Face to Face - 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. (1 Corinthians 13:12 ESV)
I recently had a discussion on this verse with someone who believes that we see “face to face” now, we “fully know” just as we are “fully known”. I disagreed with that person so I thought I would look at this verse a little closer.
Since this verse deals with time let us look at when this was written. 1 Corinthians was written by Paul and it is widely accepted that it was written somewhere around 55 A.D.
So at that point in time “we” saw in a mirror dimly but at some future point in time we will see face to face. The question is what/who will we see face to face. In the NT I found that seeing “face to face” always referred to people seeing each other face to face. I did not find one instance where it was used to refer to an inanimate object. With that in mind, I think this verse means being face to face with someone instead of something. My assumption has always been that it means face to face with Christ.
The reason I come to this conclusion is twofold and I am open to correction if it is Scriptural. My first reason is a bit questionable. A few verses up 1 Cor 13:10 refers to that which is “perfect” coming. Christ is perfect. However, verse 10 does open the question of what “the perfect comes” is referring to. It surely doesn’t have to mean Christ. On a sidenote, there are some that say that “perfect” is referring to the Bible. I reject that assumption and it is a pretty big stretch.
My second reason is the second part of verse 12, “…then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known”. In context, this helps strengthen my first line of thinking mentioned above. Nobody knows fully as they are fully known, nor will they, until they are “face to face” with God. Then they will know everything there is to be known. God and only God fully knows someone. I don’t believe anyone can make a claim that they know as they are fully known.
I am not 100% convinced that 1 Corinthians 13:10 is referring to Christ but I am thoroughly convinced that nobody knows fully as they are fully known. I am thoroughly convinced that only Christ fully knows someone. Based on that, I come to the conclusion that we still see in a mirror dimly and “face to face” is referring to the One who knows us fully. We know in part now, we see in a mirror dimly, but when we are “face to face” with God we will know in full, just as we are fully known.
As I stated above, feel free to comment with Scriptural reproof on these passages if you have any.
AMDG
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One Comment on Face to Face - 1 Corinthians 13:12
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BA on
Thu, 14th Jul 2005 00:34
Just an interesting TN on 1 Corinthians 13:12 from the NET Bible:
tn Grk “we are seeing through [= using] a mirror by means of a dark image.” Corinth was well known in the ancient world for producing some of the finest bronze mirrors available. Paul’s point in this analogy, then, is not that our current understanding and relationship with God is distorted (as if the mirror reflected poorly), but rather that it is “indirect,” (i.e., the nature of looking in a mirror) compared to the relationship we will enjoy with him in the future when we see him “face to face” (cf. G. D. Fee, First Corinthians [NICNT], 648). The word “indirectly” translates the Greek phrase ejn aijnivgmati (ejn ainigmati, “in an obscure image”) which itself may reflect an allusion to Num 12:8 (LXX ouj di= aijnigmavtwn), where God says that he speaks to Moses “mouth to mouth [= face to face]…and not in dark figures [of speech].” Though this allusion to the OT is not explicitly developed here, it probably did not go unnoticed by the Corinthians who were apparently familiar with OT traditions about Moses (cf. 1 Cor 10:2). Indeed, in 2 Cor 3:13-18 Paul had recourse with the Corinthians to contrast Moses’ ministry under the old covenant with the hope afforded through apostolic ministry and the new covenant. Further, it is in this context, specifically in 2 Cor 3:18, that the apostle invokes the use of the mirror analogy again in order to unfold the nature of the Christian’s progressive transformation by the Spirit.
AMDG
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