching of Scripture. I am open to correction regarding any of these articles! My sincere desire for the Body of Christ is that She may be built up by them. And regarding spiritual gifts? I hope that every individual will "Eagerly desire the best gifts, and do not forbid to speak in tongues!"

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