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Quote If this is the gift of tongues to which the Apostle Paul is referring, why then is there a need for the gift of interpretation of tongues? Looking at a real life scenerio might help. If there are many English speaking people in my congregation and a few who only really speak Chinese, (but English a little), and someone were to give a talk in Chinese, it would sound crazy to the English speaking people. A translator would be needed for the English speaking people.
When a talk is given with manderin speaking chinese and cantonese speaking chinese for example, the talk might be given in maderin, and translated at the same time into cantonese.So, looking at back then, say someone is given the ability to speak in the tongue of manderin. That's great for the manderin speaking unbelievers, but for the spanish people who maybe haven't even heard manderin before, it would seem crazy. A translator would be needed what that one person was saying was to be understood by both groups.
Quote (david @ June 30 2008,10:29) Quote If this is the gift of tongues to which the Apostle Paul is referring, why then is there a need for the gift of interpretation of tongues? Looking at a real life scenerio might help. If there are many English speaking people in my congregation and a few who only really speak Chinese, (but English a little), and someone were to give a talk in Chinese, it would sound crazy to the English speaking people. A translator would be needed for the English speaking people.
When a talk is given with manderin speaking chinese and cantonese speaking chinese for example, the talk might be given in maderin, and translated at the same time into cantonese.So, looking at back then, say someone is given the ability to speak in the tongue of manderin. That's great for the manderin speaking unbelievers, but for the spanish people who maybe haven't even heard manderin before, it would seem crazy. A translator would be needed what that one person was saying was to be understood by both groups.
This is truth also…Paul said that its useless to speak in tongues without a translator….he said that people watching the spectacal would think you were mad…in affect doing more harm than goodQuote (dirtyknections @ June 30 2008,10:24) THis is from a previous Post of mine…please show how this is incorrect “In the first six letters, all written during the period covered by the Book of Acts, we find that the sign gifts were operating in all these churches. All through the Book of Acts we read of tongues, the gift of prophecy, the gift of healing, etc.—for example, tongues and prophecy in Acts 19:6, the gift of prophecy in Acts 21:10-14, the gift of healing in Acts 19:11-12 and 28:8,9, etc.
And in the “Acts Epistles” we read of the gifts operating in the churches that Paul founded. In Galatians 3:5, 1 Thessalonians 5:20, 1 Corinthians 12,13,14, 2 Corinthians 12:12, Romans 12:6—in all these letters we read about the gifts in operation right through to the end of the Book of Acts.
But, during this time in the Book of Acts, the Lord revealed to Paul that the sign gifts were going to cease—1 Corinthians 13:8-12. The gifts were all in operation all through the Book of Acts period and are mentioned in the letters written during that time, but the Lord had revealed that the sign gifts were going to cease at some time in the future.
When the gift of tongues ceasedNow we turn to the prison epistles, the four letters written shortly after the end of the Book of Acts, while Paul was a prisoner in Rome—Ephesians, Colossians, Philemon and Philippians…and we find that there is not one word about tongues, or the gift of healing. Even where we might have expected Paul to write of tongues in the passage about being “filled with the Spirit” in Ephesians 5:17, he has nothing to say about tongues. And as for the gift of healing, we read of a co-worker of Paul's, Epaphroditus, who fell seriously ill during this time (Phil. 2:25-30) and Paul no longer had the gift of healing, and was no longer able to heal as he did only a few years earlier in Acts 28:9. The sign gifts were no longer operating at the time that Paul wrote the Prison Epistles.
Tongues in the Pastoral Epistles?In the 3 Pastoral Epistles, as in the prison epistles, we do not read of tongues or the gift of healing operating at this time. We do read of prophecies that had been made about Timothy in 1 Timothy 1:18 and 4:14 and 2 Timothy 1:6, but these were given years before. So far as we read in these three letters, we wouldn't even know that there had been a “gift of tongues.”
And, again, in places where we would have expected Paul to mention the sign gifts, he is silent. When Paul gives Timothy and Titus instructions regarding the choice of men to be elders in the churches, Paul says nothing about the desirability of these men having a gift such as prophecy, or healing, or other sign gifts (see Titus 1:6-9 and 1 Tim. 3:1-10). The gifts of tongues, prophecy, etc. were no longer in operation by the time Paul wrote the pastoral epistles.
