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1 Corinthians 13:9
Verse
Context
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Summary
Commentary
- Adam Clarke
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
For we know in part - We have here but little knowledge even of earthly, and much less of heavenly, things. He that knows most knows little in comparison of what is known by angels, and the spirits of just men made perfect. And as we know so very little, how deficient must we be if we have not much love! Angels may wonder at the imperfection of our knowledge; and separate spirits may wonder at the perfection of their own, having obtained so much more in consequence of being separated from the body, than they could conceive to be possible while in that body. When Sir Isaac Newton had made such astonishing discoveries in the laws of nature, far surpassing any thing that had been done by all his predecessors in science from the days of Solomon; one of our poets, considering the scantiness of human knowledge when compared with that which is possessed by the inhabitants of heaven, reduced his meditations on the subject to the following nervous and expressive epigram: - Superior beings, when of late they saw A mortal man explain all nature's law, Admired such wisdom in an earthly shape, And show'd our Newton as we show an ape. These fine lines are a paraphrase from a saying of Plato, from whom our poet borrows without acknowledging the debt. The words are these: ανθρωπον ὁ σοφωτατος προς θεον πιθηκος φανειται· "The wisest of mortals will appear but an ape in the estimation of God." Vid. Hipp. Maj. vol. xi. p. 21. Edit. Bipont. We prophesy in part - Even the sublimest prophets have been able to say but little of the heavenly state; and the best preachers have left the Spirit of God very much to supply. And had we no more religious knowledge than we can derive from men and books, and had we no farther instruction in the knowledge of God and ourselves than we derive from preaching, our religious experience would be low indeed. Yet it is our duty to acquire all the knowledge we possibly can; and as preaching is the ordinary means by which God is pleased to instruct and convert the soul, we should diligently and thankfully use it. For we have neither reason nor Scripture to suppose that God will give us that immediately from himself which he has promised to convey only by the use of means. Even this his blessing makes effectual; and, after all, his Spirit supplies much that man cannot teach. Every preacher should take care to inculcate this on the hearts of his hearers. When you have learned all you can from your ministers, remember you have much to learn from God; and for this you should diligently wait on him by the reading of his word, and by incessant prayer.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
in part--partially and imperfectly. Compare a similar contrast to the "perfect man," "the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ" (Eph 4:11-13).
John Gill Bible Commentary
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. So the Jews say (r) that at the resurrection, upon the reunion of the soul and body, "the children of men shall attain to , "perfect knowledge";'' which is what the apostle refers to here: and then that which is in part, shall be done away: the imperfection of knowledge shall be removed; the imperfect manner of communicating knowledge, and of receiving and acquiring it, will cease: thus the apostle explains what he means by the cessation and failing of knowledge, and prophecy; not that knowledge itself will be no more, and a state of ignorance and darkness succeed; but imperfect knowledge will vanish away, or rather will be perfected, or be swallowed up in perfect knowledge; the imperfection of it will disappear; and it will be no more taught and received in part; the whole of truth will be clearly known. (r) Midrash Haneelam in Zohar in Gen. fol. 69. 1.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
13:9 None of the spiritual gifts gives us full understanding; unlike love, they are all limited in their benefits.
1 Corinthians 13:9
Love
8Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be restrained; where there is knowledge, it will be dismissed.9For we know in part and we prophesy in part,10but when the perfect comes, the partial passes away.
- Scripture
- Sermons
- Commentary
K-536 Defining the Prophetic Call (1 of 2)
By Art Katz1.8K58:55Prophetic CallJER 23:10JHN 2:1ACT 13:11CO 13:9REV 19:10In this sermon, the speaker focuses on the miracle of Jesus turning water into wine at the wedding in Cana. He suggests that this miracle has a deeper meaning, pointing to the future and the last days. The speaker emphasizes the importance of obeying Jesus' words, as Mary advised, and highlights the role of prophets like Elijah and Jeremiah in warning Israel of impending judgments. He also reflects on the value of personal experiences in delivering messages, even when they may be embarrassing, and discusses the seriousness and requirements that God is now placing on the church.
