1 Corinthians 13:10

In the light of the context, what is perfect (Gr. teleion, mature, whole, complete) probably refers to the whole truth about God. [Note: Barrett, p. 306.] Another possibility is that it is our state when we stand in the Lord’s presence. [Note: Fee, The First . . ., p. 645; Lowery, "1 Corinthians," p. 536; Thomas R. Edgar, Miraculous Gifts: Are They for Today? pp. 333-34; Keener, p. 109.] When we reach that point in history the Lord will remove (katargeo, cf. 1 Corinthians 13:8) what is partial, the limits on our knowledge and the other limitations we suffer in our present condition. Variations on this second view are that the perfect refers to the Rapture, [Note: Toussaint, "First Corinthians . . .," pp. 312-14.] to the Lord’s return, [Note: Charles C. Ryrie, The Ryrie Study Bible, p. 1744; Robertson and Plummer, p. 297.] or to the maturing of Christ’s body through the course of the church age. [Note: Robert L. Thomas, Understanding Spiritual Gifts: An exegetical study of 1 Corinthians 12-14, pp. 106-13; idem, "’Tongues . . . Will Cease,’" Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 17:2 (Spring 1974):81-89; and idem, "1 Corinthians 13:11 Revisited: an Exegetical Update," Master’s Seminary Journal 4:2 (Fall 1993):187-201. See also Farnell, 150:598:191-93.]

Another view is that the perfect refers to the completion of the New Testament canon and the partial to the incomplete canon and the Corinthians’ partial knowledge. [Note: Merrill F. Unger, New Testament Teaching on Tongues, p. 95; Myron J. Houghton, "A Reexamination of 1 Corinthians 13:8-13," Bibliotheca Sacra 153:611 (July-September 1996):344-56.] They were incomplete because God had not yet given all the prophecy He would give to complete the New Testament. However this view puts too much weight on prophecy and knowledge and not enough on our other temporary limitations, to which Paul also referred (1 Corinthians 13:12).

A third possibility is that the perfect refers to the new heavens and new earth. [Note: John F. MacArthur Jr., Charismatic Chaos, p. 231.] However the New Testament does not reveal that God will remove Christians’ limitations to any greater extent sometime after we see the Lord Jesus than He will when we see Him (cf. Romans 8:32).