When that which is Perfect has Come

I. Two Related Triads 13:8, 13

Prophecies – fail – but faith abides (for now)
Tongues – cease – but hope abides (for now)
Knowledge – vanishes away – but love never fails -- it never ends

II. That which is Perfect v. 9-10

A.  A Time of Partial Knowledge  v. 9
    

B.  The Perfect makes the Partial Unnecessary   v. 10

    The question is – “what is the perfect” that comes which makes the partial unnecessary?

    The Greek word is to teleiov.  It is a neuter word – and that is significant – because we can't say, “When HE who is perfect has come”.

III. Two Illustrations and Two Applications 11-12

A.  The child

    The pre-schooler can speak – understand – and reason – but their speaking is limited – their understanding is immature – and their reasoning is often selfish.

B.  The Mirror
     
Numbers 12:6-8 -- The prophets in Corinth were battling for supremacy 

one with another – but God spoke directly to Moses. In 2 Corinthians Paul will defend his own apostleship against those who tried to contradict Paul's message.

    Jeremiah 31:31-34