The Grace and Duty of Being Spiritually Minded #3
By John Owen1.5K1:31:11Audio BooksGEN 24:53MAT 19:211CO 13:92CO 4:182CO 8:1HEB 6:91JN 3:2In this sermon, the preacher provides special directions on how to discharge the duty of looking at things above and the state of future glory. He emphasizes the importance of possessing right notions and apprehensions of these spiritual realities. The preacher highlights that faith is necessary to have a prospect of these unseen things and that due consideration of the nature of God and man is required. He also addresses the various thoughts and apprehensions people have about the positive aspects of the future state, cautioning against being too attached to earthly things and encouraging a focus on spiritual growth.
The Redeemer Shall Come Out of Zion
By Paul Ravenhill1.0K37:56PSA 46:4PRO 29:18ISA 52:9ISA 59:20MAT 6:33ROM 8:231CO 13:9In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of taking back areas of our lives and bringing them into alignment with God's perfecting. He highlights the darkness and hurt that exists in the world, both in advanced countries and in impoverished ones. The enemy's tactic is to sedate us with our culture and Christianity, preventing us from fully experiencing the life and spirit of God. The speaker also discusses a ministry of healing and the need for a vision of God as the Redeemer, emphasizing the importance of individual relationship with Him.
The Revival at Pentecost
By Rolfe Barnard76240:41RevivalMAT 6:33ACT 2:24ACT 2:37ROM 14:111CO 13:91TH 5:17In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the power and importance of preaching the word of God. He highlights that preaching is not just a public activity, but a personal responsibility for every believer to proclaim the message of salvation. The preacher emphasizes that true salvation can only come through the Holy Ghost and that accepting Jesus as Lord requires a genuine encounter with the Holy Spirit. He also emphasizes the need for fervent prayer and reverence for God, stating that familiarity with Christ should not diminish our sense of awe and reverence. The sermon concludes with the proclamation that Jesus is Lord, regardless of whether people acknowledge or love Him.
An Immovable Life
By Zac Poonen66759:36LUK 15:7LUK 15:20ROM 8:6ROM 8:111CO 13:91CO 14:31CO 15:58EPH 1:18PHP 3:10COL 3:15JAS 4:10This sermon emphasizes the importance of keeping God in our presence at all times, responding to the voice of conscience, seeking humility, and choosing the way of the cross. It encourages believers to pursue a deeper relationship with God, to be unmovable in faith, and to trust in God's grace and wisdom in all situations. The speaker urges listeners to prioritize knowing Jesus intimately, to pursue peace as a guide for God's will, and to be quick to settle conflicts and humble themselves. The message highlights the transformative power of dying to self and experiencing the resurrection life in Christ.
Anatomy of a Prophetic Word
By David Ravenhill721:19:41Prophetic MinistryWord and Spirit BalanceProphetic Word2KI 20:1ISA 46:7JER 18:4HAB 2:3LUK 8:41CO 12:11CO 13:91TH 5:21HEB 4:21PE 1:10David Ravenhill discusses the importance of understanding the prophetic word, emphasizing the need for a balance between the Word of God and the Spirit of God. He highlights the complexity of prophetic ministry, explaining that revelation, interpretation, and application are crucial components of a prophetic word. Ravenhill warns against the extremes of gullibility and skepticism, urging believers to examine prophetic utterances carefully. He also stresses the significance of motivation and the conditions that can affect the fulfillment of prophetic words, encouraging the church to embrace the prophetic as a vital tool for edification and guidance.
