Cessation of Gifts, 1 Corinthians 13:8 (CV)
1 Corinthians 13:8
8 Love 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.
To understand 1 Corinthians 13:8, one must examine the Greek to be consistent with context, 1 Corinthians 13:8A.
8A Love never faileth:
In 1 Corinthians 13:8, faileth comes from the Greek word ekpipto {ek-pip’-to} (G1601). It means to be driven out of one’s course, to take to none effect. In other words, love will endure forever. It is to always be a part of the life of a believer.
1 Corinthians 13:8B
8Bbut whether there be prophecies, they shall fail
Fail comes from the Greek word katargeo {kat-arg-eh’-o} (G2673). This is a different Greek word than the one for faileth. This is important, because these words express different concepts. Katargeo means to be rendered of non-effect after a temporary use has been fulfilled. Additionally, it does not state prophecy, but prophecies. There is a difference between the two. Prophecy would refer to the manifestation or gift. Where as prophecies, refer to the specific outcomes of the manifestations of prophecy.
1 Corinthians 13:8 is not stating that the manifestation or gift will fail, but that prophecies that which is stated will fail. These prophecies are of a temporary nature. They provide information. When the fulfillment of the prophecies comes to pass, the prophecies no longer sustain. As such, there is no double fulfillment for prophecies. For instance Isaiah 9:6:
6For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
This has already occurred. There will not be another child born who would fulfill this prophecy.
1 Corinthians 13:8C
8Cwhether there be tongues, they shall cease;
Cease is the Greek word pauo (pow-o)(G3973). There are those that believe that this means that tongues would never be used again. However, consider how pauo (pow-o) is used in the Bible, Luke 5:4.
4Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.
The word let comes from the Greek word pauo. It could just as well have been translated, cease speaking. Think about this, does that mean when Yeshua ceased speaking that He would never speak again?
Luke 8:24
24And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm.
Ceased is the Greek word pauo (pow-o)(G3973). If this was based on the understanding of 1 Corinthians 13:8C, this would mean that the winds would never blow again.
If one is consistent and uses the same logic for the above verses as 1 Corinthians 13:8, it would mean that Yeshua would never speak again and the wind would not blow again. To understand God’s message, one should be consistent with the Bible.
Being consistent with other uses of the Greek word pauo, 1 Corinthians 13:8 would mean that tongues will pause. One would not start speaking tongues and never end. Tongues is an intermittent action that starts and stops as appropriate. Interestingly enough, the English word pause comes from the Greek word pauo.
1 Corinthians 13:8D
8Dwhether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away
The phrase vanish away is the Greek word katargeo (G2673). From what was said earlier, this would mean, knowledge is of a temporary nature. It is information that is used for a specific purpose. Once it is fulfilled its purpose, one does not continue to use it. There is not a double fulfillment for words of knowledge.
Next Cessation of Gifts, 1 Corinthians 13:9-10 (CV)
Back to Cessation of Gifts, 1 Corinthians 13:8-10 (FV)
Return to Views of the Holy Spirit
Return to Power of the Holy Spirit