FOR NOW WE SEE THROUGH A GLASS DARKLY

Verses 9-12 contain three clear contrasts: infancy and adulthood, darkly or obscurely, face to face, and in part and fully. Each is punctuated by either the words or implication of ‘now’ and ‘then’. What is this mirror through which we see obscurely? When was the ‘now’ and when will the ‘then’ be?

Paul was writing to the assembly at Corinth in the first cen­tury. Sign gifts, given by the risen Christ as part of the fruit of His victory at Calvary were given to authenticate the preaching of the apostles, Mark 16. 17, 18. But, human nature being as it is, the danger of their abuse existed and tragically was fulfilled at Cor­inth. Sign gifts, such as prophecy and tongues, had become the signature of spirituality. Rather than edification and profit, the gatherings of the assembly had become showcases for personal performances.

Paul tells the believers that prophecies would cease and that tongues would come to an end, v. 8. Likewise, at that point in time, the believers knew only ‘in part’ and the prophets were able to prophesy only ‘in part’. But a day would come when ‘that which is perfect’ would come, resulting in the partial and tem­porary either being done away with or ceasing.

To what does ‘perfect’, telios refer? Some commentators suggest that it is heaven. But the word conveys something mature, complete, and full. It suggests the end of a work begun. Since the theme is the revelation of God, the ‘perfect’ revelation of God in contrast to the partial prophecies and knowledge, the picture is of the completed word of God which we now have. We ‘know’ all that God would have us to know of His truth. We no longer see through a mirror obscurely, with faint discernment. We have been brought into the full blaze of New Testament light and truth. We now know what God thinks of us through His word.

Tongues, healings and prophecies were all part of the infancy, the partial knowledge time, the ‘glass darkly’ period of church history. With the completion of the word of God, we have available to us the full revelation of God to us, for us, and about us. Does this wondrous volume interest you?