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NASB | 1 Corinthians 13:8 ¶ Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 1 Corinthians 13:8 ¶ Love never fails [it never fades nor ends]. But as for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for the gift of special knowledge, it will pass away. |
Bible Question: Are the gifts of the spirit for today? |
Bible Answer: No, the gifts of the Spirit are not for today. MIRACULOUS GIFTS Like scaffolding, a temporary platform for workmen on a new building, miraculous gifts were temporary to enable the early church time to mature and grow. Instruction had to be given in the absence of a written, confirmed, complete and perfect revelation. These gifts were to last "till we all attain unto the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto the fullgrown man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ" (Ephesians 4:13). These gifts came through the laying on of the apostles' hands. The apostles had to go to Samaria to lay hands on those Philip had converted and bestow gifts on them, because Philip could not do it (Acts 8:16). Paul laid his hands on twelve men at Ephesus and they spoke in tongues and prophesied (Acts 19:6). The seven deacons, including Philip, received the laying on of hands of the apostles (Acts 6:6). Paul laid his hands on Timothy to enable him to receive a special gift (2 Timothy 1:6). Finally, Paul longed to go to Rome, "that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established" (Romans 1:11). It is very, very important that we keep in mind the third-persons with reference to miraculous gifts. Only the apostles could give the nine miraculous gifts (1 Cor. 12:4-11). The ones upon whom they laid their hands could not impart the gifts to the third-person Christians. If they could, why didn't Philip bestow the gifts on the Christians in Samaria? Therefore, when the apostles died, their hands died with them and the ability to bestow gifts by "the laying on of hands" died also. THE NINE GIFTS The nine miraculous gifts (1 Cor. 12:8-11) relate specifically to the infant church when it did not have the completed revelation of God as we have today. There was a special need then that does not exist now. The gifts were to confirm the word (Hebrews 2:1-4). They helped the church grow and keep out false teachers (Eph. 4:11-15). The word preached by the apostles was oral. They didn't have a New Testament like we have today. It was being written. Therefore, they had these gifts and could bestow them on others to confirm the spoken word (Hebrews 2:3,4). Since the Hebrew writer said it "was confirmed," and it is in the past tense, we learn two important lessons: First, the signs, wonders and gifts of the Spirit were manifested through the miraculous gifts. Secondly, for us to look for confirming signs today, exemplifies our lack of faith in the miracles of the apostles and the genuineness of the word of God. THAT WHICH IS PERFECT After discussing the nine miraculous gifts in the 12th chapter of First Corinthians, Paul wanted to point up a "More excellent way" (1 Cor. 12:31), hence he points to the way of love in the 13th chapter. He puts a deadline and dateline on the miraculous gifts by saying, "Love never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall be done away; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall be done away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part; but when that which is perfect is come, that which is in part shall be done away" (1 Cor. 13:8-9). When the scriptures were completed; the oral message spoken and the gifts to confirm that message were recorded, we received that "perfect law, the law of liberty" (James 1:25). It is therefore the New Testament that circumscribes his church today. It is incorrect to simply assume that because a spiritual gift is listed in the New Testament period, it must exist today. The form of the questions in 1 Corinthians 12:29-30 ("do all speak with tongues?") points out the self-evident fact that not every Christian was meant to possess every gift, since all Christians were not apostles, nor all prophets, neither did all speak with tongues, nor work miracles of various kinds." Finally, with reference to 1 Corinthians 13:9, "For we know in part, and we prophesy in part," we have always had perfect knowledge in quality but not in quantity. Likewise, we have always had perfect prophecy in quality but not in quantity. But when Jesus' revelation came, miraculous gifts ceased and we have today perfect knowledge and prophecy in quality and quantity. Mike |