It is clear that the gift of healing has ceased because, as in Philippians, Paul was no longer able to heal, even his co-workers. Timothy was suffering stomach problems and frequent infirmities (1 Tim. 5:23) and Paul can't heal him, doesn't recommend that he go to a healer in the church, doesn't send a prayer cloth or a bottle of anointing oil (remember the miracles of some 8 years earlier in Acts 19:11-12). Likewise in 2 Timothy 4:20, Paul has to leave behind his co-worker Trophimus who had fallen sick on the last journey. Paul's gift of healing (Acts 28:9) was no longer operating in Philippians 2:27, 1 Timothy 5:23 and 2 Timothy 4:20.
SummaryThe sign gifts, tongues, prophecy, the gift of healing, etc. were operating all through the Book of Acts, and these gifts are mentioned in the letters that Paul wrote during the Acts period. But when we turn to the letters written after the Book of Acts—the 4 Prison Epistles, and the 3 Pastoral Epistles, we find that the sign gifts either aren't mentioned at all or we see—as with the gift of healing—that they were no longer operating in Paul's life. What he could do in Acts 28, he could no longer do in Philippians, or in 1 and 2 Timothy. He could heal all the sick on the island in Acts 28:9, but he couldn't heal any of his closest co-workers—Timothy, Epaphroditus, Trophimus—after the close of the Book of Acts.
Arranging Paul's letters in the order that he wrote them allows us to see the pattern of truth that is found in the Word of God:
The sign gifts were operating in Acts and in all of the Acts Epistles: Galatians, 1 & 2 Thessalonians, 1 & 2 Corinthians and Romans.
But in this time period, in 1 Corinthians 13:8-12, Paul tells us that the Lord had revealed to him that these gifts would cease some day. And they did, because in the letters written after the Book of Acts, the sign gifts had ceased, just as the Lord said that they would.
The pattern could not be clearer, and the contrast could not be sharper between the earlier letters and the later letters, between the time when all the sign gifts were operating, and the time when all the sign gifts had ceased.
We can now give a scriptural answer to the question that we started with: when did the sign gifts cease?
The answer: The sign gifts ceased at the end of the Book of Acts. There is no record in Scripture of any of the sign gifts operating in any of the letters that Paul wrote after the end of the Acts period, and it is clear that the gift of healing had ceased since Paul could no longer heal even his closest co-workers after the close of the Book of Acts. “
Hi DK:The gospels and all of the epistles end with Amen.
Quote a·men Audio Help /ˈeɪˈmɛn, ˈɑˈmɛn/ Pronunciation Key – Show Spelled Pronunciation[ey-men, ah-men] Pronunciation Key – Show IPA Pronunciation
–interjection 1. it is so; so be it (used after a prayer, creed, or other formal statement to express solemn ratification or agreement).Nothing can be added or taken away from the Word of God.
But the Acts of the Apostles is an open book which means that these Acts of God through his people are continuing and will continue until Jesus comes for the church.
It is at this time that the spiritual gifts will cease. There will be no need for them any longer when all of God's children will be saved. We will have a spiritual body so we will have no need for the gift of healing, for example.
Quote (dirtyknections @ June 30 2008,10:29) This is proveable: 'He could heal all the sick on the island in Acts 28:9, but he couldn't heal any of his closest co-workers—Timothy, Epaphroditus, Trophimus—after the close of the Book of Acts.”
Hi DK,
Neither could Jesus at times.Mk6
5And He could do no miracle there except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them.ACTS 8:18
“Now when Simon saw that through the laying on of the hands of the apostles the spirit was given, he offered them money,”It isn’t referring to just having the holy spirit here. It’s referrirng to something special, the gifts of the spirit. Note that it says they were given through the laying on the hands of “the apostles.” So, what happened when the apostles died off?
“Whether there are gifts of tongues, they will cease.”
The Bible record reveals that when any miraculous gift of the spirit was transmitted, at least one of the 12 apostles or the apostle Paul was present. Read for yourself the reported cases when the gift of tongues accompanied the outpouring of holy spirit: Acts 2:1-4, 14; 10:44-48; 19:6. You will notice that in every case one or more of the apostles of Jesus Christ were present. The first of three recorded instances of speaking in tongues occurred among 120 of Jesus’ disciples gathered in Jerusalem at Pentecost 33 C.E. (Acts 2:1-4) Three and a half years later, while a group of uncircumcised Italians were listening to Peter preach, they received the spirit and began “speaking with tongues and magnifying God.” (Acts 10:44-48) And 19 years after Pentecost, about 52 C.E., Paul spoke to a group in Ephesus and laid his hands upon 12 disciples. They too “began speaking with tongues and prophesying.”—Acts 19:6.
