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things that have been hoped for will be seen. Thus faith will no longer have a role, but
love . . . . .!
At present we are encouraged to get "to know the love of Christ, which passeth
(surpasseth) knowledge" (Eph. 3: 19). Certainly that love far exceeds human
comprehension but when we no longer have the limitations of this frail body and limited
mind, then we can start to learn much, much more about divine love. Human love is such
that a person will die for a friend, a good man (Rom. 5: 7), yet God's love was such that
in Christ He died for the ungodly, the sinners, for those who were enemies (Rom. 5: 6, 8,
10). This is above human comprehension, but not above human gratitude and response.
It does seem as if this explanation of I Cor. 13: 8-10 is along the right lines for when
Paul has dealt with tongues in I Cor. 14: he takes up the theme of resurrection in
chapter 15: There he does look into the far future, to the days described in Revelation:
"For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in
his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterwards they that are Christ's at His coming.
Then cometh the end (to telos), when He shall have delivered up the kingdom to God,
even the Father; when He shall have put down all rule and all authority and power"
(I.Cor.xv.22-24).
This comes after the rebellion of Rev. 20: 7-9 and it seems possible that this is the
meaning of "when that which is perfect (the end) is come, then that which is in part shall
be done away" (I Cor. 13: 10). It is the end of the Millennium, the end of this present
heavens and earth. It is looking for the new heavens and new earth wherein dwelleth
righteousness.
The fact that miracles ceased a few years after Paul wrote I Corinthians was due to
the hardness of the hearts of the people of Israel (Acts 28: 27). They continued to
reject the apostles' plea to repent and, as a nation, they were set on one side for a period
of time. In the future the Lord will again start to work with them and fulfil all the
promises made to the fathers.