John Calvin Commentary 1 Corinthians 13:8

"Love never faileth: but whether [there be] prophecies, they shall be done away; whether [there be] tongues, they shall cease; whether [there be] knowledge, it shall be done away." — 1 Corinthians 13:8 (ASV)

Love never faileth. Here we have another excellence of love—that it endures forever. There is good reason why we should eagerly desire an excellence that will never come to an end. Hence, love must be preferred over temporary and perishable gifts. Prophesyings have an end, tongues fail, knowledge ceases. Hence, love is more excellent than they on this ground—that, while they fail, it survives.

Papists pervert this passage for the purpose of establishing the doctrine which they have contrived, without any authority from Scripture—that the souls of the deceased pray to God on our behalf. For they reason in this manner: “Prayer is a perpetual office of love—love endures in the souls of departed saints—therefore they pray for us.” For my part, although I would not wish to contend too keenly on this point, yet, so that they may not think they have gained much by having this conceded to them, I reply to their objection in a few words.

1. In the first place, though love endures forever, it does not necessarily follow that it is (as the expression is) in constant exercise. For what is there to hinder our maintaining that the saints, being now in the enjoyment of calm repose, do not exercise love in present offices?
2. What absurdity, I ask you, would there be in this? In the second place, if I were to maintain that it is not a perpetual office of love to intercede for the brethren, how would they prove the contrary? For a person to intercede for another, it is necessary that he be acquainted with that person's need.

If we may conjecture about the state of the dead, it is a more probable supposition that departed saints are ignorant of what is happening here than that they are aware of our needs.

Papists, it is true, imagine that they see the whole world in the reflection of light which they enjoy in the vision of God; but it is a profane and altogether heathenish contrivance, which has more of the character of Egyptian theology than it has of accordance with Christian philosophy.

What, then, if I were to maintain that the saints, being ignorant of our condition, are not concerned about us? With what argument will Papists press me, to constrain me to hold their opinion? What if I were to affirm that they are so occupied and swallowed up, as it were, in the vision of God, that they think of nothing else?

How will they prove that this is not reasonable? What if I were to reply that the perpetuity of love, mentioned here by the Apostle, will be after the last day and has nothing to do with the intermediate time? What if I were to say that the office of mutual intercession has been enjoined only upon the living, those who are sojourning in this world, and consequently does not extend at all to the departed?

But I have already said more than enough, for I leave the very point for which they contend undetermined, so that I may not raise any contention on a matter that does not call for it. It was, however, important to note in passing how little support this passage gives them, in which they think they have so strong a bulwark. Let us consider it enough that this doctrine has no support from any declaration of Scripture, and that, consequently, it is maintained by them rashly and inconsiderately.

Whether knowledge, it will be destroyed. We have already seen the meaning of these words, but from this arises a question of no small importance: will those who in this world excel either in learning or in other gifts be on a level with the unlearned in the kingdom of God?

In the first place, I would wish to admonish pious readers not to trouble themselves more than is fitting in the investigation of these things. Let them rather seek the way by which the kingdom of God is reached, than curiously inquire what our condition will be there; for the Lord Himself has, by His silence, called us back from such curiosity.

I now return to the question. As far as I can conjecture, and am able even to gather in part from this passage—since learning, knowledge of languages, and similar gifts are subservient to the needs of this life—I do not think that any of them will be remaining then. The learned, however, will sustain no loss from their absence, as they will receive their fruit, which is greatly to be preferred.