The Baptist Examiner Forum: pt. 9

Question:
        In I Corinthians 13:8 some gifts are said to pass away and one to cease. When did that happen?
    Answer:

        I Corinthians 13:9 says that the gifts of knowledge and prophesy were partial, that is, for a given period of time. They were special gifts, but were of a temporary nature. These two gifts (knowledge and prophesy) were to be phased out or superseded by and at the time "when that which is perfect is come" (I Corinthians 13:10). Tongues were a sign gift, "not to them that believe, but to them that believe not" (I Corinthians 14:22). Tongues were to remain in the church during its infancy period, but with the coming of maturity, tongues would cease. This is what Paul had reference to when he said, "When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things" (I Corinthians 13:11).
    The church realized maturity while as yet Paul was alive, and long ere the death of the Apostle John. The Mediterranean world had already been evangelized and churches planted throughout the Roman Empire. God had brought the church to maturity, therefore, there was no further need for the gift of tongues, and they ceased about as readily as they were given. The gifts of knowledge and prophesy are spoken of as vanishing away, that is, they would gradually cease as the need for them diminished, and that need, while extending beyond the need for the gift of tongues, would in due season ("when that which is perfect is come") be non existent.
   I Corinthians 13:10 "But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away." The word "perfect" in this text means mature or complete, and is a reference to the written revelation of Jesus Christ. Knowledge and prophesy were in part or incomplete, previous to the writing of the book of Revelation by the Apostle John around 96 A. D. The book of Revelation was the final installment, making the knowledge which God has determined for this age complete, and the gifts of knowledge and prophesy vanished away.
    The remaining question to be considered is, What is " that which is perfect" in I Corinthians 13:10? It is not a reference to the person of Jesus Christ because the term " that which" is in the neuter gender. A close study of the context will reveal that the "perfect" of verse 10 is a reference to the plenary and infallible Book.