The perfect of I Corinthians 13 is the completed written revelation of God. The gifts mentioned were for the expressed purpose of completing man spiritually. This is stated in the text as the imperfect gifts were to cease.( 8-10). Paul uses the example of a child to represent the immature spiritual man in this writing to the Corinthians. The church at Corinth had many problems. One of these problems was the abuse of the divine power they had. This letter was written to identify and correct the problem of the abuse of power and to explain that these gifts were only temporary. In other words, do not get the big head over these temporary gifts because they will eventually be unavailable. Therefore, learn to use love, which is a lasting gift in relating to others.
The case for the completed written revelation of God being in view is buttressed by the harmony of other texts on this matter. In Ephesians 4:11-16, the Bible says, 11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
The implication of this text as well as I Cor. 13 is the body of Christ would be complete spiritually as per the following:
1. Perfecting of the saints. (vs. 12).
2. Perfect man, stature of the fullness of Christ. (vs. 13).
3. Prevent a falling away because of false doctrine by deceit and cunning craftiness of false teachers i.e. spiritual discernment. (vs. 14).
4. Prosper in All things. (vs. 15).
5. Perfect harmony. (vs. 16).
If one accepts the perfect in I Corinthians 13 to be heaven, he affirms , according to the texts, that deceit, false teachings, and imperfect faith will be in heaven.
Furthermore, Christ cannot be in view as this was to take place during the lifetime of the audience( the Corinthians). Moreover, Christ promised men would be guided into all the truth. ( John 16:13). The truth was to save, cleanse and guide one to perfection. The Bible says in James 1:18, the Bible says, of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures. The Bible says in I Pet. 1:22, seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:
Our salvation in heaven is kept by faith in the truth, the Bible says, in I Pet. 1:4,5, 4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
In summation, the same Paul that wrote I Cor. 13 also wrote II Tim. 3:16,17. The Bible says, All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be PERFECT, throughly furnished unto ALL good works.
If the miraculous gifts of I Corinthians were still available we would see the evidence of such gifts. However, we do not see the lame walking, the blind receiving sight, the dead rising, men speaking in languages (tongues). (Acts 2:4,6).