Evidently, then, in accord with Acts 8:18, with the death of the last apostle, the passing on of the gifts of the spirit would stop—including speaking in tongues. Hence, when those who had received these gifts from the apostles also passed off the earthly scene, the miraculous gift would cease. By then the Christian congregation would have had time to become well established and would have spread to many lands. The gift of tongues had served its purpose. It had been well established that the Christian congregation had God’s favor and backing. Moreover, Christians had grown in number and had been dispersed to many lands, carrying the “good news” with them. ( Compare Col 1:23) Such a view agrees with the purpose of those gifts as stated at Hebrews 2:2-4.Quote (Nick Hassan @ June 30 2008,10:41) Quote (dirtyknections @ June 30 2008,10:29) This is proveable: 'He could heal all the sick on the island in Acts 28:9, but he couldn't heal any of his closest co-workers—Timothy, Epaphroditus, Trophimus—after the close of the Book of Acts.”
Hi DK,
Neither could Jesus at times.Mk6
5And He could do no miracle there except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them.
But the question is..Why could Jesus not do it?…He says why right after that verse you quote..4Jesus said to them, “Only in his hometown, among his relatives and in his own house is a prophet without honor.” 5He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. 6And he was amazed at their lack of faith.
Remember..it was their faith that would have made them well..NOT JESUS ALONE…
Luke 17:19…19Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”
So I think we can suffice it to say that…Timothy was defintely FAITHFUL…and the reason Paul could not heal him and others was because the gifts HAD ceased
Quote (942767 @ June 30 2008,10:39) Quote (dirtyknections @ June 30 2008,10:24) THis is from a previous Post of mine…please show how this is incorrect “In the first six letters, all written during the period covered by the Book of Acts, we find that the sign gifts were operating in all these churches. All through the Book of Acts we read of tongues, the gift of prophecy, the gift of healing, etc.—for example, tongues and prophecy in Acts 19:6, the gift of prophecy in Acts 21:10-14, the gift of healing in Acts 19:11-12 and 28:8,9, etc.
And in the “Acts Epistles” we read of the gifts operating in the churches that Paul founded. In Galatians 3:5, 1 Thessalonians 5:20, 1 Corinthians 12,13,14, 2 Corinthians 12:12, Romans 12:6—in all these letters we read about the gifts in operation right through to the end of the Book of Acts.
But, during this time in the Book of Acts, the Lord revealed to Paul that the sign gifts were going to cease—1 Corinthians 13:8-12. The gifts were all in operation all through the Book of Acts period and are mentioned in the letters written during that time, but the Lord had revealed that the sign gifts were going to cease at some time in the future.
When the gift of tongues ceasedNow we turn to the prison epistles, the four letters written shortly after the end of the Book of Acts, while Paul was a prisoner in Rome—Ephesians, Colossians, Philemon and Philippians…and we find that there is not one word about tongues, or the gift of healing. Even where we might have expected Paul to write of tongues in the passage about being “filled with the Spirit” in Ephesians 5:17, he has nothing to say about tongues. And as for the gift of healing, we read of a co-worker of Paul's, Epaphroditus, who fell seriously ill during this time (Phil. 2:25-30) and Paul no longer had the gift of healing, and was no longer able to heal as he did only a few years earlier in Acts 28:9. The sign gifts were no longer operating at the time that Paul wrote the Prison Epistles.
Tongues in the Pastoral Epistles?In the 3 Pastoral Epistles, as in the prison epistles, we do not read of tongues or the gift of healing operating at this time. We do read of prophecies that had been made about Timothy in 1 Timothy 1:18 and 4:14 and 2 Timothy 1:6, but these were given years before. So far as we read in these three letters, we wouldn't even know that there had been a “gift of tongues.”
And, again, in places where we would have expected Paul to mention the sign gifts, he is silent. When Paul gives Timothy and Titus instructions regarding the choice of men to be elders in the churches, Paul says nothing about the desirability of these men having a gift such as prophecy, or healing, or other sign gifts (see Titus 1:6-9 and 1 Tim. 3:1-10). The gifts of tongues, prophecy, etc. were no longer in operation by the time Paul wrote the pastoral epistles.
