1 Corinthians 13:8–13 and the Cessation of Miraculous Gifts

144 Detroit Baptist Seminary Journalare replaced when Christ returns. 131The second view, generally championed by those who see the giftsceasing at the end of the apostolic age and the close of the New Testamentcanon, overcomes the above liabilities. This view interprets theopening words of the verse as temporal. Paul is saying that the threevirtues continue “now,” that is, “in the present” or “in this present period.”As with the preceding view, this view understands Paul to becontrasting the virtues with the revelatory gifts. The virtues are superiorbecause they are longer lived than the gifts. In this case, however, thecontrast is between the gifts that cease at some point within this presentperiod and the virtues that continue throughout this period. Paul thenconcludes by declaring the superiority of love to the other virtues. Loveis superior, the implication is, because it alone continues beyond thepresent period into eternity. 132CONCLUSIONOf the four views on the interpretation of this passage, the completedcanon view overcomes the liabilities of the other views and leavesthe least number of questions unanswered. It interprets “prophecy,”“tongues,” and “knowledge” in 13:8 consistently with the larger literarystructure as references to miraculous, revelatory gifts. It defends thecontinuity between Old Testament prophecy and New Testamentprophecy supported by the biblical data. This view maintains theproper link between Paul’s statement about these gifts ceasing in 13:8and his explanation of that statement in 13:9–10. It gives an interpretationof “the perfect” in 13:10 that is corroborated by both the grammaticaland historical evidence. It interprets Paul’s analogies in 13:11–12 in harmony with the immediate and greater contexts. Further, thisview allows for an exposition of 13:13 that corresponds to what Paulsays elsewhere about the virtues of faith and hope. For these reasons thecompleted canon view is established as the most exegetically defensibleinterpretation. 133131 Fee, a non-cessationist, nevertheless recognizes the liabilities with the first interpretationand gives a detailed rebuttal (The First Epistle to the Corinthians, pp. 649–51).132 E.g., Thomas, Understanding Spiritual Gifts, pp. 83–84. Surprisingly, Feechampions this interpretation as well, but does not clarify how this interpretation fits inwith his having the revelatory gifts also continuing throughout the present age (TheFirst Epistle to the Corinthians, pp. 649–51).133 This conclusion counters the charge by Turner, The Holy Spirit and SpiritualGifts, p. 294, who denies that the completed canon view is exegetically defensible. Seen. 5 above.