1 Corinthians 13:10

1 Corinthians 13:10

But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

a. NLT: But when the time of perfection comes, these partial things will become useless.

b. NIV: But when completeness comes, what is in part disappears.

c. YLT: And when that which is perfect may come, then that which is in part shall become useless.

d. Amplified Bible Classic: But when the complete and perfect (total) comes, the incomplete and imperfect will vanish away (become antiquated, void, and superseded).

e. Worrell Translation: But, when the complete comes, the partial will be done away.

f. Wuest Translation: But whenever that which is complete comes, that which is incomplete and fragmentary will be done awa.

g. Peshitta Eastern Text: But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is imperfect  shall be done away.

1. “But when that which is perfect is come…”

a. But [Strong: 1161 de deh a primary particle (adversative or continuative); but, and, etc.:--also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English).]

b. when [Strong: 3752  hotan hot'-an from 3753 and 302; whenever (implying hypothesis or more or less uncertainty); also causatively (conjunctionally) inasmuch as:--as long (soon) as, that, + till, when(-soever), while.]

c. that [which] [Strong: 3588 ho ho, including the feminine he hay, and the neuter to to in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom):--the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.]

d. is perfect [Strong: 5046 teleios tel'-i-os from 5056; complete (in various applications of labor, growth, mental and moral character, etc.); neuter (as noun, with 3588) completeness:--of full age, man, perfect.] [Zodhiates: Finished, that which has reached its end, term, limit; hence complete, full, wanting in nothing…the final destination of the believer, that is, heaven (1 Corinthians 13:10, as contrasted to the full age in knowledge and understanding…)]

e. is come [Strong: 2064 erchomai er'-khom-ahee middle voice of a primary verb (used only in the present and imperfect tenses, the others being supplied by a kindred (middle voice) eleuthomai el-yoo'-thom-ahee, or (active) eltho el'-tho, which do not otherwise occur) to come or go (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively):--accompany, appear, bring, come, enter, fall out, go, grow, X light, X next, pass, resort, be set.]

1). This verse defines the line of demarcation, it separates the “now” from the “then”. It is, “when that which is perfect is come”. Much has been written on this word perfect and what it means. Some look at its other uses in the New Testament, which is no doubt one of the doctrinally sound things to do. It is used at least 19 times in the New Testament. But the times where its use has a bearing on what it actually means in 1 Corinthians 13:10 I believe are few.

a). James 1:25 But whoso looketh into the perfect [TELIOS] law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetfull hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

(1) In some doctrinal circles this verse is interpreted as being the finished cannon of Scripture. In relation to 1 Corinthians 13:10 it means we have “that which is perfect is come”. When we have the completed cannon of Scripture, then tongues shall cease, that’s what they believe it means.  I believe that interpretation is error, because the line of demarcation does not stop with the term “that which is perfect”. The Scripture continues the defining of the term in 1 Corinthians 13:11, 12.

(2) The interpretation of “that which is perfect” being the finished canon of Scripture does not line up because even if we have the finished canon of Scripture, which we do, we are still “looking through a glass darkly”, as opposed to “face to face” in 1 Corinthians 13:12.

2. “…then that which is in part shall be done away.”

a. then [Strong: 5119 tote tot'-eh from (the neuter of) 3588 and 3753; the when, i.e. at the time that (of the past or future, also in consecution):--that time, then.]

b. that [which] [Strong: 3588 ho ho, including the feminine he hay, and the neuter to to in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom):--the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.]

c. is in [Strong: 1537 ek ek or ex ex a primary preposition denoting origin (the point whence action or motion proceeds), from, out (of place, time, or cause; literal or figurative; direct or remote):--after, among, X are, at, betwixt(-yond), by (the means of), exceedingly, (+ abundantly above), for(- th), from (among, forth, up), + grudgingly, + heartily, X heavenly, X hereby, + very highly, in, ...ly, (because, by reason) of, off (from), on, out among (from, of), over, since, X thenceforth, through, X unto, X vehemently, with(-out). Often used in composition, with the same general import; often of completion.]

d. part [Strong: 3313 meros mer'-os from an obsolete but more primary form of meiromai (to get as a section or allotment); a division or share (literally or figuratively, in a wide application):--behalf, course, coast, craft, particular (+ -ly), part (+ -ly), piece, portion, respect, side, some sort(-what).]

e. shall be done away [Strong: 2673 katargeo kat-arg-eh'-o from 2596 and 691; to be (render) entirely idle (useless), literally or figuratively:--abolish, cease, cumber, deliver, destroy, do away, become (make) of no (none, without) effect, fail, loose, bring (come) to nought, put away (down), vanish away, make void.]

1). That which is in part will be done away when we no longer “see through a glass darkly” that is through the Scripture (2 Corinthians 3:18; James 1:23), but it will be face to face (1 John 3:2).