1 Corinthians 13:8–10
Bible verses · Also called: 1 Corinthians 13:8-10, When that which is perfect is come, Charity never faileth, Tongues shall cease, 1 Cor 13:8-10
- Bible verses
- First draft by AI
- Last edited 2026-10-04
- Encyclopedia home
8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
The text is the New Korean Revised Version (1998), shown under a licence from the Korean Bible Society. Wording may differ slightly from the Korean Revised Version and the Revised New Korean Standard Version. Read in the Korean Revised Version
This passage declares that prophecies will fail, tongues will cease, and knowledge will vanish away, but love endures forever, and that "when that which is perfect is come," that which is in part shall be done away. It is a key text in the division between cessationism and continuationism, which turns on how "that which is perfect" is understood.
Context
In the earlier part of chapter 13, Paul states that spiritual gifts are of no profit without love, and he describes what love is like. Beginning with verse 8, he contrasts the gifts with love from the perspective of time. Prophecy, tongues, and knowledge belong to the present, in which we know and speak "in part," and they will one day cease, but love remains. In verses 11–12, Paul contrasts a child with an adult, and seeing "through a glass, darkly" with seeing "face to face."
Interpretations
- The Second Coming and final consummation: This interpretation understands "that which is perfect" (Greek to teleion) as the Second Coming of Christ and the consummation of the kingdom of God. It takes the phrases "face to face" and "then shall I know" in verse 12 as referring to the time when believers stand before the Lord. This view is held not only by Pentecostal and charismatic churches but also by many cessationist scholars.
- The completion of the canon: Some cessationists understand "that which is perfect" as the completed New Testament and cite this as evidence that prophecy and tongues ceased when the apostolic age ended and Scripture was completed. They point out that teleion is neuter in gender and therefore more naturally refers to a thing than to a person (Christ).
- The maturity of believers: Drawing on the analogy of the child in verse 11, another view holds that the passage refers to the maturing of the church or of individual believers.
Debate and Issues
This passage features prominently in the debate between cessationism and continuationism. Continuationists counter that Paul's original readers could hardly have had the completion of the canon in mind, while most cessationists ground their position less in this passage than in Ephesians 2:20 (the foundation of the apostles and prophets) or in the nature of the apostolic signs. Some conservative Presbyterian denominations hold to cessationism, while Full Gospel and charismatic churches hold to continuationism; in Methodist, Holiness, and other traditions, both views are found.
Related Passages
- 1 Corinthians 13:11–12
- 1 Corinthians 1:7
- Ephesians 2:20
- 1 John 3:2
See also 6
🚩 Is there a problem with this article? Report it
Log in to report. Reports are reviewed within 24 hours.
Discussion 0
Share your thoughts, other viewpoints or corrections for this article.