1 Corinthians 13:10
in 1 Corinthians 13but when the perfect comes, the partial passes away.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
but when that which is perfect is come, that which is in part shall be done away.
KJV
But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
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This verse in 1 Corinthians 13
Commentary
15 notes on this verseFor now we know in part and understand in part. But then we shall be able to comprehend what is perfect, when not the shadow but the reality of the majesty and eternity of God shall begin to shine and to reveal itself unveiled before our eyes.
This site's exposition
Charity never faileth
on 1 Corinthians 13:8-10
Charity never faileth: the contrast that follows is between love's permanence and the gifts' appointed span, prophecies shall fail, tongues shall cease, knowledge shall vanish away, for we know in part, and we prophesy in part, but when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. The site teaches the reading the passage's own clauses require: that which is perfect, to teleion, arrives when we see face to face and know even as also we are known (13:12), the state of the Lord's presence and the resurrection, and the gifts serve the church until then. The reading that makes to teleion the completed canon, so that the gifts ceased when the New Testament was finished, is answered by verse 12 itself, since no one holding a Bible yet sees face to face or knows as he is known; the partial gifts end when the perfect state arrives, not before. Until that day the in-part gifts remain the church's equipment, exactly as 1:7 promised, that ye come behind in no gift, waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers5 voices
Whence we, having received Christ, saying, "I am the truth," know that shadows and figures have ceased; and we hasten on to the truth, proclaiming its glorious images. For now we know "in part," and as it were "through a glass," since that which is perfect has not yet come to us; namely, the kingdom of heaven and the resurrection, when "that which is in part shall be done away." For then will all our tabernacles be firmly set up, when again the body shall rise, with bones again joined and compacted with flesh. Then shall we celebrate truly to the Lord a glad festal-day, when we shall receive eternal tabernacles, no more to perish or be dissolved into the dust of the tomb.
For we know in part and prophesy in part; but when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away; for we shall then know perfectly, as we ought to know, when we have all risen from the …
"We know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away." It is not therefore knowledge that is done away, but the circumstance that our knowledge is in part. For we shall not only know as much but even a great deal more. But that I may also make it plain by example; now we know that God is every where, but how, we know not. That He made out of things that are not the things that are we know; but of the manner we are ignorant. That He was born of a virgin, we know; but how, we know not yet. But then shall we know somewhat more and clearer concerning these things.
Even though more knowledge is always being acquired by everyone, it will ever fall short in all things of its rightful completeness until the time when that which is perfect being comes, that which is in part will be done away.
But, as this faith, which works by love, begins to penetrate the soul, it tends, through the vital power of goodness, to change into sight, so that the holy and perfect in heart catch glimpses of that ineffable beauty whose full vision is our highest happiness.… We begin in faith, we are perfected in sight.
8 more voices on this verse
The Church Fathers1 voice
Everything which is imperfect will be destroyed. But destruction occurs by making the imperfect perfect, not by removing it altogether.
The Medieval Church2 voices
Secondly, he proves the major proposition, saying: But when the perfect comes, the imperfect will pass away, i.e., every imperfection will be taken away. Of this perfection it says in 1 Pt (5:10): "After you have suffered a little while, he will restore and strengthen …
If knowledge will be abolished: will we then live in ignorance? By no means! But he says that knowledge "in part" will be abolished when perfect knowledge comes, that is, the knowledge proper to the future life. For then we will know not merely as …
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
But when that which is perfect is come,.... When perfect knowledge of God, of Christ, and of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven shall take place; which will not in this life, but in that which is to come.
But when that which is perfect is come - At death and in the last day. That which is in part shall vanish away - Both that poor, low, imperfect, glimmering light, which is all the knowledge we now can attain to; and these slow and unsatisfactory methods of attaining, as well as of imparting it to others.
): When that which is perfect shall come, then that which is in part shall be done away. When the end is once attained, the means will of course be abolished. There will be no need of tongues, and prophecy, and inspired knowledge, in a future life, because then the church will be in a state of perfection, complete both in knowledge and holiness.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-punctuation+unbalanced-parens
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
But when that which is perfect - The state of eternal blessedness; then that which is in part - that which is imperfect, shall be done away; the imperfect as well as the probationary state shall cease for ever.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
But when that which is perfect is come - Does come; or shall come. This proposition is couched in a general form. It means that when anything which is perfect is seen or enjoyed, then that which is imperfect is forgotten, laid aside, or vanishes. Thus, in the full and perfect light of day, the imperfect and feeble light of the stars vanishes. The sense here is, that “in heaven” - a state of absolute perfection - that which is “in part,” or which is imperfect, shall be lost in superior brightness. All imperfection will vanish. And all that we here possess that is obscure shall be lost in the superior and perfect glory of that eternal world. All our present unsatisfactory modes of obtaining knowledge shall be unknown. All shall be clear, bright, and eternal.
The words behind it
9 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ὅταν | hotan | when | G3752 → | 123 times |
| δὲ | de | however | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| ἔλθῃ | elthe | may come | G2064 → | 628 times |
| τὸ | to | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| τέλειον, | teleion | perfect, | G5046 → | 19 times |
| τὸ | to | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἐκ | ek | in | G1537 → | 911 times |
| μέρους | merous | part | G3313 → | 42 times |
| καταργηθήσεται. | katargethesetai | will be done away. | G2673 → | 27 times |
ὅτανwhen
hotanG3752 →123 times
δὲhowever
deG1161 →2765 times
ἔλθῃmay come
eltheG2064 →628 times
τὸthe
toG3588 →19766 times
τέλειον,perfect,
teleionG5046 →19 times
τὸthe
toG3588 →19766 times
ἐκin
ekG1537 →911 times
μέρουςpart
merousG3313 →42 times
καταργηθήσεται.will be done away.
katargethesetaiG2673 →27 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
1 Corinthians 13:12Now we see but a dim reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
it leads to
- 1 John 3:2
Beloved, we are now children of God, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that when Christ appears, we will be like Him, for we will see Him as…
- 2 Corinthians 3:18
And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into His image with intensifying glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
- 1 Corinthians 13:9–10
For we know in part and we prophesy in part,
- Philippians 3:12
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.
- Revelation 22:4
They will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads.
- 1 John 3:2
Through
Isaiah 24:23The moon will be confounded and the sun will be ashamed; for the LORD of Hosts will reign on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, and before His elders with great glory.
it leads to
- Isaiah 60:19
No longer will the sun be your light by day, nor the brightness of the moon shine on your night; for the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your…
- Isaiah 13:10
For the stars of heaven and their constellations will not give their light. The rising sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light.
- Revelation 21:23
And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, because the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its lamp.
- Isaiah 60:19
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About 1 Corinthians
This page draws on 15 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Ambrose of Milan, On the Death of Satyrus 2.32; Ambrosiaster, COMMENTARY ON PAUL'S EPISTLES; Augustine of Hippo, Enchiridion 1.5; Basil of Caesarea, CONCERNING FAITH; Cosmas Indicopleustes, The Christian Topography, Book 7; Frederic Godet, Commentary on First Corinthians; John Chrysostom, Homily on 1 Corinthians 34; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Methodius of Olympus, Methodius Discourse IX. Tusiane; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 1 Corinthians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on 1 Corinthians.