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The Apostle of the Reconciliation - Charles H. Welch
Index - Page 101 of 159
RECONCILIATION AND FAILURE OF THE LAW101
Chapter 13 shows the transitory nature of these gifts as opposed to the graces of faith, hope and love. The
apostle would bring all boasting and pride down before the one great crowning grace of love. Without love the gift
of tongues was comparable to a booming gong. Without love the gift of prophecy, understanding, knowledge, and
faith left a man empty. Without love, `charity' and martyrdom profited nothing. Then follows that description of
love, which should be written in letters of gold on every believer's heart (13:4-8):
`Its patience; its kindliness; its freedom from envy, vaunting, self-assertion (ou perperenetai perperus, `a
braggart'), inflated arrogance, vulgar indecorum; its superiority to self-seeking; its calm control of temper; its
oblivion of wrong; its absence of joy at the wrongs of others; its sympathy with the truth; its gracious tolerance;
its trustfulness; its hope; its endurance' (Farrar).
After having thus beautifully spoken of love, the apostle returns to the theme of the section, `the gifts'. The great
and essential difference between the gifts and love is that love will never cease, whereas the gifts did. The great
emphasis which is found in the original upon the transitory character of the gifts is somewhat veiled in the
Authorized Version In verses 8 to 11, we read:
`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. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But
when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be DONE AWAY. 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'.
The words we have printed in capitals are translations of the one word in the original, viz., katargeo. The
following citations will provide a full account of its meaning:
Luke 13:7.
`... why cumbereth it the ground?'
Note context,`... cut it down'.
Romans 3:31.
`... make void the law through faith'.
Note context, `... establish'.
Romans 4:14.
`... the promise made of none effect'.
Note verse 16, `... the promise might be sure'.
Romans 6:6.
`... the body of sin might be destroyed'.
Without quoting further from other parts of Scripture we just notice the usage of the word in 1 Corinthians itself:
`Bring to nought' the things that are (1:28).
`Come to nought' princes of this world (2:6).
`Shall destroy' both belly and meats (6:13).
The passage under notice (13:8-11).
`Put down' all rule (15:24).
`Destroyed' death (15:26).
There can be no doubt but that these words indicate a complete cessation. The teaching that the early church
`lost' the gifts through lack of faithfulness is a fable, invented in the attempt to explain their non-existence to-day.
The Corinthian church was surely carnal and childish, yet they possessed a plethora of gifts. The gifts did not
slowly cease. They cease abruptly at Acts 28. In that chapter Paul by two acts shows that the miracles of Mark 16
were still in force. The key to the question is found in that chapter too. The hope of Israel still held good. Israel as
a nation was set aside, however, in that chapter, and with their setting aside miraculous gifts ceased.
We would not be understood to say that `miracles' ceased. God has often interfered with the course of nature and
of man since, but not in the way of `spiritual gifts'. To understand miracles aright we must remember that they are
divided into two sections:-
(1) Evidential miracles.
(2) Miracles of compassion.
The miracles of the Acts period were largely the former. 1 Corinthians 14:21,22 says: