1 Corinthians 13:12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.

Just looking for a little more understanding of this scripture.

Thanks!
Mr. Bill

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Bill

I love that passage and the promise it holds. Eager to see how it impacts others here.

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Tim

Hi Bill,

How do you reconcile 1 Cor 13:12 with

1Co 2:11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
1Co 2:12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

I don't think they are contradictory, but rather they are speaking about two different things.

Julius, I need to receive more clarity on the scripture that I was asking about, before I can even begin to voice an opinion on any others, hope you understand.

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Bill

Sure, I understand Bill.

When Paul said, "glass darkly", he was probably thinking of a mirror, something that displays a reflection.

We see this used in James:
"For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face IN A GLASS: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was." (Jas 1:23-24)

And Paul writes about it, again.
2Co 3:18 But we all, with open face BEHOLDING AS IN A GLASS the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Our identification is in Christ and we see this identification through the reflection of the Word of God as we "look into the perfect law of liberty". James refers to this imagery when he mentions the believer who forgets what he sees in the mirror. As members of the Body of Christ, our identities are reflected in Christ, who is the Word of God.

Regarding 1 Corinthians 13, believers must rely on the spiritual gifts of knowledge and prophecy (which are not just foretelling but New Testament prophecy includes forthtelling or preaching. We then understand our identity in the Word of God through the exercise of our spiritual gifts. In other words, our faith and hope are dependent on understanding our identity in Christ in the Word of God.

To put it in the context that Paul is using in 1 Cor 13, when we are in heaven, the spiritual gifts of knowledge and prophecy will be unnecessary (1 Cor 13:9-10). "Hope", also will have no significance at that time. (For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? Rom. 8:24) Faith is the same: it is "the evidence of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1). When we are face-to-face with the Lord, faith and hope along with the spiritual gifts of knowledge and prophecy will no longer be necessary.

So what is left?

As you look into the mirror (the Word of God), the reflection of our identity in Christ is love (Romans 8:39) and this is what you should be seeing. It is dim, because you are presently being conformed to the image of Christ as He is progressively revealed to you. We are being changed from faith to faith and glory to glory. But, as we look into the Word, we are to see Christ and our identity in Him. The Holy Ghost has shed the love of God abroad in our heart and is the defining influence in the life of the Believer. This influence comes through the renewal of our minds in the Word of God (Colossians 3:10). This brings us back to the mirror, which reflects our identity in Christ. Our identity in Christ is permanent. Faith, hope, knowledge, and prophecy, are but temporary tools in the present time, and thus we see dimly at the moment.

A good capstone scripture for this would be 1 John 3:2.

"Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is."

And notice the use of the word "glass" again in this verse (speaking of looking at the glory of the Lord. The Lord Jesus Himself). It is talking about being changed into the image of Christ, from glory to glory (little by little) by the Spirit of God.
"But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." (2Co 3:18)

Hi Bill, to me this verse simply means that while we are yet in this body, in this corruptible flesh, we have limitations. If I were looking into a mirror in a dimly lit room and someone appears behind me, I can see that there is someone there but it would be hard to make out their features clearly. Yet, praise God, in the light that we shall stand in, that light which outshines the sun, in our incorruptible new bodies, we shall be able to look fully into the face of God and know Him as He knows us, fully, praise God.......bro Frank

Amen Bro. Frank. I think the supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit that 1 Cor. 12-14 deal with are given because of our limitations. What can we do on our own right? Yet God, through His Holy Spirit, uses us supernaturally. Neither the power, nor the credit can be ours. When Christ returns, we will be resurrected or changed in a moment into a body incorruptible and glorified. Our limitations will be gone. We will no longer see dimly, but we will be able to see face to face. In that day, none of the supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit will any longer be necessary. That is how I see the verse in the context of the chapters surrounding it.

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Travis

Amen Travis and love will remain and we shall dwell in it for all eternity..........bro Frank

Wow! All the answers here are just great, now I need to let them sink in. I am not the best at understanding many things that come from books. I've always been a commonsense type person, that finds it easier to listen to audio or watch a video, or hands on, I seem to learn things easier this way.

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Bill