The words Love never ends
(or, more literally, Love never fails
) summarize the message of 1 Corinthians 13:4–7. At the same time they also serve to introduce a new section. In this section (1 Corinthians 13:8–13) Paul will contrast the unfailing, eternal character of love with the imperfection and impermanence of the spiritual gifts.
In contrast to love, prophecies, tongues, and knowledge will come to an end. The reason why Paul specifically mentions these three gifts may be because they are revelatory gifts. At least, such is the case if we take knowledge
to refer to special prophetic knowledge (as in 1 Corinthians 13:2). For the revelatory, or prophetic, nature of tongues, see our comments under 1 Corinthians 12:10 (Various Kinds of Tongues
).
When Paul writes that these gifts will pass away, might he perhaps have in mind the completion of Scripture? Indeed, once the New Testament was completed, the special revelatory gifts were no longer needed (see Revelation 22:18–19). The gift of tongues may have ended even before that time. It is not mentioned in any of the later letters of the New Testament. And when Clement of Rome wrote his letter to the Corinthians (a long letter of sixty-five chapters, which could have been written as early as AD 70), he too was quiet on the subject.
On the other hand, Paul may have in mind a time further off in the future, when all the spiritual gifts as we know them will come to an end. That is, namely, the time of Christ’s return.
8 Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.