About Spiritual Gifts (Part 2)

Duration is defined as, “the time during which something continues.” In the previous edition, spiritual gifts were clearly defined and enumerated from First Corinthians 12. The gifts were miraculous abilities that were distributed as the Holy Spirit willed (1Cor. 12:11), through the laying on of the apostles’ hands (Acts 8:14-19; Rom. 1:11; 2 Tim. 1:6). A question that necessarily follows, and that is addressed in First Corinthians 13 is about the duration of said gifts. It is not uncommon to hear people speaking of so-called miracles today. “It was a miracle that we survived the crash!” “The birth of our twins was truly a miracle!” While some events may be hard to believe, that does not make them miraculous. A difficult pregnancy and birth or surviving an automobile accident may be an amazing event or even hard to believe, but that does not mean it was a miracle.

The spiritual gifts (aka, miraculous abilities) of First Corinthians 12:4-11 had specifically stated purposes. John recorded a select few miracles of Jesus in order to produce faith in the witnesses (Jn. 20:30-31). The author of Hebrews spoke of “sign and wonders, and with diverse miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit” (Heb. 2:4). As signs, spiritual gifts authenticated the one performing them as being from God (Acts 2:22). As wonders, the gifts would elicit a reaction from the witnesses (Acts 8:13). The miracles were diverse (many different kinds - Mk. 1:34). Miracles were also performed for the stated purpose of confirmation. The Great Commission in Mark’s account says of the signs, “the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following” (Mk. 16:19-20). It is also important to realize that miracles were not performed just because they could be. Why didn’t Paul just heal Epaphroditus (Phil. 2:25-27)? Why didn’t he simply heal Timothy’s stomach problems (1 Tim. 5:23)? Because those who had spiritual gifts were not exhibitionists. They didn’t perform miracles just because they could perform miracles!

How long would they last? After all, many people claim that they can perform miracles and many more claim to have witnessed a miracle. Thankfully, the Bible addresses this question as well. Paul wrote, “Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there by tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is part shall be done away” (1 Cor. 13:8-10). Fail and vanish away come from the same Greek word meaning, “to render idle, to be inactive or inoperative.” Cease is from a Greek word that means, “to leave off or desist.” The contrast in the context of signs being inoperative and desisting is that which was “in part” versus that which would be “perfect.” Also identified is knowing in part (v. 9, 12) being done away when “that which is perfect has come.” So, Paul has enumerated the spiritual gifts (12:4-11) and admonished the Corinthians because of their competitive spirit and exclusion based on the gifts received by individuals (12:15-26). He then instructed them in the “better way,” which was to do things out of love (12:31-13:7).

First Corinthians 13:1-7 is often read or mentioned in wedding ceremonies, and rightfully so. However, the immediate context was regarding the use of spiritual gifts among the Corinthians. While doing that, Paul informed them that the gifts would “fail...cease...and vanish away” (13:8). A key to realizing to what those words refer is the mentioning of knowing. While the spiritual gifts were with them they were knowing “in part” and prophesying “in part” (13:9). There was a point in time coming when those “in part” things would be done away. Paul was not discussing a person. Some believe that the “perfect” is a reference to Jesus and that miracles will occur until He returns. The only logical and contextual thing to which the “in part” and the “perfect” could be referencing is revelation from God - knowledge and prophecy. Verse 12 also emphasizes this point: “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then I shall know even as also I am known.” Paul was not discussing a who or a what, but a how. The perfect (brought to its end, finished, completed) was the revelation of God’s will. The faith once for all delivered (Jude 3). The spiritual gifts would come an end at that time because Scripture is the sword of the Spirit (Eph. 6:17) and completely furnishes the man of God for all good things (2 Tim. 3:16-17).