There are many misunderstandings about 1 Corinthians 13. We have already discussed that “the perfect” that Paul speaks of. literally refers to the mature. It is not about the future when we are with the Lord, but speaks of a period on earth that was to come. We will be confirmed in this in the last verse of this chapter. But the following verse, in which Paul speaks of seeing through a mirror, is also often misunderstood.
1 Corinthians 13
12 For now we see through a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; but then I shall know, even as I am known.
now
When Paul speaks of “at this moment,” he’s referring to the time in which he wrote, approximately two thousand years ago. At that time, people knew in part. The childish phase the ecclesia found itself in is compared to a mirror. The mirrors of that time were not comparable to our own. They were smoothly polished metal mirrors in which you could only see the outlines of a face. Many details were not visible. Seeing was partial.
face to face
Often, seeing “face to face” is associated with the moment when we will be with Christ and see Him. But that’s not what it’s about. Paul points to a time when what was in part would be completed. The word of God would be available in its entirety.
Paul was the one who would complete the word of God. Seeing in a mirror, dimly and partially, is contrasted with seeing face to face. The mirror is a picture of the beginning of the ecclesia with the spiritual gifts. Seeing face to face is a depiction of the time to come when we would have access to the whole word of God.
That seeing face to face does not speak of our future with the Lord is also confirmed by the last verse of this chapter:
13 But now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.
Now faith, hope, and love remain
Note carefully what it says here! Now faith, hope, and love remain. Faith and hope will disappear when we are with Him, for when we see Him, we exchange faith for sight (2 Cor. 5:7), and our hope is fulfilled (Rom. 8:24).
Paul, therefore, isn’t speaking about the future, when we will be with the Lord, but rather about the time that would follow for the ecclesia here on earth. And we may live in that time in the clear light of the complete Word of God!