Jealous Meekness: Thoughts on a Pauline View of the Church in It’s Immaturity
By Bryan Anthony0MAT 7:11CO 13:9EPH 4:2COL 3:12Bryan Anthony delivers a powerful sermon on the importance of having a humble and merciful heart towards fellow believers, emphasizing that we all see in part and are in a continual process of growth in the knowledge of God. He challenges the common mentality of writing off others due to their gaps and inconsistencies, highlighting the need to intercede and show mercy even towards those we may disagree with. Drawing from the example of Paul's approach to the Corinthian church, Bryan Anthony urges believers to address issues with love and grace, recognizing that the Body of Christ, though imperfect, is still valued by God and in need of mercy and intercession.
Elect Sons in Grace and Glory
By Thomas Bradbury0PSA 17:15ROM 8:11CO 13:9EPH 1:31TH 1:41JN 3:21JN 4:17Thomas Bradbury preaches about the assurance of being the sons of God, emphasizing the distinction between God's children and the children of the devil, urging listeners to examine their hearts. He delves into the deep love of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit towards His children, highlighting the eternal predestination, divine adoption, and spiritual regeneration that make believers the sons of God. Bradbury discusses the shortsightedness of believers in understanding their future glory, the assurance they possess in being like Christ when He appears, and the ultimate cause of their transformation - seeing Him as He is.
Imperfection of Human Knowledge
By John Wesley0Human KnowledgeTrust in GodJOB 11:7PSA 139:6PRO 3:5ECC 3:11ISA 55:8MAT 6:33ROM 12:31CO 13:9PHP 4:6JAS 1:5John Wesley preaches on the limitations of human knowledge, emphasizing that while the desire for knowledge is innate and insatiable, our actual understanding is confined and often leads to pride. He reflects on the vastness of God's creation and the mysteries of His providence, highlighting that our knowledge is tailored to our current needs but remains woefully inadequate. Wesley urges listeners to embrace humility, faith, and resignation in the face of our ignorance, recognizing that true understanding comes from God alone. He concludes by encouraging a deep trust in God's wisdom and a willingness to submit to His will, as exemplified by Christ.
Unseen Things to Be Preferred to Seen Things
By Samuel Davies0ECC 1:2ISA 57:15MAT 25:46ROM 8:181CO 13:92CO 4:182CO 5:7HEB 11:1HEB 11:10Samuel Davies preaches about the importance of fixing our eyes on unseen eternal realities rather than temporary visible things. He emphasizes the significant disparity between the intrinsic value and duration of visible and invisible things, highlighting the eternal weight of glory awaiting believers. Davies urges the congregation to prioritize eternal happiness or misery over fleeting earthly pleasures or pains, stressing the need for a proper estimate of eternity to influence our actions and decisions. He calls for a shift in focus from temporal concerns to the all-important matters of eternity, reminding listeners of the everlasting consequences of their choices.
I Could Be Wrong About Some Things
By David Servant0PSA 139:6PRO 3:5MAT 22:37ROM 8:381CO 13:21CO 13:9REV 22:12David Servant reflects on the fallibility of human predictions and the humility that comes with acknowledging our own uncertainties and limitations. Drawing from historical examples of failed predictions, he emphasizes the importance of trusting in God amidst uncertainties and accepting that some knowledge is reserved for God alone. He encourages embracing uncertainty by placing trust in God, who holds the future, and highlights the need to focus on foundational truths such as loving God and others, the sacrifice of Jesus, and the promise of His return.
Homily 38 on Matthew
By St. John Chrysostom0MAT 11:25MAT 11:28JHN 14:6ACT 5:41ROM 8:18ROM 8:351CO 13:92CO 4:17John Chrysostom preaches on the revelation of God's wisdom to the humble and simple-minded, contrasting it with the blindness of the wise and prudent who reject His truth. He emphasizes the importance of humility and meekness in following Christ, who offers rest to all burdened souls and invites them to take His yoke, promising a light burden and ease in following Him. Chrysostom highlights the joy and reward found in embracing virtue and righteousness, contrasting it with the heavy burden and turmoil of living in sin and worldly desires.
