scratching my head and thumping my bible: 1 corinthians 13:11-13
"For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as I am known."
Any takers??
Huh? I think I need to see the whole verse to understand.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part,10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears.11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.12 For now we see only a 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.
13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
It means that now, while in our flesh, we only see a glimps of what love is, how we are to love others, etc, and we only see ourselves partially. We don't have a full understanding of ourselves or our surroundings. When we got to heaven, we will have full understanding.
Here's another translation for you that might clear it up: "We don't yet see things clearly. We're squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won't be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We'll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us!" (The Message)
Now you don't understand everything. Like looking in a mirror, it's nto clear (back then mirrors were very blurry)....when you get to heaven you will understand fully because God knows you fully and works it for His good.
12. Now we see - Even the things that surround us. But by means of a glass - Or mirror, which reflects only their imperfect forms, in a dim, faint, obscure manner; so that our thoughts about them are puzzling and intricate, and everything is a kind of riddle to us. But then - We shall see, not a faint reflection, but the objects themselves. Face to face - Distinctly. Now I know in part - Even when God himself reveals things to me, great part of them is still kept under the veil. But then I shall know even as also I am known - In a clear, full, comprehensive manner; in some measure like God, who penetrates the center of every object, and sees at one glance through my soul and all things.
If I speak in the tonguesa]" style="">[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,b]" style="">[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing.
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a 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.
13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
That's the whole chapter.
Bear in mind that this chapter was written right in the middle of Paul's letter to the church in Corinth. The church was struggling over which spiritual gifts where "better". Their gatherings were becoming more and more raucous and chaotic, with people speaking in tongues and such, in a way that did not glorify God or edify the body.
Paul's letter is all about respect for the brethren, how each spiritual gift was just that--a gift!--and to be valued, and how a church serves should be conducted. He was instructing and reprimanding them.
In the middle of all he was saying to them--all his instructions and reprimands--he says, basically, "But hold on just a second. You can have ALL these gifts and do ALL these great things, but if you don't have love for one another, it's crap."
The verse you are quoting falls in to that context.
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- PortiaRose
on Feb. 16, 2012 at 10:04 PM