It is clear that the gift of healing has ceased because, as in Philippians, Paul was no longer able to heal, even his co-workers. Timothy was suffering stomach problems and frequent infirmities (1 Tim. 5:23) and Paul can't heal him, doesn't recommend that he go to a healer in the church, doesn't send a prayer cloth or a bottle of anointing oil (remember the miracles of some 8 years earlier in Acts 19:11-12). Likewise in 2 Timothy 4:20, Paul has to leave behind his co-worker Trophimus who had fallen sick on the last journey. Paul's gift of healing (Acts 28:9) was no longer operating in Philippians 2:27, 1 Timothy 5:23 and 2 Timothy 4:20.
SummaryThe sign gifts, tongues, prophecy, the gift of healing, etc. were operating all through the Book of Acts, and these gifts are mentioned in the letters that Paul wrote during the Acts period. But when we turn to the letters written after the Book of Acts—the 4 Prison Epistles, and the 3 Pastoral Epistles, we find that the sign gifts either aren't mentioned at all or we see—as with the gift of healing—that they were no longer operating in Paul's life. What he could do in Acts 28, he could no longer do in Philippians, or in 1 and 2 Timothy. He could heal all the sick on the island in Acts 28:9, but he couldn't heal any of his closest co-workers—Timothy, Epaphroditus, Trophimus—after the close of the Book of Acts.
Arranging Paul's letters in the order that he wrote them allows us to see the pattern of truth that is found in the Word of God:
The sign gifts were operating in Acts and in all of the Acts Epistles: Galatians, 1 & 2 Thessalonians, 1 & 2 Corinthians and Romans.
But in this time period, in 1 Corinthians 13:8-12, Paul tells us that the Lord had revealed to him that these gifts would cease some day. And they did, because in the letters written after the Book of Acts, the sign gifts had ceased, just as the Lord said that they would.
The pattern could not be clearer, and the contrast could not be sharper between the earlier letters and the later letters, between the time when all the sign gifts were operating, and the time when all the sign gifts had ceased.
We can now give a scriptural answer to the question that we started with: when did the sign gifts cease?
The answer: The sign gifts ceased at the end of the Book of Acts. There is no record in Scripture of any of the sign gifts operating in any of the letters that Paul wrote after the end of the Acts period, and it is clear that the gift of healing had ceased since Paul could no longer heal even his closest co-workers after the close of the Book of Acts. “
Hi DK:The gospels and all of the epistles end with Amen.
Quote a·men Audio Help /ˈeɪˈmɛn, ˈɑˈmɛn/ Pronunciation Key – Show Spelled Pronunciation[ey-men, ah-men] Pronunciation Key – Show IPA Pronunciation
–interjection 1. it is so; so be it (used after a prayer, creed, or other formal statement to express solemn ratification or agreement).Nothing can be added or taken away from the Word of God.
But the Acts of the Apostles is an open book which means that these Acts of God through his people are continuing and will continue until Jesus comes for the church.
It is at this time that the spiritual gifts will cease. There will be no need for them any longer when all of God's children will be saved. We will have a spiritual body so we will have no need for the gift of healing, for example.
What scriptures support what you say?Hi DK,
Faith could have been the issue with the verses you quote as PROOF the gifts stopped.
Faith seems to be the problem when Jesus returns too.The purpose is the same as the purpose now.
To support the preaching of the eternal gospel of Jesus Christ.
men still are unsaved and need to see the kingdom of power and not just words.Quote (Nick Hassan @ June 30 2008,10:58) Hi DK,
Faith could have been the issue with the verses you quote as PROOF the gifts stopped.
Faith seems to be the problem when Jesus returns too.The purpose is the same as the purpose now.
To support the preaching of the eternal gospel of Jesus Christ.
men still are unsaved and need to see the kingdom of power and not just words.
I disagree…The gifts served a purpose for that particular time period, for that particular people…
Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 13:8-12—
“Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.
“When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.”
From my previous post..Read and you will see:
The gift of tongues, prophecy and knowledge during the Acts period were only “in part”—they were incomplete, they did not communicate the full knowledge that the Lord had to reveal. But the Lord revealed to Paul that “that which is perfect” was coming. In English, as in Greek, this is a neuter pronoun—”that thing which is perfect.” Paul was not writing about the coming of “He who is perfect” but of the coming of a “thing” which is perfect. When it came, then the gifts which were only “in part” would cease.
