Why does Paul say that prophecies, tongues, and knowledge will cease?

And when does the "perfect" come?

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. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears.
- 1 Corinthians 13:8-10 (NIV)

The above verses are central in the cessationist/continuationist debate and at first glance may appear to support the view that spiritual gifts no longer exist in the Church today. However, I believe that the context of these verses does not support the cessationist argument but rather shows how the Church should operate in love.

An understanding of the word "perfect" is helpful. In the Greek the word is "teleios" and should not be thought of as what we think of "perfect" today but rather "complete", "whole", or "undivided". With that in mind, we can then take a look at the context of 1 Corinthians to see if Paul was addressing anything that was not complete, whole or undivided.

The Incomplete Mind, Body(of Christ) and Spirit

Paul addresses the "incompleteness" in the Corinthian church in three areas: Their understanding (mind), their unity (in the body of Christ) and he corrects their understanding regarding the Spirit.

One Spirit

The Corinthians thought that different spirits were causing the different gifts in the church. Paul writes to correct this:

There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit.
- 1 Corinthians 12:4 (See also 1 Corinthians 12:8-13)

But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit.
- 1 Corinthians 6:17

One Mind

Paul writes to the Corinthians so that they would be complete in their understanding:

I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly (completely) united in mind and thought.
- 1 Corinthians 1:10 (NIV)

For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ.
- 1 Corinthians 2:16(NIV)

The idea of complete understanding is tied to the idea of maturity. A child's understanding of things was considered incomplete and so we find this theme in 1 Corinthians as well.

Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly—mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready.
- Corinthians 3:1-2

Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults.
- Corinthians 14:20

One Body

This incomplete understanding had been causing divisions within the church:

For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it.
- 1 Corinthians 11:18

I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought. My brothers, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephasa”; still another, “I follow Christ.”
- 1 Corinthians 1:10-12

Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf.
- 1 Corinthians 10:17

The Corinthian church was acting as separate "parts" and not as a complete whole. It is within that context that Paul deals with the spiritual gifts.

Tongues, Knowledge and Prophecy

Paul deals specifically with tongues, knowledge and prophecy in order to show the Corinthians how to use those gifts together and not as separate parts. He explains that the gifts will need to cease, not permanently, but temporarily, so that everyone can benefit.

Tongues Will Be Stilled

How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying. If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret. But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.
-1 Corinthians 14:26-28

If speaking in tongues isn't benefiting anyone, then Paul points out that they need to be stilled.

Knowledge Passing Away

In regard to "knowledge passing away", some believe Paul is referring to a "word of knowledge", which, in charismatic circles, is a type of prophecy. However, the knowledge Paul refers to is in regard to the issue he discussed earlier in his letter:

For if anyone with a weak conscience sees you who have this knowledge eating in an idol's temple, won't he be emboldened to eat what has been sacrificed to idols? So this weak brother, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge. When you sin against your brothers in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause him to fall.
-1 Corinthians 8:10-14 (NIV)

So if a Corinthian's knowledge destroyed a brother, then that knowledge should be destroyed - in the sense it should not be practiced in a way that was harmful to others.

Prophecy Will Cease

Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop. For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged.
-1 Corinthians 14:29-31 (NIV)

Like the others, Paul explains that prophecy should cease in order to benefit everyone.

What Does It Mean to "Know in Part" and "Prophesy in Part?"

Many charismatics use the phrase "prophesy in part" to get around Deuteronomy 18:22. However, if we look at the context, Paul is speaking about how the Corinthians were acting as "parts" and not as a whole. The Greek words used to communicate the idea of "parts" are "meros" and "melos" and are used when Paul speaks about how the parts of the church should operate together in love and not as selfish/prideful individuals.

The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts (melos); and though all its parts (melos) are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.

Now the body is not made up of one part (melos) but of many. If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has arranged the parts (melos) in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part (melos), where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts (melos), but one body.
-1 Corinthians 12:12-20 (NIV)

so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts(melos) should have equal concern for each other
-1 Corinthians 12:25

Now ye are the body of Christ, and members (melos) in particular (meros).
-1 Corinthians 12:27

When the Corinthian church was prophesying "in part" and knowing "in part", they were not operating in those gifts as a complete whole and the other "parts" were not benefiting.

When the Church acts as a whole and is complete (teleios), then it no longer acts as separate parts (meros).

But when that which is perfect (complete) is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
-1 Corinthians 13:10

Paul then uses an analogy of maturity. As I previously mentioned, maturity had to do with complete understanding.

When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
-1 Corinthians 13:11

Paul continues:

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 also I am known.
-1 Corinthians 13:12

The "now" refers to how the Corinthians were currently operating - as a child, without understanding and as "parts". The "then" refers to how they should be operating - as a man and as "complete".

A "glass" is actually a mirror and in those days, they didn't have a clear reflection. So when Paul says "For now we see through a glass, darkly", he is talking about one's concern for themselves (their reflection in the mirror) and how it prevents understanding for others.

The word "darkly" can be translated "enigma" and both it and the phrase "face to face" allude to Moses and prophecy in the Old Testament:

With him (Moses) I speak face to face, clearly and not in riddles (enigma); he sees the form of the LORD. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?"
- Numbers 12:8

Since that time no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face,
- Deuteronomy 34:10 (NIV)

Paul would have this in mind but changes the meaning for his application. His use of the phrase "face to face" is symbolic of their relationship with each other and not with God. Paul is stressing the need to be both clear and concerned with other people (the face they are talking to). "Knowing in part" and being "known" have more to do with tongues than prophecy. The words translated "knowing" and "known" can also be translated as "understood". When Paul says "then shall I know even as also I am known", he is referring to understanding and being understood. If we look in Paul's letter to see where else he talks about understanding and being understood, it brings us to the section regarding tongues.

So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air. Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning. If then I do not grasp the meaning of what someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and he is a foreigner to me. So it is with you. Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the church.

For this reason anyone who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret what he says. For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.
-1 Corinthians 14:9-14 (NIV)

To understand and to be understood is in contrast to "I am a foreigner to the speaker, and he is a foreigner to me".

Faith, Hope and Love

The gift of tongues was considered the greatest gift by the Corinthians, but Paul says that love is the greatest:

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
-1 Corinthians 13:13 (NIV)

The word "remain" would be better translated "endure" or "don't stop". Love doesn't need to stop no matter what the situation is, as opposed to prophecies, tongues and knowledge, which may need to be temporarily suspended to better love others. Faith and hope are mentioned because some of the Corinthians believed that there was no resurrection of the dead. Paul corrects this by saying faith and hope extend beyond this life:

Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?

But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.

-1 Corinthians 15:12-20