A Letter to a Magazine on the Subject of Dr. Pusey's Tract on Baptism
By J.H. Newman0ROM 14:41CO 8:21CO 13:91TI 1:51TI 6:4The Editor of the Magazine questions how clergymen reconcile their consciences with the Homilies calling Rome 'Antichrist,' while holding the doctrines of the Tracts. The response highlights the need for a nuanced understanding of the Homilies, recognizing that not every sentence must be subscribed to, but rather the general doctrine they convey. The discussion delves into the interpretation of the Homilies, emphasizing the importance of distinguishing between opinions and persons in theological debates. The explanation provided aims to show that subscribing to the Homilies does not necessitate agreement with every statement, but rather with the overarching doctrine they present.
- Adam Clarke
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
For we know in part - We have here but little knowledge even of earthly, and much less of heavenly, things. He that knows most knows little in comparison of what is known by angels, and the spirits of just men made perfect. And as we know so very little, how deficient must we be if we have not much love! Angels may wonder at the imperfection of our knowledge; and separate spirits may wonder at the perfection of their own, having obtained so much more in consequence of being separated from the body, than they could conceive to be possible while in that body. When Sir Isaac Newton had made such astonishing discoveries in the laws of nature, far surpassing any thing that had been done by all his predecessors in science from the days of Solomon; one of our poets, considering the scantiness of human knowledge when compared with that which is possessed by the inhabitants of heaven, reduced his meditations on the subject to the following nervous and expressive epigram: - Superior beings, when of late they saw A mortal man explain all nature's law, Admired such wisdom in an earthly shape, And show'd our Newton as we show an ape. These fine lines are a paraphrase from a saying of Plato, from whom our poet borrows without acknowledging the debt. The words are these: ανθρωπον ὁ σοφωτατος προς θεον πιθηκος φανειται· "The wisest of mortals will appear but an ape in the estimation of God." Vid. Hipp. Maj. vol. xi. p. 21. Edit. Bipont. We prophesy in part - Even the sublimest prophets have been able to say but little of the heavenly state; and the best preachers have left the Spirit of God very much to supply. And had we no more religious knowledge than we can derive from men and books, and had we no farther instruction in the knowledge of God and ourselves than we derive from preaching, our religious experience would be low indeed. Yet it is our duty to acquire all the knowledge we possibly can; and as preaching is the ordinary means by which God is pleased to instruct and convert the soul, we should diligently and thankfully use it. For we have neither reason nor Scripture to suppose that God will give us that immediately from himself which he has promised to convey only by the use of means. Even this his blessing makes effectual; and, after all, his Spirit supplies much that man cannot teach. Every preacher should take care to inculcate this on the hearts of his hearers. When you have learned all you can from your ministers, remember you have much to learn from God; and for this you should diligently wait on him by the reading of his word, and by incessant prayer.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
in part--partially and imperfectly. Compare a similar contrast to the "perfect man," "the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ" (Eph 4:11-13).
John Gill Bible Commentary
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. So the Jews say (r) that at the resurrection, upon the reunion of the soul and body, "the children of men shall attain to , "perfect knowledge";'' which is what the apostle refers to here: and then that which is in part, shall be done away: the imperfection of knowledge shall be removed; the imperfect manner of communicating knowledge, and of receiving and acquiring it, will cease: thus the apostle explains what he means by the cessation and failing of knowledge, and prophecy; not that knowledge itself will be no more, and a state of ignorance and darkness succeed; but imperfect knowledge will vanish away, or rather will be perfected, or be swallowed up in perfect knowledge; the imperfection of it will disappear; and it will be no more taught and received in part; the whole of truth will be clearly known. (r) Midrash Haneelam in Zohar in Gen. fol. 69. 1.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
13:9 None of the spiritual gifts gives us full understanding; unlike love, they are all limited in their benefits.