It would be like the difference between being a child and becoming a grown man, or between seeing someone's face reflected in a wavy ancient mirror, and seeing the person face-to-face.
Before the end of the Book of Acts, during the Acts period, and in the letters written during the Acts period, the Lord had only revealed part of the “dispensation of grace” (Eph. 3:2) to the Apostle Paul, but He had not yet revealed the entire message to him. It was still only “in part” during the Acts period, but with the close of the Book of Acts, the Lord completed the revelation of the “Mystery” (see Eph. 3:3,4,9 and Col. 1:26,27, etc.). “That which is perfect” was finally revealed in all its fullness to the Apostle Paul and at that moment, those things which were only “in part” passed away from God's program.
Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 13:12—
“Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.”
When Paul wrote “now I know in part,” he used the common word for “know,” the Greek word gnosis.
But then, when he wrote “but then I shall know…” he changes the word from gnosis to epignosis, “to fully know.”
We could paraphrase Paul's statement: “Now, as I'm writing 1 Corinthians in Acts 19, I have gnosis—I know, in part, what God's message is for us today in the dispensation of grace, but then—when that which is perfect has come—I shall have epignosis—the full knowledge of God's message of grace for us today.”
All through the Book of Acts Paul had only “gnosis,” partial knowledge of the message of grace, but when we turn to the Prison Letters we suddenly find Paul using that word “epignosis”—he had now received that “full knowledge” which he didn't have when he wrote to the Corinthians:
“For I want you to know what a great conflict I have for you and those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge (epignosis—full knowledge) of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ” (Col. 2:1-2).
“For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge (epignosis—full knowledge) of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light” (Col. 1:9-12).
In all the seven letters written after the close of the Book of Acts, Paul uses this word “epignosis”—the full knowledge. What he had not yet received in 1 Corinthians 13, he now has. That which is perfect had come and so the sign gifts had passed away.
No…but the situation and spiritual condition of the body of christ that neccessitated those gifts is..
See my last post for explanation
942767…
There is healing today, but there is no gift of healing, there are no “divine healers.” There is no gift of healing today but God still heals… sometimes. He healed Epaphroditus, but He did not heal Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:8-9 or in Galatians 4:13-15, or Timothy in 1 Timothy 5:23, or Trophimus in 2 Timothy 4:20. He heals according to His will today. But the promise that He gave to Paul is still our promise today in the dispensation of grace:
“My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor. 12:9).
Whether we are well or sick, whether we are like Epaphroditus or like Timothy, we can always claim this promise from the Lord that His grace and strength are sufficient for us. He never allows us to suffer something that He doesn't give us the strength to live through.
Quote (david @ June 30 2008,10:29) Quote If this is the gift of tongues to which the Apostle Paul is referring, why then is there a need for the gift of interpretation of tongues? Looking at a real life scenerio might help. If there are many English speaking people in my congregation and a few who only really speak Chinese, (but English a little), and someone were to give a talk in Chinese, it would sound crazy to the English speaking people. A translator would be needed for the English speaking people.
When a talk is given with manderin speaking chinese and cantonese speaking chinese for example, the talk might be given in maderin, and translated at the same time into cantonese.So, looking at back then, say someone is given the ability to speak in the tongue of manderin. That's great for the manderin speaking unbelievers, but for the spanish people who maybe haven't even heard manderin before, it would seem crazy. A translator would be needed what that one person was saying was to be understood by both groups.
Hi David:Then the gift of interpretation would still be need in a church service today if we had a similar scenario?
JHi DK,
You speak words from a tradition to justify a position.
But scripture is eternal and God does not need excuses.
As usual the lack and the unbelief is from man's tradition.Simon was “beholding signs and great powerful works taking place.”
This magician, Simon, wanted to be able to do those same things he saw, those amazing things.
“Now when Simon saw that THROUGH THE LAYING ON THE HANDS OF THE APOSTLES the spirit was given, he offered them money,”
Read for yourself the reported cases when the gift of tongues accompanied the outpouring of holy spirit: Acts 2:1-4, 14; 10:44-48; 19:6. You will notice that in every case one or more of the apostles of Jesus Christ were present.
