1 Corinthians 13:8

1 CORINTHIANS—NOTE ON 1 Corinthians 13:8 Interpreters differ over the time when Paul expects prophecies to pass away and tongues to cease (along with other gifts represented by these examples). Some think gifts such as prophecy, healing, tongues, interpretation, and miracles were given to validate the apostles’ ministries in the early years of the church but then ceased once the entire NT was written and the apostles died (c. A.D. 100). Others think that Paul expected these gifts to continue until Christ returns, which will be the time when “the perfect” (v. 1 Corinthians 13:10) ways of speaking and knowing in the age to come replace the “in part” (v. 1 Corinthians 13:9) gifts of this age. Support for the second position is found in v. 1 Corinthians 13:12, which suggests that “then” (the time when these gifts will cease) is the time of Christ’s return.