What does "know in part, prophesy in part" mean?

Scriptural Context

1 Corinthians 13:9 reads, “For we know in part and we prophesy in part,” forming part of the apostle Paul’s larger discussion on love and spiritual gifts. This verse resides within the well-known “love chapter” (1 Corinthians 13), which highlights the supremacy of love over every other gift, trait, or demonstration of faith. Its immediate context involves the temporary nature of certain spiritual manifestations compared to the eternal nature of love.

1 Corinthians 13:8–10 states:

“Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be restrained; where there is knowledge, it will be dismissed. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial passes away.”

Historical and Literary Background

Paul wrote this letter to the church in Corinth, a bustling city with diverse cultural and religious influences. Within the Corinthian congregation, believers prized certain gifts—particularly prophecy, tongues, and knowledge. Paul’s goal was to clarify the proper use of these gifts and to emphasize that without love, even the most remarkable gifting is hollow (1 Corinthians 13:1–3).

In that cultural context, people eagerly sought spiritual revelations and knowledge but often overlooked the virtues of humility and love. Paul addressed this imbalance by noting the limited nature of human understanding (“we know in part”) and the eventually incomplete fulfillments of predictions (“we prophesy in part”) before “the perfect” arrives.

Meaning of “Know in Part”

1. Human Limitations:

“Know in part” underscores that our current knowledge—whether biological, cosmological, or even theological—is always constrained by our finite nature. Scripture frequently attests to this limitation. Deuteronomy 29:29 affirms: “The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever…” This aligns with Paul’s point that certain things remain hidden until God reveals them fully.

2. Progressive Nature of Understanding:

Throughout biblical history, God has revealed Himself incrementally. As time unfolded, believers progressively understood more about God’s character, plans, and redemptive work. The full revelation of Christ (Hebrews 1:1–2) was a monumental increase in understanding, yet we still see through a “glass, darkly” (1 Corinthians 13:12, KJV rendering). Despite the fullness of the gospel message we now have, there remain aspects of God’s design we cannot fully grasp until we stand in His presence.

Meaning of “Prophesy in Part”

1. Partial Revelations:

In biblical terms, prophecy often refers to speaking forth truth from God—this can encompass future predictions and current exhortation. The phrase “prophesy in part” calls attention to the fact that any prophecy given to individuals or congregations is still limited in scope. Even in the Old Testament, God supplied specific messages for particular situations, but they rarely painted the entire cosmic storyline in one installment.

2. Dependence on the Giver:

All who prophesy receive their insights from the Lord (2 Peter 1:21). Because God grants prophetic insight according to His purpose and timing, no human being holds a comprehensive view. This highlights dependence upon the ultimate, infinite Giver rather than on human ability.

When the Perfect Comes

1 Corinthians 13:10 continues: “but when the perfect comes, the partial passes away.” There are different interpretations regarding “the perfect,” but textual and contextual evidence strongly indicates it refers to the consummation of God’s redemptive plan—when believers see Christ face to face (1 Corinthians 13:12). At that point, partial knowledge and prophecy give way to complete understanding and direct fellowship with God.

Connection to the Resurrection and Full Revelation

The resurrection of Christ is an essential focal point of this “perfect” future hope. Scripture testifies that the same power that raised Jesus from the dead guarantees the future resurrection of believers and the ultimate reconciliation of all creation (1 Corinthians 15:20–28). When believers receive their resurrected bodies, our mortal limitations will vanish, and our knowledge and spiritual apprehension will no longer be “in part.”

Archaeological and Manuscript Witnesses to Reliability

While 1 Corinthians 13:9–10 addresses partial knowledge, the integrity of the scriptural text itself remains consistently upheld by a wealth of manuscript evidence:

• Early papyri (such as Papyrus 46, dated around the second century) contain segments of Paul’s Corinthian letters, confirming that these verses have been transmitted accurately across the centuries.

• Archaeological discoveries, like the Dead Sea Scrolls (though primarily concerning Old Testament texts), reinforce the remarkable care taken by scribes in preserving ancient writings and demonstrate the Bible’s historical continuity.

• The internal consistency across biblical manuscripts, including important codices (Vaticanus, Sinaiticus, and Alexandrinus), further validates that we receive the same text that was recognized by early believers.

Illustrations from the Natural World

Some point to the fine-tuning of physical laws and the complexity of biological systems as reflections of divine ingenuity and thoughtful design consistent with Scripture (Romans 1:20). Nonetheless, scientific exploration provides only a partial view. While discoveries in geology or genetics may illuminate facets of creation, they do not yield complete knowledge of the Creator’s plans or the future state when all things are made new (Revelation 21:5). Hence, our investigations echo Paul’s reminder that believers reside in an interim phase of limited but ever-growing understanding.

Practical Lessons

1. Humility:

Recognizing that “we know in part” fosters humility. We approach Scripture, theology, and one another without presumption, aware that perfect knowledge belongs to God.

2. Love Above All:

Since prophecy, tongues, and knowledge are all temporary, 1 Corinthians 13 underscores that love, which reflects God’s own nature, abides forever. This anchors the pursuit of gifts and learning in a foundation of selfless care.

3. Hope for Fulfillment:

The promise that partial knowledge will one day give way to fullness of understanding inspires hope. We look forward to a time when all questions are resolved in the presence of God and when our faith becomes sight (2 Corinthians 5:7).

4. Encouragement in Present Ministry:

Even though we only “prophesy in part,” this does not diminish the vital role of sharing the truth God has revealed, proclaiming the good news of the risen Christ, and ministering to one another.

Conclusion

“Know in part, prophesy in part” from 1 Corinthians 13:9 highlights our present, partial grasp of spiritual truths and future events. The passage reminds believers that human knowledge and prophetic insight, while genuine, remain incomplete during this earthly existence. One day, in the fullness of God’s revelation, partial insights will give way to complete clarity. This hopeful perspective encourages humility, cultivates love, and inspires endurance in proclaiming the truth of Christ’s resurrection and the reliability of His Word.