The first of three recorded instances of speaking in tongues occurred among 120 of Jesus’ disciples gathered in Jerusalem at Pentecost 33 C.E. (Acts 2:1-4) Three and a half years later, while a group of uncircumcised Italians were listening to Peter preach, they received the spirit and began “speaking with tongues and magnifying God.” (Acts 10:44-48) And 19 years after Pentecost, about 52 C.E., Paul spoke to a group in Ephesus and laid his hands upon 12 disciples. They too “began speaking with tongues and prophesying.”—Acts 19:6.
Evidently, then, in accord with Acts 8:18, with the death of the last apostle, the passing on of the gifts of the spirit would stop—including speaking in tongues. Hence, when those who had received these gifts from the apostles also passed off the earthly scene, the miraculous gift would cease. By then the Christian congregation would have had time to become well established and would have spread to many lands. The gift of tongues had served its purpose. It had been well established that the Christian congregation had God’s favor and backing. Moreover, Christians had grown in number and had been dispersed to many lands, carrying the “good news” with them.
Quote Then the gift of interpretation would still be need in a church service today if we had a similar scenario? as I said, we have translators. Back then, when there was an actual need for such things, yes, some had the special gift of translating.
Today, things are different. For example, today, the Bible is available in whole or part in thousands of languages. Not so back then.
Quote (dirtyknections @ June 30 2008,11:05) Quote (Nick Hassan @ June 30 2008,10:58) Hi DK,
Faith could have been the issue with the verses you quote as PROOF the gifts stopped.
Faith seems to be the problem when Jesus returns too.The purpose is the same as the purpose now.
To support the preaching of the eternal gospel of Jesus Christ.
men still are unsaved and need to see the kingdom of power and not just words.
I disagree…The gifts served a purpose for that particular time period, for that particular people…
Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 13:8-12—
“Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.
“When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.”
From my previous post..Read and you will see:
The gift of tongues, prophecy and knowledge during the Acts period were only “in part”—they were incomplete, they did not communicate the full knowledge that the Lord had to reveal. But the Lord revealed to Paul that “that which is perfect” was coming. In English, as in Greek, this is a neuter pronoun—”that thing which is perfect.” Paul was not writing about the coming of “He who is perfect” but of the coming of a “thing” which is perfect. When it came, then the gifts which were only “in part” would cease.
It would be like the difference between being a child and becoming a grown man, or between seeing someone's face reflected in a wavy ancient mirror, and seeing the person face-to-face.
Before the end of the Book of Acts, during the Acts period, and in the letters written during the Acts period, the Lord had only revealed part of the “dispensation of grace” (Eph. 3:2) to the Apostle Paul, but He had not yet revealed the entire message to him. It was still only “in part” during the Acts period, but with the close of the Book of Acts, the Lord completed the revelation of the “Mystery” (see Eph. 3:3,4,9 and Col. 1:26,27, etc.). “That which is perfect” was finally revealed in all its fullness to the Apostle Paul and at that moment, those things which were only “in part” passed away from God's program.
Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 13:12—
“Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.”
When Paul wrote “now I know in part,” he used the common word for “know,” the Greek word gnosis.
But then, when he wrote “but then I shall know…” he changes the word from gnosis to epignosis, “to fully know.”
We could paraphrase Paul's statement: “Now, as I'm writing 1 Corinthians in Acts 19, I have gnosis—I know, in part, what God's message is for us today in the dispensation of grace, but then—when that which is perfect has come—I shall have epignosis—the full knowledge of God's message of grace for us today.”
All through the Book of Acts Paul had only “gnosis,” partial knowledge of the message of grace, but when we turn to the Prison Letters we suddenly find Paul using that word “epignosis”—he had now received that “full knowledge” which he didn't have when he wrote to the Corinthians:
“For I want you to know what a great conflict I have for you and those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge (epignosis—full knowledge) of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ” (Col. 2:1-2).
“For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge (epignosis—full knowledge) of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light” (Col. 1:9-12).
In all the seven letters written after the close of the Book of Acts, Paul uses this word “epignosis”—the full knowledge. What he had not yet received in 1 Corinthians 13, he now has. That which is perfect had come and so the sign gifts had passed away.
Nick..speak on why this is wrong..I gave you no tradition..I gave you sound scriptural reasoning…again if you would rebut the thigns I have said in this post
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