TONGUES WILL CEASE
The following scripture will be confusing to those who are not New Covenant disciples.
1 Corinthians 13:8-11: Love never ends; as for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For our knowledge is imperfect and our prophecy is imperfect; 10 but when the perfect comes, the imperfect will pass away. 11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became a man, I gave up childish ways.
COMMENTARY: To understand this scripture we must consider it in the context of 1 Corinthians 12 which instructs us about all the spiritual gifts.
The common religious understanding of prophecy is that it refers to foretelling future events. Prophecies are not the kinds of prophecies that anticipate future global or personal events. To understand 1 Corinthians 13:8-11 it is necessary to understand the mysterious concept of prophecy and prophets.
STUDY TIPS: See these links for understanding of prophets and prophecy:
Imperfect prophecies are the prophecies of false prophets. Religious people will cease making these kinds of prophecies when they are born again. Perfect prophecies are the teachings of true prophets.
The tongues that will cease are the language of Old/First Covenant religionists and false prophets. However, these tongues will not cease globally. They will cease for each person who ceases practicing Old/First Covenant religion and is born again as a New Covenant disciple. From that point on, that person will speak in the tongue that is unique to citizens of the Kingdom of God. What they say will be perfect because they will be sent by God to speak for God.
The Greek word for knowledge that is imperfect is ginosko. It is imperfect because it is imparted by imperfect religious leaders (i.e., false prophets). The Greek word for knowledge that is perfect is epiginosko. It is perfect because it is imparted by God directly and/or through True Prophets.
Imperfect human knowledge of God will pass away for individuals who are born again because they will stop seeking knowledge of God from religious leaders who transmit their human knowledge through spoken and written human words — including the literal words of the bible. That imperfect, human knowledge will pass away for born again, New Covenant disciples who seek perfect knowledge of God from God directly and/or through True Prophets. That imperfect knowledge does not pass away, however, from people who have hardened their hearts so that they cannot hear God’s spoken voice. Therefore, they will continue to practice Old/First Covenant religion.
Human love is not like God’s love. Human love comes and goes depending on circumstances and people. God’s love never ends because God is love and God is eternal.
Knowledge of God for Old/First Covenant religionists is imperfect and transitory because the knowledge they have was taught by religious leaders.
Knowledge of God for New Covenant disciples is perfect and eternal because the knowledge they have was taught by true prophets, because God’s laws are written on their hearts, and because God is eternal.
Old/First Covenant religionists are compared to children in their thinking, reasoning and knowledge. New Covenant disciples are compared to adults who give up childish ways of thinking and reasoning when God writes his laws on their hearts, and they acquire perfect knowledge of God.
STUDY TIP: See this link for understanding of spiritual gifts.
STUDY TIP: See this link and this link for in depth understanding of God’s perfect, unending love.
A man (i.e. an adult) is a New Covenant disciple who does not speak, think or reason like a child. A child becomes a man when he gives up (i.e. ceases to practice) childish ways (i.e., Old/First Covenant laws and religious traditions.) Mature spiritual adults voluntarily give up (i.e., sacrifice) these things up even though they have been very precious to him/her.
One childish practice that mature adults gives up is reading the Bible literally. Rather, they seek for the spiritual/symbolic meaning of scripture and practice what he hears God saying instead of what religious leaders tell him to do. In his seeking, he has allowed God to transform his mind and his heart.
1 Corinthians 13:8-11 seems to say that some Old/First Covenant religionists have the capacity for love and that this capacity does not cease for them even though the self-proclaimed gifts of tongues, knowledge and prophecy will pass away. This may explain why some Old/First Covenant religionists appear to embody some of the qualities of human love found in 1-Corinthians 13:4-7. More accurately, however, it means that God’s love, which is eternal, does not pass away.
Old/First Covenant religionists have the capacity to love with human love and create their own fleshly versions of spiritual gifts — including speaking in tongues. These gifts are not spiritual because they are taught by religious leaders and can be observed with natural senses. This contrasts with God’s spiritual gifts which are only evident in the hearts of New Covenant disciples. Tongues, knowledge and prophecy can be created or generated in the flesh but true love, Godly love, begins and ends with God who is eternal.
STUDY TIP: See this link, this link, and this link for understanding of God’s spiritual gifts.
STUDY TIP: See Faith, Grace, Mercy, Peace, Love, Heart, Glory, Blessing, Spirit and Truth for more about love and God’s spiritual gifts.